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Central Europe is our Common Cradle |
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Fourth meeting of Presidents of Central European Countires in Piran, Slovenia
"Central Europe is our common cradle. We all grew up in this region, listening to music by the same composers, reading books by the same writers, enlarging our horizons by virtue of the creativity of the same painters, architects and scientists, getting enthusiastic about similar folkloric art heritages. Our countries and peoples are bound together by a common history, tradition and a belief in a better common future." *** Dear fellow presidents, Friends of Slovenia, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am most pleased to be raising this toast here in Portoroz on the Slovene coast. Your brief stay in Slovenia, amidst all the duties imposed on you in this time of challenge, marks two days that will always be remembered in Slovene history. You are cordially welcome in Slovenia, a country which is no longer a mystery to any of you. A country where everything is on a small scale. Sometimes this is not to our benefit and sometimes it actually alleviates our problems. But in this small territory of ours, all the natural, spiritual and cultural beauty of Central Europe as well as its rebellious spirit and yearning for freedom has been captured. Because of this, my friends, I hope that your stay here will be pleasant for all of you and that whilst here you will sense the warm cosiness of your own homes. Central Europe is our common cradle. We all grew up in this region, listening to music by the same composers, reading books by the same writers, enlarging our horizons by virtue of the creativity of the same painters, architects and scientists, getting enthusiastic about similar folkloric art heritages. Our countries and peoples are bound together by a common history, tradition and a belief in a better common future. We live a life - in spite of all the tragic ordeals we have had to overcome - which is still happy and very exciting. The history we are sharing is more condensed than that lived in by any previous European generation. We have seen old worlds crumble to ruin and new worlds emerge. We have been active protagonists in this almost impossible common journey. This journey has only been possible thanks to the faith of the people living in our countries, including those inflicted with the injustices of history, as our people believed in the values of European civilisation, in freedom, equality, co-operation, welfare and, above all, respect of the dignity of every individual. This faith has enabled us to step out from a tragic European history and, for the first time, to challenge our own fate. We have said that Europe is no longer home to conflicts, wars and divisions, but to co-operation, joint work and a better future. All of our countries are being reborn. It is important that we continue to support one another and appreciate others as we did at the time when the bricks and the ideology of the Berlin wall were being pulled down. Our goals and interests actually complement, rather than exclude, each other. Republican states with their own national identity, economic and political development, security, peace, tolerance, respect for the different - which are the goals and values we are trying to also attain through alliances and memberships in Euro-Atlantic structures. All of us share these desires. The war in the Balkans was a bloody warning. The destruction and the emanations of the evil of war do not stop at state borders and no one can or should remain indifferent and stay silent. Therefore, my friends, it is for the benefit of all people in Central Europe that we continue and encourage co-operation and understanding between our countries, to help open those doors which politics burdened by pragmatism is unable to open. This fourth, already traditional, meeting of ours reveals the breadth of Central European thought in contemplating the future of both big and small countries and nations in their building of a common European future, simultaneously providing for the preservation of national and cultural identities. Let me not only thank you for the honour of your presence at this
meeting and for the successful and friendly talks, but let me also
wish us all success in our future contacts. I believe in these
contacts and their mission. I raise this toast to our friendship,
development and the welfare of all our nations. I drink to the
personal health, happiness and success of every one of you, dear
friends!
GOVERNMENT PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA OFFICE © 2002 |
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