SHADOW CAST ON MINORITY CELEBRATION

Ljubljana, 11 November 1999


After all the reassurance given to the Slovenian ethnic minority in Italy and after all the reassurance the Slovenian state received from the Italian government, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, the decision to postpone the adoption of the framework law on the protection of the Slovenian minority in Italy comes as a great disappointment,” President Kucan stated in his talks with the representatives of Slovenes in Italy whom he received prior to the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the first Slovenian sporting organisation in Friuli Venezia-Giulia, the Juzni Sokol (Southern Hawk).

President Kucan voiced his concern over the fact that the Slovenian minority in Italy remains the only one among Italy's minorities whose status is not legally regulated, as well as his regret, especially due to the consequences this decision will have, if it stands, on the life of the Slovenian minority in all three provinces of the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region. The issue of a framework law enacting the rights and the protection of minorities in all three provinces is, according to President Kucan, also a matter of Italy's reputation and credibility in the international community and a matter of the two states' obligations towards fundamental values of European civilisation, where the protection of minorities occupies a special place, for it is this attitude that is time and again the test of democracy in any society.

President Kucan congratulated the delegation of Slovenes from Italy, comprising of high representatives of Slovenian sporting associations and the presidents of the two framework political organisations, Mr Sergij Pahor and Mr Rudi Pavsic, on the important and respectable anniversary of Juzni Sokol and expressed his expectation that Slovenian sporting associations in Italy will continue to function as successfully as they do in the future as well. In his opinion, their activities namely by far exceed just sporting elements and are of great importance for the minority as a whole, for the preservation of Slovenian identity in Italy and for the preservation of the most noble of traditions of the Sokol movement, including values such as openness, tolerance, solidarity, an optimistic outlook on life and a healthy spirit. President Kucan particularly welcomed the fact that the two Slovenian organisations joined forces for the first time after World War II and took on the sponsorship of the ceremony celebrating the Juzni Sokol anniversary. President Kucan also presented the delegation with a letter of greetings for the participants at the event.