International Conference on Tolerance and Democracy for Peace in Europe organised by the President of the Republic in cooperation with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Salzburg

Today, on Thursday, 1 December 2022, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, hosted the international conference entitled Tolerance and Democracy for Peace in Europe at the Great Hall of the Presidential Palace.

The President organised the international conference together with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Salzburg (EASA).


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

The attendees were addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, the President of the SASA, Prof Dr Peter Štih, and the Honorary President of the EASA, Prof Dr Felix Unger.

The central speakers of the international conference were the SASA member, Prof Dr Jože Krašovec, and the President of the EASA, Prof Dr Klaus Mainzer.

Prof Dr Krašovec presented the contribution entitled "Tolerance is the path to peace despite the appearance of pragmatism", and Prof Dr Mainzer discussed the contribution entitled "Tolerance and democracy for peace in Europe".

On this occasion, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, received a medal from the European Academy of Sciences and Arts for his services in promoting tolerance and dialogue in society. The special acknowledgement, awarded by the Academy to individuals and institutions dedicated to society, the promotion of tolerance and peaceful co-existence between people and cultures and dialogue was conferred on the President of the Republic by the Honorary President of the EASA, Prof Dr Felix Unger.

The initiative for organising the international conference was introduced to the President of the Republic at the meeting on 6 October 2021 by the Honorary President of the EASA, Prof Dr Felix Unger, the President of the SASA, Prof Dr Peter Štih, and the Slovenian Representative in the EASA and President of the Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Prof Dr Ludvik Toplak.

President Pahor, who has had a long and exceptionally fruitful cooperation with the two renowned institutions, accepted and commended their initiative.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

The management and members of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts were regular and valuable guests of the President of the Republic at various consultations about the present and future of society, the state, the European family and the world. On 5 November 2013, President Pahor conferred on the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts the highest state decoration, the Order for Exceptional Merit for exceptional contribution to the promotion and acceleration of science and art on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. At the 30th anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia, the Academy issued the Statement on Slovenian Reconciliation at the initiative of President Pahor, which was solemnly presented on 15 March 2021 at the Presidential Palace.

Since 2013, President Pahor has been the Protector of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, a renowned European institution that combines some 2,000 esteemed and internationally recognised scientists from Europe and the rest of the world, many of whom are Nobel laureates.