personal mental challenge as well as a professional challenge when I was like
professional challenge when I was like
professional challenge when I was like having my career and suddenly our dead
having my career and suddenly our dead
having my career and suddenly our dead pine country Yugoslavia was falling
pine country Yugoslavia was falling
pine country Yugoslavia was falling apart because of the political situation
apart because of the political situation
apart because of the political situation and in the late 1980s Europe was
and in the late 1980s Europe was
and in the late 1980s Europe was actually divided into two parts
actually divided into two parts
actually divided into two parts basically one was the so-called Western
basically one was the so-called Western
basically one was the so-called Western democratic part and the other the
democratic part and the other the
democratic part and the other the eastern one was one-party system mostly
eastern one was one-party system mostly
eastern one was one-party system mostly communist countries and my former
communist countries and my former
communist countries and my former country was la vía was something in
country was la vía was something in
country was la vía was something in between and there is even a movie about
between and there is even a movie about
between and there is even a movie about this so we were still having one party
this so we were still having one party
this so we were still having one party system which was a communist party but
system which was a communist party but
system which was a communist party but we were free to travel unlike other
we were free to travel unlike other
we were free to travel unlike other countries people and we we had a kind of
countries people and we we had a kind of
countries people and we we had a kind of opportunity to elect our representatives
opportunity to elect our representatives
opportunity to elect our representatives from the group of people we were
from the group of people we were
from the group of people we were presented so in the mid-80s there was a
presented so in the mid-80s there was a
presented so in the mid-80s there was a kind of movement in Europe maybe
kind of movement in Europe maybe
kind of movement in Europe maybe somebody of you heard like Salah
somebody of you heard like Salah
somebody of you heard like Salah darkness in Poland but also other
darkness in Poland but also other
darkness in Poland but also other countries and in our part of Yugoslavia
countries and in our part of Yugoslavia
countries and in our part of Yugoslavia which is Slovenia we had very strong
which is Slovenia we had very strong
which is Slovenia we had very strong cultural movement and this is the
cultural movement and this is the
cultural movement and this is the actually the beginning of the modern
actually the beginning of the modern
actually the beginning of the modern statehood of Slovenia although I have to
statehood of Slovenia although I have to
statehood of Slovenia although I have to say the people davinia have lived in
say the people davinia have lived in
say the people davinia have lived in this area since seventh century we had
this area since seventh century we had
this area since seventh century we had also a kind of statehood between seven
also a kind of statehood between seven
also a kind of statehood between seven and tenth century but we were always
and tenth century but we were always
and tenth century but we were always part of some some other countries either
part of some some other countries either
part of some some other countries either austro-hungarian Empire or former
austro-hungarian Empire or former
austro-hungarian Empire or former Yugoslavia or kingdom of Serbs Croats
Yugoslavia or kingdom of Serbs Croats
Yugoslavia or kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenes and so on so it was an
and Slovenes and so on so it was an
and Slovenes and so on so it was an important time that when there was
important time that when there was
important time that when there was opportunity that people Slovenia and the
opportunity that people Slovenia and the
opportunity that people Slovenia and the leaders of that time country were aware
leaders of that time country were aware
leaders of that time country were aware that we got the historic opportunity to
that we got the historic opportunity to
that we got the historic opportunity to declare our independence this was not
declare our independence this was not
declare our independence this was not just something we got in a short time
just something we got in a short time
just something we got in a short time because the language of Slovenian people
because the language of Slovenian people
because the language of Slovenian people was there for many years so one of the
was there for many years so one of the
was there for many years so one of the main elements that defines us was the
main elements that defines us was the
main elements that defines us was the language and they were at that time
language and they were at that time
language and they were at that time about two million people before that we
about two million people before that we
about two million people before that we were even less and we were able to
were even less and we were able to
were even less and we were able to survive among the strong nations like
survive among the strong nations like
survive among the strong nations like the Germans in the north the Italians in
the Germans in the north the Italians in
the Germans in the north the Italians in the West and also Hungarians in the in
the West and also Hungarians in the in
the West and also Hungarians in the in the East because the people somehow kept
the East because the people somehow kept
the East because the people somehow kept their culture within the small
their culture within the small
their culture within the small communities where we were at that time
communities where we were at that time
communities where we were at that time the big cities were basically speaking
the big cities were basically speaking
the big cities were basically speaking foreign languages but Slovenian language
foreign languages but Slovenian language
foreign languages but Slovenian language was kept since seventh century we got
was kept since seventh century we got
was kept since seventh century we got our first book in 1550 and all this came
our first book in 1550 and all this came
our first book in 1550 and all this came together in the late 1980s when Europe
together in the late 1980s when Europe
together in the late 1980s when Europe was on a way to a big political change I
was on a way to a big political change I
was on a way to a big political change I believe you know you heard about the
believe you know you heard about the
believe you know you heard about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and this
fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and this
fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and this was a kind of a strong signal to other
was a kind of a strong signal to other
was a kind of a strong signal to other nations who were not independent before
nations who were not independent before
nations who were not independent before and they were others not yet Slovenia
and they were others not yet Slovenia
and they were others not yet Slovenia and the other nations of former
and the other nations of former
and the other nations of former Yugoslavia but also Czechs and Slovaks
Yugoslavia but also Czechs and Slovaks
Yugoslavia but also Czechs and Slovaks and we know that there are other nations
and we know that there are other nations
and we know that there are other nations in Europe as well who were still a part
in Europe as well who were still a part
in Europe as well who were still a part of bigger countries so at that time the
of bigger countries so at that time the
of bigger countries so at that time the political climate was just right because
political climate was just right because
political climate was just right because people were ready for a multi-party
people were ready for a multi-party
people were ready for a multi-party system which we didn’t have before and
system which we didn’t have before and
system which we didn’t have before and we were also having our politicians who
we were also having our politicians who
we were also having our politicians who found the way it was not just that we we
found the way it was not just that we we
found the way it was not just that we we declare the independence after the
declare the independence after the
declare the independence after the political situation was right it was
political situation was right it was
political situation was right it was also very important to find a proper way
also very important to find a proper way
also very important to find a proper way to persuade the international community
to persuade the international community
to persuade the international community how they can how they can actually
how they can how they can actually
how they can how they can actually accept a new country in Europe because
accept a new country in Europe because
accept a new country in Europe because nobody really likes big political
nobody really likes big political
nobody really likes big political disturbances stability is kind of
disturbances stability is kind of
disturbances stability is kind of something we all would like to keep so
something we all would like to keep so
something we all would like to keep so the people were actually asked for
the people were actually asked for
the people were actually asked for deciding as either we want to stay with
deciding as either we want to stay with
deciding as either we want to stay with the old former Yugoslavia or we want to
the old former Yugoslavia or we want to
the old former Yugoslavia or we want to risk and go into a new country so we had
risk and go into a new country so we had
risk and go into a new country so we had a referendum and the referendum was
a referendum and the referendum was
a referendum and the referendum was widely widely supportive to the new
widely widely supportive to the new
widely widely supportive to the new statehood so we got the decision of the
statehood so we got the decision of the
statehood so we got the decision of the people but this was not actually Dino
people but this was not actually Dino
people but this was not actually Dino because that was the beginning that the
because that was the beginning that the
because that was the beginning that the government had to start to discuss how
government had to start to discuss how
government had to start to discuss how we will be internationally recognized
we will be internationally recognized
we will be internationally recognized and this was also the part when I
and this was also the part when I
and this was also the part when I entered the Foreign Service because
entered the Foreign Service because
entered the Foreign Service because before I was a high school teacher and a
before I was a high school teacher and a
before I was a high school teacher and a researcher and suddenly the politicians
researcher and suddenly the politicians
researcher and suddenly the politicians were looking people with experience so I
were looking people with experience so I
were looking people with experience so I had some international experience
had some international experience
had some international experience traveling to different continents and I
traveling to different continents and I
traveling to different continents and I did my studies so this was the new
did my studies so this was the new
did my studies so this was the new opportunity also in a personal way that
opportunity also in a personal way that
opportunity also in a personal way that everybody was able to contribute to the
everybody was able to contribute to the
everybody was able to contribute to the new country not just like diplomats but
new country not just like diplomats but
new country not just like diplomats but also artists politicians and
also artists politicians and
also artists politicians and there are other people and it was a kind
there are other people and it was a kind
there are other people and it was a kind of very unique mood within the society
of very unique mood within the society
of very unique mood within the society at that time because we had so many
at that time because we had so many
at that time because we had so many opportunities we we had so many creative
opportunities we we had so many creative
opportunities we we had so many creative people who were ready to do something
people who were ready to do something
people who were ready to do something for a new country and we also had a very
for a new country and we also had a very
for a new country and we also had a very vigorous
vigorous
vigorous and of course this risk came to our
and of course this risk came to our
and of course this risk came to our minds in June 1991 when we actually
minds in June 1991 when we actually
minds in June 1991 when we actually declared the independence half a year
declared the independence half a year
declared the independence half a year after the referendum was held and at
after the referendum was held and at
after the referendum was held and at that time Federal Army and people of the
that time Federal Army and people of the
that time Federal Army and people of the Federal Army and the federal government
Federal Army and the federal government
Federal Army and the federal government did not agree with the independence so
did not agree with the independence so
did not agree with the independence so there there was an invasion that started
there there was an invasion that started
there there was an invasion that started in Slovenia with thanks on all the
in Slovenia with thanks on all the
in Slovenia with thanks on all the streets which was at least for me and
streets which was at least for me and
streets which was at least for me and most of the people a big surprise we had
most of the people a big surprise we had
most of the people a big surprise we had quite a normal peaceful life and nobody
quite a normal peaceful life and nobody
quite a normal peaceful life and nobody actually believed that tanks can come to
actually believed that tanks can come to
actually believed that tanks can come to the streets and start killing people and
the streets and start killing people and
the streets and start killing people and this this is what happened so this was a
this this is what happened so this was a
this this is what happened so this was a very important period it was 10 days so
very important period it was 10 days so
very important period it was 10 days so the war was short but very important for
the war was short but very important for
the war was short but very important for the politicians that they found a
the politicians that they found a
the politicians that they found a neutral agreement with other federal
neutral agreement with other federal
neutral agreement with other federal politicians to lend Slovenia go as
politicians to lend Slovenia go as
politicians to lend Slovenia go as independent country and this was kind of
independent country and this was kind of
independent country and this was kind of a challenging period also because the
a challenging period also because the
a challenging period also because the leaders had to test the mood within the
leaders had to test the mood within the
leaders had to test the mood within the society whether people are supporting
society whether people are supporting
society whether people are supporting them in their goal or not and what
them in their goal or not and what
them in their goal or not and what happened is actually that each local
happened is actually that each local
happened is actually that each local community was organized into rebellion
community was organized into rebellion
community was organized into rebellion so people were locking the streets with
so people were locking the streets with
so people were locking the streets with concrete with cars buses and many many
concrete with cars buses and many many
concrete with cars buses and many many other obstacles so that the tanks and
other obstacles so that the tanks and
other obstacles so that the tanks and the
the
the army drugs were not able to move they
army drugs were not able to move they
army drugs were not able to move they were cutting off electricity from the
were cutting off electricity from the
were cutting off electricity from the barracks and water so that the soldiers
barracks and water so that the soldiers
barracks and water so that the soldiers would be able to go out without fight
would be able to go out without fight
would be able to go out without fight this was the offer and the ten days the
this was the offer and the ten days the
this was the offer and the ten days the war was was actually in a way I proved
war was was actually in a way I proved
war was was actually in a way I proved that politics and diplomacy can work
that politics and diplomacy can work
that politics and diplomacy can work because this work would be much longer
because this work would be much longer
because this work would be much longer as it was the case in other parts of
as it was the case in other parts of
as it was the case in other parts of former Yugoslavia Croatia for example
former Yugoslavia Croatia for example
former Yugoslavia Croatia for example Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo but for
Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo but for
Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo but for us this was it and then the next step
us this was it and then the next step
us this was it and then the next step was first to establish the statehood we
was first to establish the statehood we
was first to establish the statehood we have we had the old constitution of
have we had the old constitution of
have we had the old constitution of former Yugoslavia we had the old
former Yugoslavia we had the old
former Yugoslavia we had the old national anthem we had all the old state
national anthem we had all the old state
national anthem we had all the old state symbols we started to invent new symbols
symbols we started to invent new symbols
symbols we started to invent new symbols and this is why I brought some of the
and this is why I brought some of the
and this is why I brought some of the pictures to show to you and they’re
pictures to show to you and they’re
pictures to show to you and they’re actually artists who are creating this
actually artists who are creating this
actually artists who are creating this like in Canada you have people who draw
like in Canada you have people who draw
like in Canada you have people who draw the money so we we had people food raw
the money so we we had people food raw
the money so we we had people food raw ID cards passports or other iid
ID cards passports or other iid
ID cards passports or other iid documents and the money so we can see
documents and the money so we can see
documents and the money so we can see different drawings and then we have
different drawings and then we have
different drawings and then we have whole stamps and the coins as well so
whole stamps and the coins as well so
whole stamps and the coins as well so this is all what we had to introduce in
this is all what we had to introduce in
this is all what we had to introduce in a very short time and we also had to
a very short time and we also had to
a very short time and we also had to approve the new national anthem which is
approve the new national anthem which is
approve the new national anthem which is actually a very nice one the lyrics are
actually a very nice one the lyrics are
actually a very nice one the lyrics are cheering all the nations for love
cheering all the nations for love
cheering all the nations for love freedom not just our own which usually
freedom not just our own which usually
freedom not just our own which usually the anthem is which it’s normal but so
the anthem is which it’s normal but so
the anthem is which it’s normal but so everybody who loves freedom and
everybody who loves freedom and
everybody who loves freedom and democracy and
democracy and
democracy and relation so this is one of the main
relation so this is one of the main
relation so this is one of the main messages of our National Anthem we
messages of our National Anthem we
messages of our National Anthem we started to establish relations with
started to establish relations with
started to establish relations with foreign countries and I was already part
foreign countries and I was already part
foreign countries and I was already part of the Foreign Service when I led I left
of the Foreign Service when I led I left
of the Foreign Service when I led I left with that time my deputy foreign
with that time my deputy foreign
with that time my deputy foreign minister to African countries which
minister to African countries which
minister to African countries which heard about a new country engine in in
heard about a new country engine in in
heard about a new country engine in in Europe but they didn’t know who who we
Europe but they didn’t know who who we
Europe but they didn’t know who who we are so we went to a few of them and some
are so we went to a few of them and some
are so we went to a few of them and some they did not want to receive us because
they did not want to receive us because
they did not want to receive us because they were not sure whether they are
they were not sure whether they are
they were not sure whether they are ready to go with the new country or not
ready to go with the new country or not
ready to go with the new country or not so we were at some spots where where we
so we were at some spots where where we
so we were at some spots where where we were not able to start the normal
were not able to start the normal
were not able to start the normal discussions about the recognition of
discussions about the recognition of
discussions about the recognition of Slovenia but anyway the process somehow
Slovenia but anyway the process somehow
Slovenia but anyway the process somehow became irreversible we were recognized
became irreversible we were recognized
became irreversible we were recognized by major powers and also by grant
by major powers and also by grant
by major powers and also by grant account which has a kind of strong word
account which has a kind of strong word
account which has a kind of strong word among the Christian world we we were
among the Christian world we we were
among the Christian world we we were slowly approaching the membership of the
slowly approaching the membership of the
slowly approaching the membership of the United Nations which was one of the
United Nations which was one of the
United Nations which was one of the major steps forward and and this was
major steps forward and and this was
major steps forward and and this was something which is a kind of very
something which is a kind of very
something which is a kind of very special experience because the older
special experience because the older
special experience because the older countries have always as something very
countries have always as something very
countries have always as something very normal but we were actually struggling
normal but we were actually struggling
normal but we were actually struggling for each step one by one and once we
for each step one by one and once we
for each step one by one and once we became a well-established independent
became a well-established independent
became a well-established independent country we had to define our future
country we had to define our future
country we had to define our future orientation and luckily at that time
orientation and luckily at that time
orientation and luckily at that time European Union was a an association that
European Union was a an association that
European Union was a an association that was actually supporting countries that
was actually supporting countries that
was actually supporting countries that were introducing democratic systems and
were introducing democratic systems and
were introducing democratic systems and the market economy to develop faster and
the market economy to develop faster and
the market economy to develop faster and also to join this association so
also to join this association so
also to join this association so Slovenia had two goals one was
Slovenia had two goals one was
Slovenia had two goals one was the European Union and the other was
the European Union and the other was
the European Union and the other was also defense because we were a small
also defense because we were a small
also defense because we were a small tiny country of two million people and
tiny country of two million people and
tiny country of two million people and if you if you look at the map of Europe
if you if you look at the map of Europe
if you if you look at the map of Europe this is such a small spot that it’s
this is such a small spot that it’s
this is such a small spot that it’s hardly recognizable so from the
hardly recognizable so from the
hardly recognizable so from the defensive point of view it was important
defensive point of view it was important
defensive point of view it was important that we also joined the Alliance which
that we also joined the Alliance which
that we also joined the Alliance which Canada is also part of in its NATO and
Canada is also part of in its NATO and
Canada is also part of in its NATO and these were two important steps that
these were two important steps that
these were two important steps that actually meant recognition of our
actually meant recognition of our
actually meant recognition of our international community membership and
international community membership and
international community membership and the rest was actually much easier we
the rest was actually much easier we
the rest was actually much easier we were starting to open the foreign
were starting to open the foreign
were starting to open the foreign representative offices and embassies one
representative offices and embassies one
representative offices and embassies one in Canada in 1993 and we started to
in Canada in 1993 and we started to
in Canada in 1993 and we started to operate as a normal country and what I
operate as a normal country and what I
operate as a normal country and what I would like to say is that Slovenia as a
would like to say is that Slovenia as a
would like to say is that Slovenia as a new relatively new country had actually
new relatively new country had actually
new relatively new country had actually seized the opportunity a small window in
seized the opportunity a small window in
seized the opportunity a small window in like almost 1500 years of history to
like almost 1500 years of history to
like almost 1500 years of history to establish its statehood and the people
establish its statehood and the people
establish its statehood and the people actually were able to fulfill their
actually were able to fulfill their
actually were able to fulfill their dreams and one of the major elements
dreams and one of the major elements
dreams and one of the major elements that kept our nation alive until we were
that kept our nation alive until we were
that kept our nation alive until we were able to declare our independence was our
able to declare our independence was our
able to declare our independence was our culture and our language so this is very
culture and our language so this is very
culture and our language so this is very important for any any nation and for
important for any any nation and for
important for any any nation and for Slovenia I think specifically as well
Slovenia I think specifically as well
Slovenia I think specifically as well and the the last thing is also that
and the the last thing is also that
and the the last thing is also that people were ready to accept the new
people were ready to accept the new
people were ready to accept the new circumstances and to support their
circumstances and to support their
circumstances and to support their individual
individual
individual you country
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