President of the Republic receives prestigious award for outstanding contribution to the legal profession

New York, 25.9.2008  |  press release

On the margins of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, held one-on-one bilateral meetings yesterday with the President of the Republic of Poland, the President of the Republic of Lebanon and the President of the Republic of the Philippines. In the afternoon (local time), Dr Türk visited the Goldman Sachs investment banking headquarters and the Touro Law School, where he delivered a lecture entitled “Sixty Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Key Points of the Universal Declaration”.

In their discussions, Dr Türk and Polish President Lech Kaczyński in particular addressed climate change issues and preparations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to take place in Poznań in December 2008. They agreed that the conference would be a significant stage in the process of formulating a global agreement expected to be adopted next year to replace the Kyoto Protocol. The two presidents stressed that the success of this process greatly depends on the progress made by the end of this year.

At the request of Dr Türk, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman presented an analysis of the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, where national dialogue has been started with a view to ensuring greater internal political stability. President Suleiman insisted on the active involvement of the European Union in the Middle East and strengthening communication between the European Union and Syria. Presidents Türk and Suleiman also addressed the development of cooperation in the Mediterranean region and the opportunities offered by the EMUNI University Center for Euro-Mediterranean Studies with its seat in Portorož.

Dr Türk and Philippine President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo discussed cooperation between European and Asian countries and expectations of South East Asia related to the forthcoming ASEM Summit, where the leaders of the European Union and Asia will be brought together. They also discussed bilateral relations, which need new impetus both in political and economic spheres. In their discussions the two presidents especially highlighted the role of the port of Koper as an ever more important factor in the development of trade between Central Europe and overseas countries.

At Goldman Sachs, Dr Türk met with the management of the bank and discussed the current financial crisis in the United States and its global dimensions. The representatives of the bank presented their analysis of the current situation to Dr Türk and the measures necessary for solving these issues.

At Touro College, Dr Türk delivered a lecture on the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this occasion, Dr Türk was awarded the prestigious Arthur J. Goldberg Award, which is presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the legal profession. The award was established in memory of Arthur J. Goldberg, the American jurist who served as Supreme Court Justice and Ambassador to the United Nations, and who dedicated his life and career to fighting intolerance and injustice and improving the human condition.