Slovenian President Türk and Austrian President Fischer meet with Carinthian Slovenes
Ljubelj (Loibl), Tainach, 5.6.2009 | press release
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, met the Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Dr Heinz Fischer, on the occasion of their visit to the memorial site of the former Ljubelj South concentration camp, one of the branches of the Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp. After visiting the memorial site, the two presidents laid a wreath at the memorial dedicated to the victims. The Slovenian and Austrian presidents then set out for the Austrian side of the border where they each laid a wreath on the memorial plaque at the entrance to the Ljubelj tunnel and visited the former assembly point of the Ljubelj North concentration camp. After a short cultural programme, the presidents addressed the participants in this event.
The Austrian President stressed that Austria had not been able to find the right way to commemorate the events and pay homage to the victims of World War II in the past, but pointed out that his country had made great efforts in that direction during the past few years. According to Dr Fischer, there is a broad consensus that this period of the past should be condemned and that racism, dictatorship and anti-Semitism must be prevented in the future. The Slovenian President added that, on that day, the opportunity had presented itself for the first time to the presidents of two friendly neighbouring countries to visit the memorial sites on either side of the border together. It is important to remember the tragedy of World War II, as well as the victory over fascism and Nazism that opened new horizons for freedom, paving the way for a new Europe. In his address, Dr Türk also advocated support for promoting the understanding of bilingualism in the area.
President Türk then attended a working lunch with his Austrian counterpart in Tinje (Tainach) in Austrian Carinthia, during which the two dignitaries discussed relations between Slovenia and Austria, which, in their opinion, are developing satisfactorily. Dr Fischer highlighted that both countries were members of the European Union and the euro area, and that they also both had experience with the EU presidency. The presidents agreed that the European framework offered a great many opportunities for further development of cooperation between their two countries. President Türk pointed out that Slovenia and Austria were members of a common European family that are experiencing the global financial crisis together and made joint deliberations regarding the steps to be taken for a better future. He said that he hoped that the cooperation between the two countries might also produce good results regarding the position of the Slovenian minority in Austria.
The two presidents visited the Catholic Education Centre Sodalitas in Tinje (Tainach), where Dr Fischer gave a lecture on cooperation between Austria and Slovenia as two neighbouring countries and EU partners, and Dr Türk a lecture focused on the minority issue in a changing Europe. He particularly highlighted the organisation of bilingual education in Austrian Carinthia, which could be improved, and suggested that a special international project be set up for this purpose. After the lectures, the presidents met with representatives of the National Council of Carinthian Slovenes, Association of Slovene Organisations and Community of Carinthian Slovenes, with whom they discussed the position of the Slovenian minority in Austria.
Address by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, at the memorial ceremony held at the site of the former assembly point of the Ljubelj North concentration camp
Loibl, 5 June 2009
Dear President Fischer,
Dear representatives of the friendly Bundesland Carinthia,
Dear guests,
Today is a special day, and I would like to thank President Dr Heinz Fischer for his sincere words. These words are important, since today the opportunity presents itself for the first time to the presidents of two friendly neighbouring countries, Slovenia and Austria, to visit together the memorial sites on either side of the border. It is fitting and proper to remember the tragic and sad times of World War II. It is also fitting and proper to remember the resistance against Nazism and fascism. And it is also right to be aware that the victory over Nazism and fascism opened new horizons for freedom, paving the way for a new Europe. Mr President, I would like to particularly emphasise that there is very little that I can add to your words. Today we agree practically in all aspects. It is not a matter of speaking about misunderstandings, disagreements and different views between Slovenia and Austria. Today we can speak about joint projects. Today we can speak about a new spirit of cooperation, a new spirit of freedom and a new opportunity to build a better Europe together.
We are now in an area that has traditionally been bilingual, and I am very happy to have the opportunity today to contribute to the promotion of understanding bilingualism with my short informal speech. Bilingualism has a good and bright future in this area; therefore, I would like our visit today to mark a new beginning. We have already heard about the project of building new memorials that will remind us of the tragedies of the past. It is a sign of a new beginning; however, we also have other duties: to build our cooperation in such a way as to guarantee further development of values such as bilingualism, not only in the form of linguistic plurality but also as broad horizons for human freedom. We shall have the opportunity to discuss it in more detail this afternoon in Tinje (Tainach). Mr President, I would like to thank you for accepting the idea that the Catholic Education Centre of Tinje (Tainach) create a joint programme, with a symbolic note and interesting content for the future. Thank you, Mr President, for your attention, and I hope that we can meet here again and that these two sites, on the northern and on the southern side of Ljubelj, will become a venue for frequent meetings between Slovenes and Austrians, and all those who wish the future of Europe well. Thank you.