 | During his working visit in Paris to participate at the OECD Leader Forum, the President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk, met the Speaker of the Senate of the French Republic Mr Gérard Larcher.
With a short ceremony in Jardin du Luxembourg, a Paris park, President Türk and the Speaker of the French Senate Mr. Larcher symbolically consecrated a 20-year-old lime tree to the 20th Anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia's Independence and to the Franco-Slovenian friendship.
In his address, President Türk pointed out the central role of lime tree in Slovenian cultural heritage. As he illustrated, Slovene people used to gather around the lime tree when deciding important issues for the community, resolving disputes, voting and celebrating festive days.
He also spoke about the period of the Illyrian Provinces, when the first governor-general Auguste de Marmont, Marshal of France, planted eight trees in the newly-established botanical gardens in Ljubljana, one of them being the lime tree, which today is already 200-years old.
The lime tree in the Jardin du Luxembourg is as old as the young state of Slovenia, said President Türk, taking the opportunity to express gratitude to France for its support to Slovenia during its process of independence. Concluding his remarks, the President expressed his firm support to continue strengthening political, economical and cultural co-operation, which illustrates the dynamical and persistent relationship between both states.
Later on, the Speaker of the French Senate Mr. Larcher hosted President Türk at a working dinner attended by representatives of various political groups in the French Senate.
The parties devoted their attention primarily to international subjects, including conditions in the Western Balkans and particularly to the possibilities of granting EU membership to countries of this region. They also addressed the issue of Turkey's entering the European Union, the current situation in the Eurozone and the issue of refugees from Northern African countries.
President Türk and the Speaker of the French Senate, Mr. Larcher, expressed their opinion that relationships between Slovenia and France are very good. They pointed out that there is a high level of consent in international and political questions between the two states. |