President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Danilo Türk receives UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour

Ljubljana, 31.1.2008  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, this morning received the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour. After the meeting, the President noted that Ms Arbour is an "outstanding personality in the area of human rights". The topics of today's meeting were the issues of the racial and other forms of discrimination regarding which a comprehensive discussion within the framework of the United Nations will be held this year. Dr Danilo Türk and Ms Arbour also discussed the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the development of the United Nations system and procedures related to the violations of human rights in certain countries. "Human rights have become an integral component of the package of international peace and security concerns addressed by peacekeeping operations", mentioned the President after the discussion.

"Our discussion was focused on how to promote and protect human rights all over the world and on the role of the European Union in this. I believe that the role of the European Union is to assist and support these international efforts", said Ms Arbour, according to whom, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides an opportunity to concentrate all the efforts in this area.

Today's meeting did not involve discussion on human rights in Slovenia, however the President in his answers to the journalists noted that as in all other countries, there are problems in implementation of human rights in Slovenia, too. "We must be very sensitive to any criticism and accept it as a constructive and well-intentioned attempt," emphasised the President, Dr Danilo Turk. Last year, Slovenia was elected to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and Dr Danilo Türk and Ms Arbour agreed that Slovenia plays an important and active role in it.