President of the Republic conveys his condolences on the death of President of Austria
Ljubljana, 07/07/2004 | press release
The President of the Republic, Dr Janez Drnovšek, has sent a telegram of condolences to the President of the Austrian National Assembly and to Dr Heinz Fischer, in which he expressed, on behalf of Slovenia and the Slovene people, as well as on his own behalf, his sincere condolences on the death of the Austrian President, Dr Thomas Klestil. At the same time, he requested that the expression of deep condolences be conveyed to Dr Klestil’s closest family.
In the telegram, President Dr Drnovšek also wrote: "I have been deeply moved by the news that just a few days short of the end of his term in office, the Austrian President, Dr Thomas Klestil, passed away. I had hoped that a momentary weakness of the heart would not interrupt his rich activity as a statesman, and that after two presidential terms in office and after passing the mandate over to the new President, he would be able to devote himself, in peace and without the strain of daily obligations, to what he loved best: building bridges between people of good will, expanding the values of Central-European culture and fostering the spirit of co-operation within the European Union.
During the last months of his term, Dr Thomas Klestil was extremely active. At state meetings, the meetings of the European Economic Summit in Salzburg and at the latest meeting of the Presidents of Central European countries, which he co-founded, he radiated so much youthful energy that many of us - those who have had the chance to co-operate with him and share our views about the current topics of the European and Central-European politics - were surprised, but at the same time impressed, by the youthful enthusiasm with which he reminded us at every step that a lot still needs to be done before our work and life in Europe attain a fullness and richness to the satisfaction of all the citizens.
The efforts were great and obviously too strenuous. His body gave in, but the spirit and will of the great Austrian will remain irrevocably written in recent European history, and in our memories. We shall miss his enthusiasm, his strong will, and his belief that even the most complicated problems can be solved with a tolerant and continuous dialogue.
Dr Thomas Klestil lead the Republic of Austria to Europe and strengthened its international profile. At every step, he proved to his European and other colleagues that open questions are a reality, and that democracy, dialogue and tolerance, as well as understanding between people, are the only warrants for the global relationships in the future.
Slovenia shall always honour the memory of Dr Thomas Klestil. He followed Slovenia’s joining the EU with approval and overt sympathy. He encouraged us in our endeavours, while at the same time warning us of the difficulties that were not to be overlooked or underestimated.
Indeed, I can say that Slovenia, the Slovene people and the Slovene national community in Austria have lost a great friend who, with his sober, open and democratic stand, launched Austria among the great European countries, and raised the relations between our two countries to the level of true democratic and tolerant dialogue and co-operation."