President Türk on the International Development Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia

Ljubljana, 12.1.2011  |  press release

President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Türk attended a public consultation on the Green Paper entitled “EU development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development–increasing the impact of EU development policy”. In his address, he welcomed the progress in coordination and joint efforts in the area of international development cooperation that recently has been achieved in Slovenia. A broader framework of the EU is of key importance for defining Slovenia’s attitude to this issue; however, as the President emphasized, it would be correct that Slovenia would actively participate in the discussions on major conceptual issues of development and development aid, as well as in offering practical help within its capacities.

President Türk also touched upon the issue of development as global category. He recalled that a series of international global conferences held in the 1990s on different aspects of development paved the way for the Millennium Development Goals at the beginning of the century. These goals reflect the great importance that the international community attributed not only to the economic aspects of development dependent on the growth of gross national product, but also, and above all, to the social aspects of development.

The President highlighted the fact that presently the European Union contributes more than a half of the total international development aid and that this support is associated with the situation in the area of human rights in several ways. He explained that the political obstacles interfering with human rights are often also hindrances to development, although sometimes such association may be interpreted in negative sense, as conditioning. According to President Türk, Europe will have to pay more attention to the question of how to integrate development aid to promote growth as well as human rights for ensuring social justice, which is indispensable for sustainable and efficient social development.

President Türk said that, rather than a great number of locations, Slovenia needs a well-defined selection and planning of its participation in the international development cooperation. In this context, among the priorities he highlighted the Balkans, where there is still need for development aid, and the maintenance of tasks in other regions, such as the Caucasus region, Central Asia and Middle East, with the focus on humanitarian aspects where Slovenia more actively involved. He emphasised that our modest economic contribution does not also imply small responsibility. Slovenia should have a well-defined position on the issues of international development aid, added the President.