Slovenian President Awarded Title of Protector of European Academy of Sciences and Arts

Ljubljana, 9.3.2009  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, has been named a protector of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He was awarded the title at a ceremonial session of the Academy held on 7 March 2009 in Salzburg. President Türk thus joined the group of European heads of state who have undertaken to support science and art in their respective countries. Among the protectors of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts are such eminent persons as the presidents of the Republic of Austria and the Slovak Republic, the kings of Spain and of Belgium and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. At the ceremonial session, two Slovenian academics, Dr Alojz Kralj and Dr Vojeslav Vlachy, received active membership of the Academy. In the past, the title of protector was also awarded to the former Slovenian presidents Milan Kučan and Dr Janez Drnovšek. After the expiry of his term of office as president, Mr Kučan remained an honorary member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

In his address of thanks upon receiving the title, President Türk said that the Academy is an important European institution, which realises the idea of Europe as a single intellectual space, since it links members from across Europe. This is a significant European orientation for the future, because only if Europe manages to mobilise its entire intellectual potential will it be able to play an adequate role in the globalised world, stressed Dr Türk. He recalled that intellectual power, cultural creativity and innovation had in the past given Europe the status of the centre of the world. Although it no longer holds this position, Europe can nevertheless once more assume an appropriate place in the future in a changing world.

President Türk also touched on the global financial and economic crisis. He pointed out that we live at a time when we should all deliberate on this problem, and that technical solutions could not be the only response to the crisis. It is important that we think more widely and deeply about the changes that would spur economic development, he said. Dr Türk noted that serious work had been done within the European Union to tackle the crisis. He pointed out, however, that merely introducing new rules for regulating the financial system would not suffice and that rules should be changed in a manner that would strengthen the global financial system; confidence in this system has been greatly damaged, and new solutions are required that will restore the confidence of governments and people all over the world. Dr Türk argued that the financial system should be reformed so that global financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, would become more representative and would include the two thirds of the world's population that are not currently represented. This is a political issue requiring serious political consideration and intellectual support. President Türk added that he hoped that the European Academy of Sciences and Art would take part in this debate and, by strengthening Europe’s intellectual unity, make a significant contribution to the search for solutions providing a way out of the global economic crisis.