Message from the President of the Republic of Slovenia on the occasion of Independence and Unity Day

Dear Slovenians at home and around the world,
Citizens and residents of the Republic of Slovenia.

It is my hope that we will more often remind ourselves of how proud we can be of Slovenia, this beautiful land of extraordinary natural diversity, with a wonderful and loving name. There are many reasons to be immensely proud of our creative and tireless people, our forward-thinking scientists and successful entrepreneurs, our outstanding athletes and our exceptional artists. A country is its people, and every one of us is part of this shared story of success.

 Slovenia is a respected and equal member of the European Union. It is a country with a stable democracy and a rich natural heritage. It is a mature member of the international community and is by no means small or insignificant. Both at home and abroad, it consistently fosters and upholds the values of the rule of law, human rights, respect and dignity.

None of this would have been possible if, a little over thirty-four years ago, we had not looked deeply within ourselves as a nation and asked ourselves who we were and what we wanted to become. We were clear and united in our answer: we wanted to live in our own free and democratic country. This decision was neither easy nor self-evident, but the vision of a state in which we made our own decisions, in which we respected one another, and in which every person had their dignity upheld, was stronger than all the differences that divided us. It brought us together, united us in a higher purpose and helped us overcome every obstacle, every challenge and every threat we faced.

That is why Independence and Unity Day carries an exceptionally important message for the future. A message about the unwavering power of courage, determination, hope, faith in what lies ahead and, above all, unity.

 Dear citizens,

 In times when the world is changing faster than we can comprehend, and when we face challenges that put our solidarity to the test, it is all the more important to see in one another a partner in dialogue, not an opponent. To remember that our differences enrich us, and our shared goals unite us.  Our future will be exactly what we make it, together.

May we be guided by the same determination that had led the generation that said the historic "yes" on 23 December 1990. 

May we be united by respect and trust. And may our pride in our homeland be reflected in our actions, not just in our words.

My sincere congratulations on Independence and Unity Day.

Long live Slovenia!