Slovenia's Independence Day Remembered

Ljubljana, 23 December - "That which we managed to receive ten years ago, is not something which, in a historical and international context, belonged to us completely by rule. We waited for this for a long time. That is why it is right that we respect our country. That we make it as best, as warm and as open to all its citizens," said Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek at Saturday's main ceremony to mark Slovenia's Independence Day which will take place on 26 December. That day marks the publication of the official results of a referendum at which Slovene citizens voted for independence from the former Yugoslavia with an overwhelming majority, thus paving the way to a series of steps through which Slovenia gained its independence, including a ten-day independence war which followed the official announcement of independence.