 The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attended the regular autumn meeting of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe. On the margins of these events, President Türk held bilateral talks with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Lluís Maria de Puig; the newly elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland; and the former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.
On this occasion, Mr de Puig commended the successful Slovenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. President Türk pointed out that the Parliamentary Assembly consists of members of the national parliaments elected directly in their home countries. Therefore, among all bodies of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly has specific political weight and significantly contributes to the political legitimacy of the Council's activities.
The Slovenian President signed the "golden book" of guests of the Parliamentary Assembly and then attended the regular autumn session of this institution. |
 In his address to members of the Parliamentary Assembly, President Türk stressed the importance of the Council of Europe, which in the 60 years of its existence has demonstrated strength and aptitude for adapting to change. Dr Türk recalled that the Council of Europe played a key role in establishing unity and security on the Continent, its most significant contribution, however, being the protection of fundamental European values, i.e. human rights and the rule of law. According to the Slovenian President, an important milestone in the Council's history can be considered the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain in 1989, when the organisation changed its role and, by integrating new countries, began to create a new and larger Europe. Dr Türk emphasised that European integration should remain a priority issue of the Council of Europe in the future.
"The world of today is a world of uncertainty. Indeed, the organisation adapted well to past challenges, but it must remain vigilant and flexible. It must be prepared to face new phenomena and changing conditions. It should not take its achievements as obvious. It should remain active and self-confident in adapting and in defending those values and standards that are of fundamental importance for the security of our common European home," said Dr Türk.
After the meeting, the Slovenian President attended the opening in the lobby of the Palace of Europe of the exhibition Ljubljana Process – Rehabilitating Our Common Heritage, which presents the achievements of the rehabilitation of cultural heritage in South Eastern Europe. |
 Dr Türk then met the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland. They discussed the priority tasks of the Council of Europe, among which some require careful preparation. The two interlocutors talked further about issues related to the process of immigration in the Member States of the Council of Europe and the provision of appropriate models of co-existence and integration of immigration, the status of minorities and development of the relationship between the Council of Europe and the European Union. The Slovenian President invited the Secretary General to visit Slovenia with a view to facilitating an enhanced exchange of opinions concerning the experience gained during the Slovenian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers and priorities of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for the future.
In the talks held with the former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, Dr Türk stressed the historical merits of President Gorbachev's leadership for change in Europe, extended application of the rule of law and human rights, and the new role of the Council of Europe. President Türk highlighted Mr Gorbachev's role in striving for a world without nuclear weapons two decades ago, pointing to the fact that the current initiatives in this area, which are gaining wide support, represent the continuation of President Gorbachev’s and President Reagan’s ideas.
In the evening, Dr Türk attended a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe, where he also delivered an address. |