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THE GOVERNMENT APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Reception for the members of the new government
Address by the President of the Republic Milan Kucan
Ljubljana, 7 March 1997
"It is of great importance that a sense of responsibility to the state and to our fellow citizens has prevailed. The LDS and SLS have found enough strength to come to an agreement on the basic strategic goals defined by the plebiscite and by the attainment of independence. The two parties and their two leaders who have been chief negotiators have earned our appreciation for their responsible and determined actions", pointed out the president.
Prime Minister, Ministers,
I am pleased that the National Assembly has approved a government that will be able to perform its constitutional role with full competence. The requirement that it will be able to tackle its many tasks immediately, including some that are of paramount importance to the country, its future and its international status, has thus been fulfilled.
In order to secure in particular the quality of life of the Slovenes, as well as our image and place in the world, the government and the whole country face some very pressing matters of state involving:
- the earliest possible finalization of our path into Euro-Atlantic integrations,
- harmonization of our legal system with the standards and criteria of the EU and NATO,
- immediate ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU and the adoption of protective legislation,
- resolving of open issues in our relations with our neighbours at an accelerated rate.
The future of Slovenia and its people imposes on us also an obligation to complete the restructuring of the state, encourage economic development and spiritual creativity and thus create the circumstances that will provide the younger generations in particular with an opportunity to realize their personal and professional aims, their social security and their future. Our citizens expect effective responses to many open issues, such as the ensuring of a welfare state and its adaptation to economic possibilities, finalization of ownership transformation, consistent establishment of a state based on law, decisive tackling of unlawful practice, and assurance of actual equality of all before the law, provision of conditions for timely and efficient work of the judiciary, care for the Slovenes abroad, and the settling of relations with the Church.
It has been a long and hard path to the establishment of this government. Given the results of the parliamentary elections, a great deal of statesmanship was required in seeking a consensus of those political parties which have, due to the votes and support received from the electorate, the primary and the greatest responsibility for management of the state. It is of great importance that a sense of responsibility to the state and to our fellow citizens has prevailed. The LDS and SLS have found enough strength to come to an agreement on the basic strategic goals defined by the plebiscite and by the attainment of independence. The two parties and their two leaders who have been chief negotiators have earned our appreciation for their responsible and determined actions, which I am sure have not been easy, and for their building of bridges in the interest of the state. The agreement has been reached through consistent application of parliamentary procedure and within the time limits provided by the Constitution and the parliamentary Standing Orders.
The Government is lawful. It is legitimate.
As of the day of its appointment, it became the Government of the Slovene state and of all its inhabitants. It is such because of the will of those parliamentary parties that were willing to participate in the government coalition, as well as because of the will of those - and this should not go unnoticed- that declined to assume this responsibility. And as such, it is closer to the idea of a government with broad support in the National Assembly and in the public, as is required by the nature of the tasks facing Slovenia, and this should represent a significant step towards the overcoming of what is realistically an unfounded and politically imposed division.
The Government, supported by professionals in the ministries, will, in line with its role, bear a large, indeed the largest share of responsibility for the future of the country. To adopt solutions regarding which we, the administrators of the state, are bound by the plebiscite and the independence charters, it will have to make efforts to reach a national consensus, too. The objectives committed ourselves to with independence are a vital necessity for Slovenia and, therefore, so too is the deepest sense of competitive complementarity of the Government and opposition, in order for us to step out of the past and into the future.
The Government has gained sufficient support in the National Assembly to be able to work successfully, however, with careful weighing of the views of the opposition, too. It will be accountable for its work, as well as for the future of the country, both to the parliament and to all the citizens, since they have the right to a state which will give equal opportunities to all, and which will be a democratic and tolerant home to be shared by all the diversities which Slovenia embodies.
I hope you will choose auspicious paths. They will be the basis for the assessment of your work. This will not be easy for you, therefore I wish you a great deal of wisdom, patience and tolerance. I trust that in decisive moments you will find the political will and correct path towards those goals of our country we have committed ourselves to with independence.
May I offer my sincere congratulations on your election. I wish you successful work in the demanding management of state affairs.
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