President of the Republic of Slovenia addressed those present at the “Africa Day” conference
Ljubljana, 25. 5. 2016 | press release, speech
President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor attended the “Africa Day” conference organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the International Centre for the Promotion of Enterprises, the Club of Former Slovenian Ambassadors, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the International African Forum. The conference took place in Ljubljana for the fifth consecutive year.
This year, the event is dedicated to tackling issues and seizing opportunities coming from the African continent and to the enhancement of relationships between the African countries and Slovenia, also in the field of business.
In his opening speech, President Pahor pointed out that the Slovenian foreign policy must pay more attention to the continent with the largest potential and that Slovenia must strengthen its cooperation with African countries. “Since having gained our independence, we have mostly been encountering our African colleagues at a parliamentary and presidential level within multilateral gatherings,” he said and estimated that, considering the possibilities, we have not tapped into all opportunities and chances that Africa can offer.
On this occasion, Pahor extended his gratitude to all who have been trying to promote the cooperation between Slovenia and Africa for years, especially to the organisers of the traditional Africa Days in Slovenia. He emphasised that the world, which is undergoing the globalisation process, needs more understanding and mutual respect in order to raise the level of relationships between cultures and all that binds us together as humans.
Before the conference, Pahor met with the Senegalese Minister for the Implementation of the Senegalese Development Plan, Abdoul Aziz Tall, with whom he discussed the possibilities of strengthening the relations between Slovenia and Africa. On the occasion, the Slovenian President also asked Minister Tall to extend an invitation to the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, to come on a formal visit to Slovenia.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA