President Türk greets successful students at international competitions

Brdo pri Kranju, 8.12.2010  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, has attended a reception for students who have achieved success at international competitions and their mentors. Successful students represent the young intellectual elite of the Slovene people, said President Türk during his speech. In his view, Slovenia’s development is linked to the way in which the life of people will be cultivated, with science and art, as the noblest ingredients of the culture, playing a decisive role.

To prepare ourselves for the future that lies ahead, we need intellectual effort and prominent achievements, he said. Equally important is to create opportunities for young people to develop their talents in the best possible way and to be able to use their potential early in their lives.

This could also be supported by further opening up the European area, said President Türk, regretting the fact that Europe still lacks sufficient communication in higher education, science and research. In the view of president Türk, Europe needs to have an intellectual exchange with other countries, such as Russia, which is why he has supported the liberalisation of the visa system enabling exchange of this kind.

President Türk reminded the audience that Slovenia’s ambition when it was working towards independence was to become a part of the global community, to find a level within it and to prosper in it. Slovenia's integration into global communications and achievements measured on a global scale is reflected in the brilliant success of its students in world competitions.

President Türk expressed his support to students who are looking for work or who wish to pursue their research and academic career abroad, and refusing to see Slovenia as an introverted country. At the same time, however, he hoped that Slovenia would create the conditions to enable those achieving success abroad to return home and enrich the Slovene society with their achievements and provide it with appropriate perspectives.