The President of the Republic receives representatives of the Enotna lista party

Ljubljana, 31.8.2011  |  press release

The President of the Republic, Dr. Danilo Türk, received representatives of the Enotna lista common party of the Slovenian national community in Austrian Carinthia. Representatives of the Enotna lista party, headed by the president Vladimir Smrtnik, informed him of the current situation in Austrian Carinthia following the recent adoption of the constitutional act which, among other things, prescribes a greater number of bilingual local signs. As they stressed, the atmosphere shows positive changes, and there is more tolerance and understanding for the needs of the Slovenian minority. However, as they pointed out, the adoption of the constitutional act should not be understood as the final solution of all open questions and realization of Article 7 of the Austrian State Treaty.

President Türk agreed that the adoption of the constitutional act presents a step in the right direction, bringing the possibility of a new, more creative and integrating relationship between the majority nation and the Slovenian minority in the Austrian Carinthia, where much is still left to be done. The President also pointed out that much depends on the minority itself, its initiatives, energy and unity. The President marked the work of Franc Jožef Smrtnik, the mayor of Železna Kapla, who was elected as a candidate of the Enotna lista party, as very important for developing positive atmosphere.