WEBVTT

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<i>News Conference on the Second
Anniversary</i>

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<i>of Robert Golob's Government</i>

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<i>The Second Anniversary
of Robert Golob's Government</i>

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Hello. This Saturday will
mark the second anniversary

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of Slovenia's 15th government,
which is led by Robert Golob.

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He is joined today by
representatives

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of the other two coalition parties,
Culture Minister Asta Vrečko,

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and Economy Minister
Matjaž Han.

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Hello to all three speakers.
-Presidents, presidents.

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Presidents.

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And the coordinator
of the Left.

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You have the floor,
Mr. Prime Minister

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and President
of the Freedom Movement.

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What did the government accomplish
over the past two years?

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Hello to everyone on the second
anniversary

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of our government's term.
The government is composed

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of the Freedom Movement,
SD, and the Left,

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three parties that have a very
similar worldview.

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We sometimes have different
opinions on how to realize

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a common goal, but we always
find common ground.

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That's why the work here
is hard and committed;

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we often laugh and
sometimes have arguments,

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but what counts in the end

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is that all our achievements
are joint ones.

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We work as a team and share
pride in our results,

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no matter which ministry
was assigned a task

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and who brought about the result.

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In the end, it's the government's
result.

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As you saw in the film,
the conditions in which

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the government has worked
on behalf of Slovenia

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have not been favorable
to the government.

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We encountered a crisis immediately
after the war in Ukraine,

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an energy crisis, inflation,
and even catastrophic floods,

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but I won't talk about
any of that today.

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I'll talk about how we did
our work regardless

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of our circumstances
and did it with passion.

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The results, which you can see
behind me,

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confirm this.

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Slovenia's economic growth rate
is among the highest in the EU.

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Inflation has fallen
from 10% to 3%

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and is under control.
The unemployment rate

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is the lowest ever.
Slovenia has never had

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as many people in the workforce
as during this government's term.

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Best of all, none of these trends
is slowing down.

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All three trends have persisted
in the first quarter of 2024,

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in both April and May,
and continue to show growth.

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We're often left with an impression
that all these successes come

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at the expense of business,
but we realize that we can have

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neither prosperity nor a welfare
state without thriving businesses.

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This graph shows the profits
of the business sector.

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Despite these achievements,
as well as those concerning welfare,

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profits have been constantly
increasing and reached

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record levels last year,
including in the business sector.

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This means that the measures
we're passing

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are helping the business sector
to develop

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and to enable the functioning
of a welfare state through taxes.

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And we certainly haven't
neglected the welfare state.

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Quite the opposite.
During this government's term,

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we've seen record increases
of the guaranteed pension

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and the minimum wage.
We know that we must

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ensure a dignified life
for everyone, not just a select few.

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That's why we're especially proud
of the welfare component

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of our achievements. Again,
this didn't come at the expense

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of the business sector.

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The balance between
the welfare state

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a booming business sector
is something we will continue

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to pursue for the rest of this term
and in the next term.

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Why do I keep emphasizing
the next term?

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Because many of our measures

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will only give results
in the next term.

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We substantially increased
the funds for research,

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development, and innovation.
This is the key if we wish

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to base our growth
on a knowledge society.

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That's we we've increased our
funding from €300 million in 2022

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to more than €500 million
in the year ahead,

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and we're carry on this trend.
Only investments in knowledge

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can increase the value of our work
and our standard of living.

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We also haven't neglected
the development

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of basic infrastructure.
This government made use

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of cohesion funds from
the previous period.

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The amount was more than 100%,
because it also contributed

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its own funds, but everything
was used up.

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This makes Slovenia
one of Europe's most successful

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countries in terms of the efficient
use of EU funds.

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These superlatives are often
overlooked

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because the opposition
is manipulating the numbers.

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The numbers behind me
didn't come from the government

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or any political party.

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They have been confirmed
on the international level

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and verified by international
institutions, so they're accurate.

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However, this government
didn't win elections

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two years ago because it promised
an economic boom,

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even though we did enable it.
We won because we promised

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to end existing practices,
to normalize relations.

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This is something we quickly forget
and get used to.

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After all, normalization
refers to something normal.

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Unfortunately, the main opposition

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is sticking to the same principles,
which we reject.

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They insist that there's no
rule of law in Slovenia,

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that there's no media freedom,
and that Slovenia's democratic

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system needs to be changed
completely.

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I convinced myself that
yesterday by watching

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a live interview on television.
You know what I'm talking about.

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Go watch the recording and you'll
see the difference in basic values

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and what's in store for us
if the opposition gets in power.

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It's worth watching regardless
of what you think of me.

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It's values that count,
not personal impressions.

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I'm proud that I can say
that we in Slovenia live

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in a democratic society where
everyone can protest, and we don't

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use the police, water cannons,
or pepper spray against them.

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I'm proud that the rule of law
applies to everyone,

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ordinary people
as well as politicians,

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regardless of their party or
political status.

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The rule of law applies
to everyone equally.

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I'm also proud that we have
media freedom.

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Today, all the media are free.

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Everyone can write, criticize,
and think independently.

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Things will stay that way.

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These are the values why
we went to the polls

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and why we formed a coalition.

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This is our fundamental
promise to the people of Slovenia.

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However, we've faced
many challenged

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and external circumstances
outside of our control.

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We also has a country that had
to be returned to normalcy.

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Despite this, we took on
an even greater commitment:

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to reform society
in its foundations.

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We had, and continue to have,
the courage

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not to end these reforms.
Quite the opposite.

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We're carrying out the reforms
while talking less about them.

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The fact that we haven't stopped
the groundwork

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for pension reform, salary reform,
tax reform, or healthcare reform

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is what drives us forward.

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This is why I'm confident that
we'll get another term in office.

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We'll see results in the meantime
showing that we've kept

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our courage and transformed Slovenia
with our hard work.

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During today's meeting
of the government,

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we fulfilled three very important
commitments:

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two coalition commitments
and a civilizational one.

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Today, we considered the first
set of tax reforms aimed solely

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at increasing the productivity
of the business sector.

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We also considered changes
to the healthcare system.

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In this area, we affirmed
the basis for a revolution

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in our public healthcare system.

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After two long decades we decided
to clearly and once and for all

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delineate private and public,
private and state healthcare.

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That does not mean
we are against either.

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On the contrary, we support both
pillars of the healthcare system,

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but we will not allow
the completely inappropriate

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mentality and interplay
from the past 20 years.

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We are sure that
stopping this interplay

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will also stop the degradation
of the public healthcare system.

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In conjunction with this,
we also adopted a starting point

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on how to additionally
motivate and reward

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employees in public
healthcare institutions

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for their work
through regular working hours.

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This way,
we wish to motivate and reward

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those who want
to do additional work

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in order to shorten
waiting lists.

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We also adopted starting points
on prohibiting concession trading.

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Concessions will become individual
to the healthcare provider,

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who will be the only one
able to work with it.

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Concession trafficking
has resulted

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in them piling up
in private ownership

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and having nothing to do
with healthcare

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but only business relations.

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I am certain
that these healthcare changes,

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including those already implemented,
such as supplementary insurance,

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and the coming ones,

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such as digitisation, quality and
changes to the healthcare budget,

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will bring about profound changes
to our public healthcare system

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and that we will
be able to express pride

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in the Slovenian public healthcare
system when presenting it abroad.

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To end, a topic
that is far from unimportant,

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which is why
I saved it for last.

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Today the government has decided
to recognise the Republic of ...

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Sorry, let me start over,
as it is not a republic yet.

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Today the government
has decided

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to recognise Palestine as an
independent and sovereign state

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within the borders defined
by the UN Resolution of 1967

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or rather the borders
that the involved parties

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 would agree upon
in a future peace treaty.

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This decision carries
a message for both sides,

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that we wish
for an immediate ceasefire

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and an immediate
release of the hostages.

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The decision is not aimed
against anyone, not even Israel.

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It is a message of peace.

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We believe
that the moment has come

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when the entire world
has to work toward one goal,

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permanent peace in the Middle East,
which means two states.

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I expect that
in the coming months,

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not only will western countries
recognise Palestine as a state

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and its nation's
right to self-govern,

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but that Arab countries will
recognise Israel's right to exist,

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as the only way to peace
is the two-state solution,

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meaning the recognition
of both Palestine and Israel.

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I hope that our actions today
will serve as an example to all

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and that we will
set out on this path,

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which will be long
and arduous,

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bravely and completely
committed to humanity.

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Thank you. -Thank you.
Minister Matjaž Han, go ahead.

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Thank you for
giving me the floor.

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Apologies for coming before Asta,
but such is the coalition lineup.

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I would first, after two years
of being Minister,

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like to thank all employees
doing good work anywhere,

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because without
good employees

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we would not have been able to
achieve the aforementioned results.

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My sincere thanks
for all of the good work,

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and there has been a lot of
good work done, as the PM said.

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I may repeat myself
here and there,

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but I think that it is right
to form some sort of opinion

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that this government
has done a lot of good

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in very challenging times.

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To use a sports term,

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the Social Democrats have
changed captains during halftime,

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but this captain will work
like the previous one did,

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for the benefit of the state and
alongside two coalition partners,

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in order to help the
Slovenian citizens on this path.

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In order for
any one of us to score a goal,

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the other ten have to work as well.
In the end we all have to win.

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That is how
I view this coalition.

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We can win as a team
that scores goals together.

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The entire government
is clearly fulfilling the promises

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that we made
two years ago,

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as did most of our parties
before the elections.

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Regarding housing policy,
we are taking the first steps,

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which will show results
by the end of the term.

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We have built good relations
with the core European countries.

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Slovenia is recognised
as a sovereign country

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with its own ideas and views,
and we owe no one anything.

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That is why we are able
to adopt such measures

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with pride and confidence.

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We have adopted
several measures,

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which come as a result of economic
growth, as the Prime Minister said.

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I think we can be happy with
what we have done in two years.

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But we hear
all of the criticisms

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and the problems of the people
and, by extension, society,

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and there is still a lot
that we can improve upon,

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which we will be able to do
in the next two years.

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We do think that
we still have more work to do

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regarding
the housing problems.

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I believe that we will
return to social dialogue,

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which is key to making important
decisions for our citizens.

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That also took some effort

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and I must say that Luka Mesec
has done a lot for social dialogue.

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We will have to
talk about a tax reform

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and what we want
our state to be like.

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We will have to keep strengthening
the public healthcare network.

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That is the aim
of today's starting points,

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as all three of our parties
want strong public healthcare,

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which is necessary
for a society to function normally.

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We also need
a fair green transition,

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but we can achieve this through
extensive European funding

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and I believe
we can succeed.

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This will also
allow us to fight inflation.

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It is also important that we invest
more in research and development.

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Any one of these measures
could have been listed first,

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it does not matter,

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it is important that we adopt
them all in the next two years.

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I personally, as does as my party
and the entire government,

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stand with the people. We make
all of our decisions for the people

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and, I believe,
quite successfully.

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We have implemented
many of our solutions

00:18:44.078 --> 00:18:49.352
through close cooperation
with the people.

00:18:49.937 --> 00:18:54.144
The whole government
is out among people every day,

00:18:54.265 --> 00:18:56.069
and we hear them.

00:18:56.190 --> 00:19:00.171
That is also how we keep
social dialogue open all the time.

00:19:00.292 --> 00:19:06.539
We only need to formulate
the social dialogue at the table

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:10.141
and I believe
that we will succeed.

00:19:10.429 --> 00:19:15.054
I hope that the PM won't take
offense, but in the past two years

00:19:15.175 --> 00:19:18.461
I have been to 350 events
across the country.

00:19:19.265 --> 00:19:22.913
True, not as party leader
but as minister.

00:19:23.570 --> 00:19:26.302
I have always
had the PM's support

00:19:26.422 --> 00:19:33.711
and these visits have allowed us
to hear the problems.

00:19:34.789 --> 00:19:37.523
Not only hear,
but also understand them,

00:19:37.644 --> 00:19:42.789
because if you do not understand
a problem, you cannot solve it.

00:19:42.910 --> 00:19:47.116
I know that
a well-functioning economy

00:19:47.237 --> 00:19:52.354
is the basis for the wellbeing
of employees and their families,

00:19:52.475 --> 00:19:56.225
for a good welfare state,
good public systems,

00:19:56.346 --> 00:20:00.415
the educational system,
healthcare, et cetera.

00:20:00.526 --> 00:20:05.757
I am happy when I see
all these results and graphs

00:20:05.877 --> 00:20:09.254
that are only going up.
I want to say something.

00:20:09.374 --> 00:20:12.480
If you think these graphs
just appeared by themselves,

00:20:12.772 --> 00:20:17.490
you are mistaken. I will tell
you some numbers to prove it.

00:20:17.611 --> 00:20:24.120
When we started to govern,

00:20:24.490 --> 00:20:27.600
we were immediately faced
with energy crisis, floods,

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:33.760
the Ukraine war and the problems
started. During the energy crisis,

00:20:35.130 --> 00:20:38.892
Minister Kumer and I

00:20:39.012 --> 00:20:42.880
were talking
to the economy every day.

00:20:43.484 --> 00:20:50.362
We allocated
more than €700 million to this.

00:20:50.912 --> 00:20:54.400
We gave them
more than €300 million in grants.

00:20:55.559 --> 00:21:00.560
We also gave them
a lot of grants

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:03.722
through the Slovene
Enterprise Fund.

00:21:03.842 --> 00:21:09.120
All this money
that we distributed very fast,

00:21:10.381 --> 00:21:13.360
gave the results
we see today.

00:21:16.175 --> 00:21:20.260
As far as the floods go,

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:25.301
yesterday we sent
the first decisions for 32 companies

00:21:25.421 --> 00:21:30.081
that are worth €25 million.

00:21:30.201 --> 00:21:34.960
We had already paid the €12 million
advance, so we paid 36 million.

00:21:35.345 --> 00:21:40.242
All the Ministries cooperated
and we were able to pay the money.

00:21:40.362 --> 00:21:45.440
I hope people and the economy
will appreciate it.

00:21:46.942 --> 00:21:52.920
We supported, this is why
I am telling you the numbers,

00:21:53.040 --> 00:21:57.040
1,269 development projects
in companies.

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.439
In these two years.

00:22:01.345 --> 00:22:06.827
They were worth €600 million.
This Government

00:22:07.017 --> 00:22:12.600
understands what needs to be done
and I am happy with it.

00:22:12.931 --> 00:22:15.360
I want to say one more thing.

00:22:16.042 --> 00:22:20.457
We also very quickly
agree with the PM.

00:22:20.577 --> 00:22:24.760
We do not stop
and we solve the issues.

00:22:24.950 --> 00:22:27.280
As far as the investments go.

00:22:27.954 --> 00:22:33.132
Everyone says Slovenia
is not interesting for investments.

00:22:33.252 --> 00:22:37.920
I have to say the last report from
the German Chamber of Commerce

00:22:38.102 --> 00:22:43.172
about what German
companies want,

00:22:43.292 --> 00:22:49.030
it says they are satisfied
with our economic and tax system.

00:22:49.151 --> 00:22:53.626
They trust Slovenia more.
The media do not talk about it,

00:22:53.746 --> 00:22:57.459
but this is very important.

00:22:57.579 --> 00:23:00.240
Secondly, Novartis and Sandoz

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:05.160
will invest €990 million
in Slovenia in the next years.

00:23:06.537 --> 00:23:10.205
Yaskawa, yesterday,
we opened Henkel.

00:23:10.325 --> 00:23:14.898
These are development projects
where our knowledge is accumulated,

00:23:15.018 --> 00:23:18.554
the Government
helps with funds

00:23:18.674 --> 00:23:22.978
and Slovenia
is becoming interesting

00:23:23.098 --> 00:23:26.163
for development projects

00:23:26.284 --> 00:23:30.200
of the biggest
European companies.

00:23:31.264 --> 00:23:34.680
Maybe you will laugh, but we
are strengthening the space sector.

00:23:35.065 --> 00:23:41.221
Today, we decided to become
the member of ESA.

00:23:41.341 --> 00:23:44.721
I do not know whether we will
succeed. I hope the PM will sign

00:23:44.841 --> 00:23:49.800
that we became the member state.
If we succeed,

00:23:51.615 --> 00:23:55.779
maybe this will not mean
anything for some of you,

00:23:55.899 --> 00:24:00.680
but it will be
one of our biggest achievements.

00:24:01.128 --> 00:24:06.180
We will make it possible for
start-ups and successful companies

00:24:06.300 --> 00:24:10.115
to become
a part of this story

00:24:10.235 --> 00:24:13.800
and we will create
a new added value.

00:24:14.021 --> 00:24:17.080
As a European and Slovenian,
I want

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:22.057
that our industry
comes back from America and China

00:24:22.177 --> 00:24:25.851
and we do not become a museum,
which is happening now.

00:24:25.971 --> 00:24:28.863
I want Europe
to become a superpower

00:24:28.983 --> 00:24:35.960
and not to lag
behind America and China.

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:39.478
Now,
I will briefly mention sports.

00:24:39.598 --> 00:24:42.270
This Government
has given sports

00:24:42.390 --> 00:24:45.960
what others
have been promising for 30 years.

00:24:46.837 --> 00:24:51.560
We can be immensely proud
of our athletes.

00:24:51.766 --> 00:24:57.080
The Government allocated
€45 million to sports.

00:24:57.449 --> 00:25:03.523
This is 29% more than before

00:25:03.748 --> 00:25:07.160
and we can already
see the results.

00:25:08.889 --> 00:25:11.769
We know what we have to do.

00:25:11.889 --> 00:25:16.040
We will keep preparing
the plan for bigger competitiveness.

00:25:16.253 --> 00:25:19.404
We want Slovenia
to be innovative

00:25:19.524 --> 00:25:22.904
and sustainable
and we want to raise the added value

00:25:23.024 --> 00:25:28.635
which we have already raised
from €55,000 to €61,000.

00:25:28.755 --> 00:25:31.000
These are all results

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:36.040
which we can be happy with.

00:25:36.722 --> 00:25:39.859
We have
a record low unemployment.

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:45.440
I think currently,
there are 39,000 unemployed people.

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:52.320
I remember how there were
more than 130,000 in 2013.

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:56.720
Today, we have
more than a million employed people.

00:25:58.378 --> 00:26:02.141
We had a 2.3% economic growth

00:26:02.261 --> 00:26:06.083
as predicted,

00:26:06.203 --> 00:26:10.640
which is
above the EU average.

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:16.789
For the inflation,
I have 2.7%, there it said 3.1.

00:26:16.909 --> 00:26:21.606
I do not know. -It is even better.
-We have curbed it.

00:26:21.726 --> 00:26:26.775
From 10%,
we got to where we want to be.

00:26:26.895 --> 00:26:29.679
If you know
something about the economy,

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:34.174
you know we need some inflation.
In April,

00:26:34.294 --> 00:26:39.560
the economic atmosphere
got better as well.

00:26:40.015 --> 00:26:45.639
We used all cohesion funds

00:26:45.760 --> 00:26:51.458
from the period 2014-2020.
Our Minister did a good job.

00:26:51.578 --> 00:26:57.200
As you said,
team effort is needed to succeed.

00:26:57.625 --> 00:27:01.120
We are second in the EU here.

00:27:01.943 --> 00:27:08.560
We forgot about €400 million
from the Solidarity Fund for floods.

00:27:09.164 --> 00:27:15.363
They did not just come to us.
We had to make assessments

00:27:15.483 --> 00:27:19.520
and meet criteria. There is not
that much money for this in Europe

00:27:19.936 --> 00:27:23.435
as we would have wanted,
but we already got €100 million

00:27:23.555 --> 00:27:25.155
and we will get
another €300 million

00:27:25.275 --> 00:27:30.960
in the second half
of next year,

00:27:31.228 --> 00:27:35.760
so that we will be able to rebuild
what we promised.

00:27:36.630 --> 00:27:41.280
Slovenia also has
new projects.

00:27:42.751 --> 00:27:44.351
Last year

00:27:46.463 --> 00:27:50.793
in December,
we coordinated the cohesion program

00:27:50.913 --> 00:27:57.525
2021-2027.
We will get €3.3 billion.

00:27:57.645 --> 00:28:02.373
We have five goals, among them
also transition of mine regions,

00:28:02.493 --> 00:28:05.200
the Zasavje region
and the Šalek Valley.

00:28:05.835 --> 00:28:08.519
We have already used
€600 million.

00:28:12.389 --> 00:28:16.288
As far as the judiciary goes.

00:28:18.668 --> 00:28:24.320
We have achieved some things.
This Government made sure

00:28:25.713 --> 00:28:30.458
that the Ministry
could function normally.

00:28:30.578 --> 00:28:33.698
I will not repeat this story.

00:28:33.818 --> 00:28:40.360
We protected
the rights of whistleblowers

00:28:40.761 --> 00:28:43.498
in the public and private sector,
we strengthened

00:28:43.618 --> 00:28:48.018
the protection of personal
information. If you remember,

00:28:48.138 --> 00:28:51.299
this Government came

00:28:51.536 --> 00:28:57.888
and changed the way of thinking.
We returned Covid fines

00:28:58.008 --> 00:29:03.065
which were issued
during the previous Government,

00:29:03.185 --> 00:29:07.273
and I could go on.
We also know

00:29:07.393 --> 00:29:11.600
where we have to go
in this area.

00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:15.385
To conclude,
I want to mention foreign policy.

00:29:15.809 --> 00:29:20.491
I am happy we
will recognize Palestine.

00:29:20.611 --> 00:29:25.400
I have nothing to add
because it is not necessary.

00:29:25.715 --> 00:29:31.140
We can do
these things with dignity

00:29:31.260 --> 00:29:35.340
and in the sense
of what we all want,

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:39.199
which is peace.
I am not a Miss,

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.919
but I really want it.

00:29:42.676 --> 00:29:48.323
This is the second
biggest success

00:29:48.443 --> 00:29:51.480
of this Government's
foreign policy.

00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:54.760
We have already forgotten
about the first, which is of course

00:29:55.176 --> 00:29:58.280
our membership
in the UN Security Council.

00:29:58.501 --> 00:30:02.190
Maybe you think it was easy,
but the Ministers,

00:30:02.310 --> 00:30:05.836
I was not a part of it that much,
but the Ministers

00:30:05.956 --> 00:30:09.039
travelled all over the world

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:12.560
convincing states
to vote for us

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:15.082
and I think

00:30:15.203 --> 00:30:21.160
153 states
voted for Slovenia.

00:30:22.577 --> 00:30:28.960
There is two million of us, but we
play an important role in the world.

00:30:29.501 --> 00:30:32.640
I want to praise us even more,
but I will not.

00:30:34.556 --> 00:30:39.297
I cannot talk
longer than the PM.

00:30:40.791 --> 00:30:45.200
I think we are on the right path.
We need understanding

00:30:45.999 --> 00:30:50.636
and I believe in respect.

00:30:50.841 --> 00:30:55.120
Thank you. -Thank you.
Minister Asta Vrečko, go ahead.

00:30:55.801 --> 00:30:59.320
Hello from me as well.

00:30:59.596 --> 00:31:05.185
As you know, the Left was
in opposition for two terms.

00:31:05.508 --> 00:31:10.362
We became a part of this Government
because of a clear commitment

00:31:10.482 --> 00:31:14.148
and because we want to improve
the lives of people.

00:31:14.268 --> 00:31:20.622
The coalition,
formed after the election in 2022,

00:31:20.742 --> 00:31:26.064
is ready, works and can move

00:31:26.184 --> 00:31:29.013
society for the better.
This is the coalition

00:31:29.133 --> 00:31:33.024
where we work together,

00:31:33.144 --> 00:31:36.733
we listen to each other.
Of course, we do not always agree,

00:31:36.853 --> 00:31:42.760
but we believe in compromise
which will bring us welfare.

00:31:42.996 --> 00:31:47.539
But we have to know,
and we have not mentioned it yet,

00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:53.068
that the society and politics
we took over in 2022

00:31:53.188 --> 00:31:59.526
were completely in shatters.
The previous Government

00:31:59.646 --> 00:32:03.038
was violating human rights,

00:32:03.158 --> 00:32:05.520
destroying the welfare state,

00:32:06.103 --> 00:32:09.577
discrediting people
with different opinions

00:32:09.697 --> 00:32:13.723
and violating media freedom.

00:32:13.843 --> 00:32:20.657
This kind of political landscape
was not an ideal starting point.

00:32:20.777 --> 00:32:25.936
This is why
in the first months

00:32:26.056 --> 00:32:29.871
or maybe even the first year
of our term, we focused

00:32:29.991 --> 00:32:33.660
on getting back

00:32:33.780 --> 00:32:36.868
the rights we had already had

00:32:36.988 --> 00:32:40.960
and bringing back
the dialogue

00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:47.200
and trust in politics.

00:32:47.679 --> 00:32:52.322
In the Left,
we took over the Ministries ...

00:32:52.442 --> 00:32:55.581
We are the smallest partner,

00:32:55.701 --> 00:33:02.561
but we took over the Ministries
which were crucial for us

00:33:02.681 --> 00:33:08.920
and where we felt we could realise
our most important measures.

00:33:09.040 --> 00:33:13.517
I am talking
about social security,

00:33:13.637 --> 00:33:17.350
long-term care, safe old age,

00:33:17.470 --> 00:33:23.480
culture, media freedom
and the rights of workers.

00:33:23.748 --> 00:33:27.548
In all these areas,
we can say

00:33:27.668 --> 00:33:33.335
we have made some important steps
in the past two years.

00:33:33.455 --> 00:33:39.714
We have amended laws
and passed new ones.

00:33:40.037 --> 00:33:44.563
I want to mention
the Employment Relationships Act

00:33:44.683 --> 00:33:50.706
that protects workers,

00:33:50.919 --> 00:33:54.055
it gives them the right
to disconnect after work.

00:33:54.175 --> 00:33:57.619
We also achieved
other things,

00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:02.640
although social dialogue
was not always easy.

00:34:02.760 --> 00:34:06.450
We have raised
the minimum wage

00:34:06.570 --> 00:34:10.070
which is now
€180 higher in gross pay.

00:34:10.190 --> 00:34:12.703
This is very important
if we know

00:34:12.823 --> 00:34:18.908
that the minimum
net wage is €902

00:34:19.028 --> 00:34:24.046
which means
the minimum gross wage is €1,279.

00:34:24.166 --> 00:34:29.681
For older people

00:34:29.847 --> 00:34:36.100
and the ones that are retired,
systemic security is important

00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:40.198
and the Long-term Care Act
brings this.

00:34:40.318 --> 00:34:46.203
We had to change it

00:34:46.323 --> 00:34:50.596
because we did not have
the source of funds

00:34:50.716 --> 00:34:57.304
or a plan on how to implement
what had been written.

00:34:57.424 --> 00:34:59.958
The new Long-term Care Act

00:35:00.077 --> 00:35:04.363
which we adopted,
really offers all settings

00:35:04.463 --> 00:35:07.677
for a change of the system

00:35:07.863 --> 00:35:11.143
that will enable people
a secure old age.

00:35:11.303 --> 00:35:17.110
We help it
with a stable financial source

00:35:17.217 --> 00:35:24.403
and 70,000 people can now count
on the measures from this Act.

00:35:24.603 --> 00:35:32.590
On the other hand,
pensions increased for 8.8%,

00:35:32.790 --> 00:35:39.950
which is the highest increase
in pensions after the year 1995.

00:35:40.437 --> 00:35:48.143
In culture which is essential
for the government and our party

00:35:48.283 --> 00:35:53.703
we did a lot. We all know
that culture is one of the areas

00:35:53.797 --> 00:35:58.870
which were marginalised and were
not in the forefront of politics.

00:35:58.950 --> 00:36:03.677
The ministers
were often changing.

00:36:03.810 --> 00:36:09.910
And so, this field,
which was neglected by a system too,

00:36:10.083 --> 00:36:13.663
after all these years
finally got its real acclaim.

00:36:13.777 --> 00:36:18.097
We are talking about a legislative
amendment, in the field of media.

00:36:18.310 --> 00:36:23.497
All three Acts are changing,
a lot was already adopted,

00:36:23.670 --> 00:36:27.997
as far as conservation of Slovenian
language goes, many investments,

00:36:28.150 --> 00:36:30.103
like in Drama, for example,

00:36:30.223 --> 00:36:34.143
where government's support enabled

00:36:34.263 --> 00:36:40.757
the most important investment
in public cultural infrastructure

00:36:40.897 --> 00:36:43.170
in the independent Slovenia.

00:36:43.410 --> 00:36:47.230
On the other hand,
it is a European Capital of Culture.

00:36:47.423 --> 00:36:51.870
When we took over the Ministry

00:36:52.003 --> 00:36:56.797
and took office, we were
quite unpleasantly surprised.

00:36:56.930 --> 00:37:00.163
One of the surprises was
that the contract wasn't signed

00:37:00.330 --> 00:37:03.137
and the fund were not provided.

00:37:03.323 --> 00:37:09.517
We are taking care of this, we are
cooperating with the municipality

00:37:09.637 --> 00:37:12.257
and the institution
for the European Capital of Culture

00:37:12.363 --> 00:37:15.943
and we support the culture
to be the voice,

00:37:16.063 --> 00:37:20.700
like in sports, innovations,
of researchers and scientists,

00:37:20.927 --> 00:37:25.110
the voice that makes Slovenia
known throughout the world,

00:37:25.297 --> 00:37:28.303
fosters solidarity
of the people at home,

00:37:28.403 --> 00:37:33.597
connects the communities
and enables us a better living.

00:37:33.863 --> 00:37:39.423
Last but not least,
I have to mention another priority

00:37:39.577 --> 00:37:41.430
of our coalition.

00:37:41.737 --> 00:37:45.317
This also applies to the
Ministry of Solidarity-Based Future.

00:37:45.477 --> 00:37:49.430
It is about
our common commitment

00:37:49.610 --> 00:37:53.037
to regulate
the area of housing.

00:37:53.703 --> 00:38:00.517
This area didn't get any political
support in the last 30 years.

00:38:00.997 --> 00:38:04.263
There was a support
to build tourist accommodations

00:38:04.423 --> 00:38:10.783
or luxury housing
and capital investments,

00:38:10.963 --> 00:38:14.823
but not for the needs of people
for the needs of public housing,

00:38:14.943 --> 00:38:20.177
non-profit housing
or building rental housing.

00:38:20.323 --> 00:38:23.843
Here, we work together
in all areas,

00:38:24.063 --> 00:38:31.530
so we could regulate the housing
market in the next years

00:38:31.697 --> 00:38:38.507
and people will be able to afford
and live normally in their housing

00:38:38.720 --> 00:38:46.250
and to establish a quality
of living in the long run.

00:38:46.453 --> 00:38:50.997
The right to a quality of life
is a human right.

00:38:51.317 --> 00:38:58.830
Last year we have reinforced
the housing fund with 25 million

00:38:58.963 --> 00:39:02.503
which was a record. We are aiming
to reach it this year as well.

00:39:02.717 --> 00:39:08.783
In the years till the end of mandate
and till the year 2030,

00:39:08.950 --> 00:39:13.123
we will make additional measures
in this area.

00:39:13.310 --> 00:39:17.577
I can guarantee you
that until 2030

00:39:17.717 --> 00:39:20.263
there 20,000 apartments
will be build,

00:39:20.397 --> 00:39:25.277
so till the end of office
and even further,

00:39:25.450 --> 00:39:29.717
if our coalition continues
its path,

00:39:29.843 --> 00:39:35.870
we will strengthen our work
in the field of housing politics.

00:39:36.110 --> 00:39:42.250
A lot of things
that I talked about

00:39:42.683 --> 00:39:48.577
take time
or they were neglected by the system

00:39:48.703 --> 00:39:53.663
and this is why we have to, halfway
through our term of office, emphasize

00:39:53.837 --> 00:39:58.457
and look at the things
that were done

00:39:58.690 --> 00:40:01.230
and draw the line there.

00:40:01.470 --> 00:40:05.857
We have to be aware of
what is ahead of us

00:40:06.070 --> 00:40:09.763
and make a promise to be able
by the end of our term

00:40:09.937 --> 00:40:14.483
to accomplish
our coalition commitments.

00:40:14.783 --> 00:40:21.110
In Levica, as well as Ministers and
parliamentary groups of the party,

00:40:21.237 --> 00:40:25.050
we cooperate with all the ministers
and other departments

00:40:25.177 --> 00:40:30.130
which are very important.
This interministerial cooperation

00:40:30.303 --> 00:40:35.503
is something that was lacking
in the past years.

00:40:35.650 --> 00:40:41.157
It is a path to become
a society of development

00:40:41.317 --> 00:40:45.050
and it will enable us
to take better measures.

00:40:45.217 --> 00:40:52.257
As the first thing,
I have to emphasize today,

00:40:52.463 --> 00:40:55.663
in addition of
what the Prime minister mentioned,

00:40:55.850 --> 00:41:01.237
the measures and basis that were
adopted in the area of taxes,

00:41:01.417 --> 00:41:06.110
the strengthening of public health,
which is very important.

00:41:06.297 --> 00:41:11.283
Public health is very close
to us all as people

00:41:11.497 --> 00:41:15.977
and it is a very important
point of our programmes

00:41:16.103 --> 00:41:19.223
and our coalition agreement.

00:41:19.437 --> 00:41:23.717
I am happy that we summoned
the courage and determination

00:41:23.883 --> 00:41:27.810
to embark on this journey
and bit the bullet,

00:41:27.937 --> 00:41:33.317
although we are
a few steps away from the goal,

00:41:33.503 --> 00:41:37.337
but I believe that
we can overcome everything.

00:41:37.730 --> 00:41:45.710
Today, we have also adopted
a strategy to eliminate precarity.

00:41:45.910 --> 00:41:48.857
It is another
very important subject,

00:41:48.996 --> 00:41:50.637
especially for young people.

00:41:50.770 --> 00:41:55.223
More than 10 years has passed
since the economic crisis

00:41:55.403 --> 00:42:00.423
and these things have
been woven into our society.

00:42:00.557 --> 00:42:05.963
And resolution in the National
programme for culture,

00:42:06.070 --> 00:42:10.503
which shows the further
guidelines in the field of culture.

00:42:10.730 --> 00:42:16.950
The most important symbolic act today
is the recognition of Palestine.

00:42:17.250 --> 00:42:20.797
As a member and coordinator
of party Levica,

00:42:20.950 --> 00:42:24.430
as a human, European,
Slovenian

00:42:24.597 --> 00:42:28.237
and somebody
who was standing up for it,

00:42:28.450 --> 00:42:33.930
as well as our Party, politics,
civil society for many years,

00:42:34.077 --> 00:42:38.310
I am proud to be a part of coalition
that summoned the courage

00:42:38.503 --> 00:42:41.350
and determination
to recognize the Palestine

00:42:41.450 --> 00:42:44.217
as a sovereign
and independent state,

00:42:44.330 --> 00:42:47.223
to support the Palestine people,

00:42:47.350 --> 00:42:54.830
suffering of people, children
and committing genocide in Gaza.

00:42:55.157 --> 00:42:59.390
These are not easy decisions.

00:42:59.643 --> 00:43:03.337
But we have decided this together

00:43:03.550 --> 00:43:05.997
and we can be proud of them.

00:43:06.117 --> 00:43:12.530
Of course, our state seems small as
far as the population is concerned,

00:43:12.683 --> 00:43:16.563
but it is big on the other hand.
These achievements testify to it,

00:43:16.710 --> 00:43:20.523
as well as achievements
of all our citizens.

00:43:20.697 --> 00:43:27.410
I believe, Slovenia will put its
international reputation on the line

00:43:27.577 --> 00:43:30.970
and its voice
in the international community

00:43:31.163 --> 00:43:34.250
to find a lasting peace
in the world,

00:43:34.370 --> 00:43:39.611
but firstly here for the beginning
of peace negotiations.

00:43:39.923 --> 00:43:43.730
I would like to conclude
with words

00:43:43.883 --> 00:43:50.550
that I imagine that the state
will be quite different.

00:43:50.743 --> 00:43:54.217
It is in a much
better condition already,

00:43:54.383 --> 00:43:59.923
imagine how it will be at the end
of our term.

00:44:00.110 --> 00:44:04.843
Our party
is as a coalition partner

00:44:04.963 --> 00:44:08.443
satisfied with cooperation
in the government.

00:44:08.623 --> 00:44:12.583
Together we are striving
for a green transition

00:44:12.730 --> 00:44:14.743
and a welfare society.

00:44:14.917 --> 00:44:18.000
I will take this opportunity,

00:44:18.170 --> 00:44:24.683
a two-year term of this government,
to thank all citizens

00:44:24.850 --> 00:44:28.197
for your support and cooperation

00:44:28.343 --> 00:44:31.050
while searching for
the best solutions.

00:44:31.210 --> 00:44:34.617
Thank you very much.
-Now it's time for your questions.

00:44:37.577 --> 00:44:40.103
We have Gašper Lubej,
of Al Jazeera,

00:44:40.230 --> 00:44:42.243
and Gregor Drnovšek after him.

00:44:42.903 --> 00:44:45.837
Hello. Gašper Lubej, Al Jazeera
Balkan. Mr. Prime Minister,

00:44:46.030 --> 00:44:49.057
when do you expect
to make a final touch,

00:44:49.223 --> 00:44:51.930
namely a definitive recognition
in the parliament?

00:44:52.103 --> 00:44:55.977
And how do you respond to critics
that it's just a pre-election move?

00:44:56.103 --> 00:44:57.810
Thank you.

00:44:59.923 --> 00:45:02.990
In view of the suffering
we are watching literally live

00:45:03.363 --> 00:45:05.310
from Gaza
for a lot of months,

00:45:06.037 --> 00:45:08.430
scoring of political points today

00:45:08.677 --> 00:45:14.077
or initiating this as a political
debate, is completely twisted.

00:45:14.477 --> 00:45:17.870
Slovenia has been talking
about a recognition of Palestine

00:45:18.237 --> 00:45:21.163
at least from February onward.

00:45:22.103 --> 00:45:23.703
With one voice.

00:45:23.877 --> 00:45:26.863
We said than
in agreement with our allies

00:45:26.977 --> 00:45:31.160
that we will wait with recognition,
so it will have the biggest impact.

00:45:31.757 --> 00:45:33.697
We still stand for this.

00:45:34.243 --> 00:45:35.963
We know firsthand,

00:45:36.130 --> 00:45:38.290
me and Foreign Minister included,

00:45:38.597 --> 00:45:41.230
how Slovenian reputation in
international community has increased

00:45:41.357 --> 00:45:44.790
because of
our clear position on recognition.

00:45:46.410 --> 00:45:49.297
The whole world,
all the states that supported us

00:45:49.390 --> 00:45:52.463
in election
in the UN's membership,

00:45:52.570 --> 00:45:54.863
are now absolutely sure
that did the right thing

00:45:55.030 --> 00:45:56.970
and they tell
us this all the time.

00:45:57.203 --> 00:45:59.903
The same goes for
the UN Secretary-General.

00:46:00.183 --> 00:46:05.477
It's the biggest recognition
that our politics is consistent,

00:46:06.017 --> 00:46:09.657
considered and well-timed.

00:46:14.217 --> 00:46:18.690
What was the other question?
-The final touch... -On Tuesday.

00:46:21.230 --> 00:46:25.303
Parliamentary procedure shall be
launched on Tuesday.

00:46:25.930 --> 00:46:28.090
Parliamentary procedure
controls the parliament.

00:46:28.237 --> 00:46:30.570
It's hard to predict,
when it shall end.

00:46:30.817 --> 00:46:33.070
We want to finish it
as soon as possible,

00:46:33.403 --> 00:46:36.257
we want to end it
with acclamation.

00:46:36.557 --> 00:46:39.970
We don't want any opposition
on this subject,

00:46:40.277 --> 00:46:44.243
because it's a civilization debt
to the Palestinian nation.

00:46:44.470 --> 00:46:48.190
Not only because
of today's suffering,

00:46:48.550 --> 00:46:53.717
not only to send a message to Israel
to stop the attacks.

00:46:54.023 --> 00:46:58.343
Mostly, because Palestine,
if somebody doesn't know,

00:46:58.457 --> 00:47:02.417
recognized Slovenia
already more than 30 years ago.

00:47:03.563 --> 00:47:07.090
Slovenia as a small state

00:47:07.250 --> 00:47:11.417
has to be aware that we became
independent because of the right

00:47:11.610 --> 00:47:13.490
of self-determination.

00:47:14.050 --> 00:47:18.137
We don't have the right to deny
this right of self-determination

00:47:18.290 --> 00:47:20.370
anybody else in the world.

00:47:21.137 --> 00:47:26.497
That's why an approval by the
parliament should be a formality.

00:47:26.897 --> 00:47:30.857
I believe all parties
will be able to assess this

00:47:31.050 --> 00:47:33.557
and recognize
the historical moment.

00:47:34.450 --> 00:47:37.557
Gregor. -Gregor Drnovšek,
TV Slovenija. We've heard

00:47:37.690 --> 00:47:41.277
the evaluation of the first half
of the term is full of superlatives.

00:47:41.390 --> 00:47:44.443
What else could be there?
-I didn't say anything.

00:47:44.637 --> 00:47:48.130
From all three.
But I would like to hear

00:47:48.363 --> 00:47:52.790
from all three,
in a nutshell,

00:47:53.170 --> 00:47:59.397
where have you fallen behind
or what have you failed to fulfil?

00:47:59.517 --> 00:48:04.303
Even though you set it in the
coalition agreement or otherwise.

00:48:04.503 --> 00:48:09.483
The opposition leader said you have
fulfilled 14% of the commitments.

00:48:09.710 --> 00:48:14.623
In Nova Slovenija they are saying
that you had great assets

00:48:14.744 --> 00:48:18.343
and that's why the fall is very deep
and people are unhappy.

00:48:18.483 --> 00:48:22.237
We have a wave of strikes.
Doctors are striking endlessly.

00:48:22.415 --> 00:48:27.002
It seems that everybody,
despite the big words,

00:48:27.123 --> 00:48:30.876
sees the situation differently.

00:48:32.030 --> 00:48:38.123
The only real fact are numbers.

00:48:38.603 --> 00:48:41.663
The numbers verified
by the international institutions.

00:48:42.630 --> 00:48:45.857
I understand
that opposition has to say

00:48:46.157 --> 00:48:50.843
that numbers are false.
But they are verified.

00:48:52.436 --> 00:48:55.930
This is the first emphasis.
The second one...

00:48:56.090 --> 00:49:00.250
In the beginning of the term,
when signing the agreement,

00:49:00.383 --> 00:49:02.697
we have written
and said it clearly

00:49:03.330 --> 00:49:08.757
that we are deliberately setting
our goals for two terms.

00:49:10.277 --> 00:49:14.030
We know that we set goals
which aren't reachable in one term,

00:49:14.170 --> 00:49:16.177
much less in two years.

00:49:16.377 --> 00:49:18.677
But we will persist.

00:49:20.123 --> 00:49:23.617
Am I satisfied
with the achievements?

00:49:23.737 --> 00:49:27.123
There are areas,
where things move faster,

00:49:27.390 --> 00:49:29.843
and areas,
where things move slower.

00:49:30.030 --> 00:49:35.630
Most of the time this rate isn't
dependent on our efforts.

00:49:35.850 --> 00:49:40.023
It is dependent on the power
of forces that don't want changes.

00:49:40.397 --> 00:49:43.390
Believe me,
there are a lot of such forces.

00:49:43.657 --> 00:49:48.603
We thought we could
free RTV of politics much faster,

00:49:48.743 --> 00:49:53.730
but it took us one year
instead of three months.

00:49:54.717 --> 00:49:57.223
We find similar challenges
in other areas,

00:49:57.490 --> 00:50:01.811
but sometimes
things move faster.

00:50:02.006 --> 00:50:05.710
The numbers and
the transfer part of this boom

00:50:05.831 --> 00:50:08.897
to the social status of the people
is going faster

00:50:09.018 --> 00:50:12.199
than we expected
and than the coalition committed to.

00:50:12.320 --> 00:50:15.204
We're learning as we go,

00:50:15.514 --> 00:50:18.808
we're learning
it's better to talk less

00:50:19.139 --> 00:50:21.793
and to announce the results.

00:50:22.203 --> 00:50:24.472
That's why we're not going to
make any promises

00:50:24.593 --> 00:50:27.124
except those
that we made in the beginning.

00:50:27.245 --> 00:50:31.881
We're going to fulfil
all our commitments in two mandates.

00:50:32.002 --> 00:50:35.423
I am sure we are on
a great track to getting there.

00:50:35.544 --> 00:50:37.144
Madam Minister?

00:50:38.942 --> 00:50:44.803
Levica is used to the criticism
of the opposition parties.

00:50:44.924 --> 00:50:49.821
After all, these two parties
wanted to ban us,

00:50:49.942 --> 00:50:56.630
so I would not pay attention
to what they are doing.

00:50:56.751 --> 00:50:59.551
But I would mention that
one of the commitments

00:50:59.672 --> 00:51:05.394
that we made at the beginning,
which also comes from our past work,

00:51:05.515 --> 00:51:09.212
is a respectful
political discourse,

00:51:09.333 --> 00:51:13.780
an end to hate speech and
to attacking the different-minded.

00:51:13.901 --> 00:51:21.165
Our government made an important
step forward in political culture,

00:51:21.286 --> 00:51:23.692
but on the other hand,
there are things

00:51:23.813 --> 00:51:27.965
that absolutely
cannot be done overnight,

00:51:28.086 --> 00:51:29.799
and rightly so,

00:51:29.920 --> 00:51:34.901
because they need to be done
thoroughly and through a dialogue.

00:51:35.022 --> 00:51:37.528
We have not tackled
wage reform.

00:51:37.649 --> 00:51:42.220
Wage reform requires
the broadest consensus

00:51:42.341 --> 00:51:45.105
of all stakeholders
and also of the people,

00:51:45.226 --> 00:51:47.810
and that takes time.

00:51:48.107 --> 00:51:55.100
But the commitment
to remove pay grades

00:51:55.307 --> 00:51:57.699
below the minimum wage

00:51:57.820 --> 00:51:59.840
has been a long-standing wish.

00:51:59.961 --> 00:52:03.403
But it's not that easy to do that.

00:52:03.524 --> 00:52:06.193
These things are slowly
coming to an end,

00:52:06.314 --> 00:52:10.723
we are after all
halfway through our mandate.

00:52:11.087 --> 00:52:15.695
If we look at the things
in the coalition agreement,

00:52:15.816 --> 00:52:19.259
we can say
we are on a very good track.

00:52:19.380 --> 00:52:24.722
Certain things are absolutely
taking longer than we thought,

00:52:24.843 --> 00:52:27.486
but certain things
and some subsystems

00:52:27.607 --> 00:52:31.620
unfortunately turned out to be

00:52:31.741 --> 00:52:35.656
in a much worse state
than it seemed before.

00:52:35.777 --> 00:52:39.386
But there are things in this country
that are working perfectly.

00:52:39.507 --> 00:52:43.622
Mainly because of the people
and their work.

00:52:43.743 --> 00:52:50.714
This gives us all the courage
and the will to keep working.

00:52:50.869 --> 00:52:53.411
Thank you.
-Minister Han. -Yes.

00:52:55.119 --> 00:52:57.199
I may have
the most political experience,

00:52:57.320 --> 00:52:59.320
I've been in politics
the longest,

00:52:59.441 --> 00:53:02.077
so I will not bother
with the opposition.

00:53:02.198 --> 00:53:05.708
The work of the opposition
is to control the Government,

00:53:05.829 --> 00:53:07.429
we did the same.

00:53:07.550 --> 00:53:11.306
The percentages of our fulfilment
of the coalition agreement

00:53:11.427 --> 00:53:13.205
are less important.

00:53:13.326 --> 00:53:16.468
As far as the coalition agreement
is concerned,

00:53:16.589 --> 00:53:18.989
when we signed it,

00:53:20.599 --> 00:53:23.909
we didn't know that
there would be an energy crisis,

00:53:24.030 --> 00:53:25.899
that there would be floods,

00:53:26.020 --> 00:53:30.201
and a huge number of resources,
both financial

00:53:30.322 --> 00:53:33.573
and human resources,
because there was work to be done,

00:53:33.694 --> 00:53:35.967
were directed
towards solving these problems.

00:53:36.088 --> 00:53:39.009
If we had not
diverted these matters,

00:53:39.130 --> 00:53:41.070
the results would be different.

00:53:41.191 --> 00:53:44.578
There are probably some parts
of the coalition agreement

00:53:44.699 --> 00:53:47.602
that will not be
or were not fulfilled.

00:53:47.723 --> 00:53:51.091
As a social democrat I think

00:53:51.212 --> 00:53:54.028
we have done perhaps
less than we could have,

00:53:54.149 --> 00:53:56.888
and it costs nothing,

00:53:57.009 --> 00:54:01.053
about social dialogue. We should
have done much more about that.

00:54:01.174 --> 00:54:03.617
I have always said that.

00:54:03.738 --> 00:54:07.799
The Government has to take a further
step back than the other partners.

00:54:07.920 --> 00:54:12.195
That is my personal opinion,
which I always express publicly.

00:54:12.316 --> 00:54:17.226
I have also tried to make the social
dialogue happen within the ministry.

00:54:17.347 --> 00:54:18.947
But we are on the right track,

00:54:19.068 --> 00:54:21.699
and I believe we will be
able to achieve our objectives.

00:54:21.820 --> 00:54:24.855
The other thing,
which I see as a possible mistake

00:54:24.976 --> 00:54:27.654
and which we have already
admitted several times,

00:54:27.775 --> 00:54:31.340
we made some mistakes
in the first half of the mandate

00:54:31.461 --> 00:54:36.843
in the health sector.
The money we poured into it

00:54:36.964 --> 00:54:40.818
did not produce results.
That's why today's starting points

00:54:40.939 --> 00:54:42.726
are going
in the right direction.

00:54:42.847 --> 00:54:46.689
I believe we can make up
for what we may have missed

00:54:46.810 --> 00:54:50.475
in the two years
that we have been in office.

00:54:50.609 --> 00:54:56.203
A question in English
by a journalist from Paris.

00:54:56.324 --> 00:54:59.928
Please introduce yourself,
and you may ask the question.

00:55:00.049 --> 00:55:04.381
I'm an Al Jazeera Arabic
correspondent from Paris.

00:55:04.597 --> 00:55:06.501
I will ask in English,

00:55:06.622 --> 00:55:09.884
and I will be thankful
if you can answer me in English.

00:55:10.005 --> 00:55:11.876
Very quickly,

00:55:11.997 --> 00:55:16.195
why is Slovenia
taking this decision today?

00:55:16.319 --> 00:55:19.302
Is it trying
to push forward peace?

00:55:19.712 --> 00:55:21.712
And the second question.

00:55:21.833 --> 00:55:25.040
What are you calling for in Gaza now
with the war continuing?

00:55:25.161 --> 00:55:28.485
And quickly, third question.

00:55:29.213 --> 00:55:35.201
How are you looking to Israel's
reaction towards your decision?

00:55:37.501 --> 00:55:40.481
First, I'm not aware
of any reaction yet,

00:55:40.602 --> 00:55:43.688
so I can't comment on that,
but nevertheless.

00:55:43.809 --> 00:55:47.747
Today's decision
has one message to both sides.

00:55:47.868 --> 00:55:51.011
To immediately
seek for a ceasefire,

00:55:51.132 --> 00:55:53.156
and immediately release
all the hostages.

00:55:53.277 --> 00:55:56.352
We want to address both sides
on one hand,

00:55:56.473 --> 00:56:01.057
but we also recognize
that the only way forward

00:56:01.178 --> 00:56:04.602
is the solution of peace,
the two-state solution.

00:56:04.723 --> 00:56:06.800
If we want to implement it,

00:56:06.921 --> 00:56:10.455
recognizing the independent
and sovereign state of Palestine

00:56:10.576 --> 00:56:12.950
is a natural step.
It's the first step,

00:56:13.071 --> 00:56:15.994
it doesn't stop here,
there's a lot of work ahead of us,

00:56:16.115 --> 00:56:20.107
but it is a necessary step
that we have to take.

00:56:20.309 --> 00:56:23.829
And that's the reasoning
behind our decision.

00:56:23.966 --> 00:56:26.630
It is a message of peace,

00:56:26.796 --> 00:56:29.240
not a message against anyone,

00:56:29.361 --> 00:56:32.238
especially not
against the state of Israel.

00:56:32.359 --> 00:56:37.738
It's a message to all parties.
Let's stop the hostilities

00:56:37.859 --> 00:56:42.061
and start looking for
a sustainable peace solution.

00:56:42.182 --> 00:56:45.804
Thank you. Rok Šuligoj,
and then Uroš Esih.

00:56:47.509 --> 00:56:49.304
Rok Šuligoj, TV Slovenia.

00:56:49.425 --> 00:56:52.911
I also have a question
about the recognition of Gaza,

00:56:53.032 --> 00:56:55.569
about the recognition
of Palestine.

00:56:55.690 --> 00:57:00.196
How did the debate take place?
I am sure you were unanimous,

00:57:00.317 --> 00:57:03.103
that was clear from
all the previous statements.

00:57:03.224 --> 00:57:06.188
What did you say,
what did the Foreign Minister say,

00:57:06.309 --> 00:57:08.887
how did the debate
take place?

00:57:09.008 --> 00:57:13.247
Most of the debate was aimed
at assessing the situation,

00:57:13.368 --> 00:57:17.178
on the one hand, assessing
the situation in the Middle East,

00:57:17.299 --> 00:57:19.887
in Gaza,
assessing the situation

00:57:20.008 --> 00:57:22.887
between different
groups of countries

00:57:23.008 --> 00:57:26.583
on the international
foreign policy stage.

00:57:26.704 --> 00:57:29.636
This part was discussed
by Minister Fajon.

00:57:29.757 --> 00:57:33.877
The other part was related
to the possible consequences

00:57:33.998 --> 00:57:36.301
for the Republic of Slovenia.

00:57:36.422 --> 00:57:39.206
Both of these discussions
were classified,

00:57:39.327 --> 00:57:43.100
unfortunately, we are not
in a position to disclose them.

00:57:43.221 --> 00:57:46.475
The discussions
were very constructive,

00:57:46.804 --> 00:57:49.970
on the basis
of these two assessments,

00:57:50.193 --> 00:57:53.883
we came to the conclusion again
that today recognition

00:57:54.004 --> 00:57:57.329
is the only logical step
that we can

00:57:57.450 --> 00:58:00.628
and must take as the Government
of the Republic of Slovenia.

00:58:00.749 --> 00:58:05.192
Of course, we took this decision.
Unanimously.

00:58:05.313 --> 00:58:07.313
Uroš, and then Lara.

00:58:09.704 --> 00:58:14.809
Does the Government
regret not recognizing Palestine

00:58:14.930 --> 00:58:19.102
together with the first group
of countries that did so on Tuesday?

00:58:19.223 --> 00:58:21.810
Only two days ago.

00:58:22.106 --> 00:58:28.005
The former President of the Republic
thinks this collective recognition

00:58:28.126 --> 00:58:30.717
would have given Slovenia
a greater resonance.

00:58:30.838 --> 00:58:33.754
It's a distinguished group,

00:58:33.875 --> 00:58:39.177
it has its diplomatic history
in the area,

00:58:39.298 --> 00:58:41.705
the history of peacekeeping.

00:58:43.825 --> 00:58:47.101
What counts is that the Government
has recognised Palestine,

00:58:47.222 --> 00:58:50.499
that we have not
done this overnight,

00:58:50.620 --> 00:58:53.285
we've been talking about this
with our allies

00:58:53.406 --> 00:58:57.421
and like-minded countries
since February.

00:58:57.803 --> 00:59:03.405
All the steps have been
thoroughly discussed many times,

00:59:03.526 --> 00:59:08.088
not only internally, within
the Slovenian political coalition,

00:59:08.209 --> 00:59:13.798
but above all with our allies
from the European Union,

00:59:13.919 --> 00:59:16.766
the Western world
and the Arab countries.

00:59:16.887 --> 00:59:19.400
I remain convinced
we made the right decision,

00:59:19.523 --> 00:59:21.370
and I will tell you why.

00:59:21.491 --> 00:59:26.190
When, because of the marked
deterioration in the situation

00:59:26.311 --> 00:59:28.700
in Rafah over the weekend,

00:59:28.989 --> 00:59:34.106
and when we found out
when the other group of countries

00:59:34.227 --> 00:59:36.689
will try to approach a solution...

00:59:36.810 --> 00:59:40.341
When the circumstances changed,

00:59:40.462 --> 00:59:44.940
we could have easily
joined the first group on Monday.

00:59:45.410 --> 00:59:47.904
We started our process
before the first group,

00:59:48.025 --> 00:59:51.615
we started the recognition
process on 9 May.

00:59:51.907 --> 00:59:55.322
Before any of the countries
from the first group

00:59:55.443 --> 00:59:58.117
actually took
the first formal step.

00:59:58.238 --> 01:00:00.678
And we have had
every opportunity to do that

01:00:00.799 --> 01:00:04.510
in order to avoid the impression
that we are doing something alone

01:00:04.631 --> 01:00:08.235
or recklessly. We could have
joined in, but we didn't want to.

01:00:08.356 --> 01:00:12.295
Because we want to remain
an honest intermediary

01:00:12.665 --> 01:00:18.463
between all those countries
that need to take a step forward

01:00:18.584 --> 01:00:21.804
so that the two-state solution
can actually be implemented.

01:00:21.925 --> 01:00:24.299
We want to remain
an honest intermediary

01:00:24.420 --> 01:00:29.309
between the pro-Palestinian
and the pro-Israeli countries.

01:00:29.430 --> 01:00:33.686
That's the reason we've decided
on a seemingly harder,

01:00:33.807 --> 01:00:35.407
independent path.

01:00:35.528 --> 01:00:39.685
But it is this path that
gives a country like Slovenia

01:00:39.806 --> 01:00:42.553
by far the greatest impact
within the UN.

01:00:42.674 --> 01:00:45.892
Much greater than if we were
to merge our positions

01:00:46.013 --> 01:00:49.842
with the first or the second group.
Yes, it was a conscious,

01:00:49.963 --> 01:00:54.902
fully informed decision,
so that we're not closing any doors.

01:00:55.023 --> 01:00:59.274
Lara Draškovič, STA.
I'd like to return to your mandate.

01:00:59.395 --> 01:01:03.009
You said the accomplishments
of one minister

01:01:03.130 --> 01:01:05.800
are the accomplishments
of the whole Government,

01:01:05.921 --> 01:01:10.294
but you've replaced quite
a few ministers in two years.

01:01:10.415 --> 01:01:14.707
How happy are you
with your ministers at the moment?

01:01:14.828 --> 01:01:18.105
Are you thinking
of any replacements?

01:01:21.108 --> 01:01:23.683
First, the ministers
who have been replaced,

01:01:23.804 --> 01:01:29.718
there have been reasons for all,
and no accomplishments.

01:01:30.181 --> 01:01:32.955
When I say
that we are rejoicing

01:01:33.076 --> 01:01:37.954
in the accomplishments
of each ministry as a team,

01:01:38.075 --> 01:01:39.675
I mean that sincerely.

01:01:39.796 --> 01:01:43.302
After all, you may have noticed
in the presentation of the results

01:01:43.423 --> 01:01:47.281
that no one has listed the results
by party, least of all me.

01:01:47.402 --> 01:01:52.042
Because I believe in the Government
as a whole. As it should stay.

01:01:52.163 --> 01:01:54.121
Regarding future replacements,

01:01:54.242 --> 01:01:56.494
I am not thinking about them
at the moment,

01:01:56.615 --> 01:02:00.232
but that doesn't mean
it cannot happen again.

01:02:00.353 --> 01:02:02.481
Not because anyone
is thinking about it,

01:02:02.602 --> 01:02:04.202
but because each one of us

01:02:04.323 --> 01:02:06.576
is aware of our responsibility
towards our work,

01:02:06.697 --> 01:02:11.814
and each one of us is aware that
there may be slip-ups along the way.

01:02:11.935 --> 01:02:15.454
I would like to see no slip-ups
and for us to be able

01:02:15.574 --> 01:02:19.379
to continue as long as possible
in the line-up as it is today.

01:02:19.502 --> 01:02:24.629
But no one has a crystal ball,
the future is always uncertain.

01:02:24.903 --> 01:02:27.894
I would touch
on the current campaigns.

01:02:28.015 --> 01:02:30.802
In a week's time,
there'll be three referendums.

01:02:30.923 --> 01:02:34.124
Your party initiated
all three of them.

01:02:34.245 --> 01:02:37.485
You're appealing to voters
to vote in favour.

01:02:37.606 --> 01:02:42.006
You already got
the voters' confidence once.

01:02:42.127 --> 01:02:44.996
Do you think
this will happen again?

01:02:45.117 --> 01:02:52.514
How quickly will the Government
then implement these answers

01:02:52.635 --> 01:02:54.790
and start solving these issues?

01:02:54.911 --> 01:02:58.986
And a second question.
The president of the SDS

01:02:59.107 --> 01:03:02.292
pointed out that in yesterday's
confrontation you said

01:03:02.413 --> 01:03:07.013
that regarding the question on the
use of cannabis for personal use,

01:03:07.134 --> 01:03:10.882
you don't know how
you'll vote on it. Is that true?

01:03:11.003 --> 01:03:14.102
I suggest you watch
the recording in its entirety,

01:03:14.223 --> 01:03:17.916
I will not interpret his words,
much less my words.

01:03:18.037 --> 01:03:21.376
It will be made public,
you'll see it for yourself.

01:03:21.497 --> 01:03:25.096
As far as the campaigns go,
it is true that the Freedom Movement

01:03:25.217 --> 01:03:26.817
is appealing to all voters,

01:03:26.938 --> 01:03:29.597
firstly, to turn out in
as large numbers as possible

01:03:29.717 --> 01:03:32.574
for both the referendums
and the European elections,

01:03:32.695 --> 01:03:35.446
and to vote
three times in favour.

01:03:35.989 --> 01:03:40.672
All three referendums are very
much moral and ethical issues,

01:03:40.793 --> 01:03:44.273
not about the legislation by either
the Government or the coalition.

01:03:44.394 --> 01:03:47.819
So there's no point speaking
about a vote of confidence.

01:03:47.941 --> 01:03:51.137
But it is true
we're expressing our values

01:03:51.258 --> 01:03:52.923
through
these three referendums.

01:03:53.044 --> 01:03:56.819
We want to say that we are
in favour of basic human dignity,

01:03:56.940 --> 01:04:00.193
that human beings must be protected
before the end of their lives,

01:04:00.314 --> 01:04:04.209
when the healthcare system might
not be able to help them anymore.

01:04:04.330 --> 01:04:11.034
We want to say that we are in favour
of cannabis for medical use.

01:04:11.155 --> 01:04:14.719
Of it not only being used,
but also cultivated in Slovenia.

01:04:14.840 --> 01:04:17.155
We want to say
very unequivocally

01:04:17.276 --> 01:04:20.124
that we are in favour
of the voters

01:04:20.557 --> 01:04:23.698
having the right to choose
with a preferential vote

01:04:23.819 --> 01:04:28.682
which person on the party list
they have the greatest confidence in.

01:04:28.803 --> 01:04:33.001
As for recreational,
I'm not avoiding this topic.

01:04:33.122 --> 01:04:35.297
I said I am
reticent about that.

01:04:35.418 --> 01:04:37.502
It is a completely
personal decision,

01:04:37.623 --> 01:04:39.967
each person will choose
what suits them.

01:04:40.088 --> 01:04:42.885
I am not going to persuade
anyone one way or the other,

01:04:43.006 --> 01:04:46.521
let the people decide whether
our society is ready for this

01:04:46.642 --> 01:04:48.489
or we have
reservations about it.

01:04:48.610 --> 01:04:52.119
I will not use the moral position
of the Prime Minister

01:04:52.240 --> 01:04:57.621
to impose my personal opinion.

01:04:58.083 --> 01:05:02.610
Žiga Bonča,
and then Gregor Drnovšek.

01:05:04.554 --> 01:05:08.800
Žiga Bonča, Pop TV.
In the introduction, you said

01:05:08.921 --> 01:05:13.304
that this Government has
brought about some normalisation.

01:05:13.425 --> 01:05:18.190
I hope you agree.
You don't? OK.

01:05:18.479 --> 01:05:21.287
I didn't express my opinion.

01:05:21.408 --> 01:05:24.578
How do you assess
the society's state of mind?

01:05:24.699 --> 01:05:32.086
We see some organised self-proclaimed
neighbourhood watches.

01:05:32.207 --> 01:05:37.256
How do you comment
these phenomena?

01:05:38.181 --> 01:05:43.738
I'm not avoiding it, but I don't
want to be the only one to speak.

01:05:44.980 --> 01:05:47.408
If I can express my view.

01:05:49.955 --> 01:05:55.323
I think the country
is full of an uncalled-for hysteria.

01:05:55.842 --> 01:05:59.307
I'm including
various strikes and so on.

01:05:59.705 --> 01:06:03.834
This is why the lack
of social dialogue is perhaps

01:06:04.037 --> 01:06:07.219
what I would change in hindsight.

01:06:07.340 --> 01:06:11.546
As far as neighbourhood watches go,
I reject that.

01:06:11.667 --> 01:06:16.952
In Slovenia, we have a good
police force, we have an army,

01:06:17.073 --> 01:06:19.966
the rule of law is functioning.
I would refer to that.

01:06:20.087 --> 01:06:23.238
The rule of law
is absolutely functioning,

01:06:23.359 --> 01:06:27.325
and there is no place in Slovenia
for any neighbourhood watches

01:06:27.446 --> 01:06:32.391
or self-proclaimed soldiers or police
to patrol around the country

01:06:32.512 --> 01:06:34.535
and chase away migrants.

01:06:34.656 --> 01:06:38.337
We have good legislation,
a good state,

01:06:38.458 --> 01:06:43.398
and I find this unnecessary.
I absolutely reject it.

01:06:43.904 --> 01:06:46.293
Madam Minister.
-Yes.

01:06:46.414 --> 01:06:50.055
It's an expression
of utter hatred,

01:06:50.176 --> 01:06:55.392
it's also incitement
to violence against our fellow men,

01:06:55.513 --> 01:06:58.016
but it's really sad

01:06:58.139 --> 01:07:05.918
that it's supported by certain
far-right politicians in Slovenia.

01:07:06.039 --> 01:07:12.052
This is what we are resisting,

01:07:12.173 --> 01:07:19.599
our government is committed
to fighting disinformation,

01:07:19.732 --> 01:07:24.309
false information
and hate speech on the Internet,

01:07:24.430 --> 01:07:28.462
in political discourse
and in everyday life.

01:07:28.583 --> 01:07:33.667
These are
expressions of dissent,

01:07:33.788 --> 01:07:37.071
society is made up
of different opinions,

01:07:37.192 --> 01:07:40.595
but this is not an expression
of a different opinion

01:07:40.716 --> 01:07:43.782
in a dignified and cultured way,

01:07:43.903 --> 01:07:45.903
this is an expression of hatred,

01:07:46.024 --> 01:07:48.719
and also
an incitement to violence,

01:07:48.840 --> 01:07:52.191
which should have
no place in today's society.

01:07:52.312 --> 01:07:56.479
If we look at what is happening
around the world,

01:07:56.600 --> 01:08:00.302
there is a war
in the 21st century in Europe.

01:08:00.449 --> 01:08:03.807
What politics
actually has to do,

01:08:03.928 --> 01:08:08.105
and I think our government
is doing it successfully,

01:08:08.226 --> 01:08:11.798
is of course,
to moderate society

01:08:11.919 --> 01:08:15.255
and to lead it through
a kind of respectful discourse,

01:08:15.376 --> 01:08:20.129
a search for compromises,
what's best for every citizen.

01:08:20.250 --> 01:08:22.829
This kind of thing
should have no place,

01:08:22.950 --> 01:08:24.690
and it really saddens me

01:08:24.811 --> 01:08:28.550
that after all that we saw
under the previous Government,

01:08:28.671 --> 01:08:34.852
which often to some extent
took it out on the individual,

01:08:34.973 --> 01:08:40.590
it is unfathomable to me
that it is now happening again.

01:08:40.711 --> 01:08:43.499
I believe that
the vast majority of people

01:08:43.620 --> 01:08:48.693
absolutely do not support this,
regardless of political orientation.

01:08:48.814 --> 01:08:50.414
Prime Minister.

01:08:50.535 --> 01:08:52.481
In all international surveys,

01:08:52.602 --> 01:08:58.096
Slovenia is among
the safest countries in the world.

01:08:59.514 --> 01:09:01.499
The recordings
that we have seen

01:09:01.620 --> 01:09:03.730
are aimed at creating hatred

01:09:03.851 --> 01:09:07.767
and inciting people
against people who are different,

01:09:07.888 --> 01:09:13.423
differently coloured, differently
minded, from a different culture.

01:09:13.862 --> 01:09:18.263
Such recordings, such phenomena
are not even universally present,

01:09:18.384 --> 01:09:20.088
so I would really ask

01:09:20.209 --> 01:09:23.598
that this not be written about
like it's a social phenomenon.

01:09:23.719 --> 01:09:30.658
It's a completely
intolerable act

01:09:30.779 --> 01:09:32.779
by a few individuals

01:09:33.865 --> 01:09:36.829
who are now,
in the run-up to the elections,

01:09:36.950 --> 01:09:39.417
inciting hatred among people.

01:09:40.104 --> 01:09:43.581
We reject this. The competent
institutions are at work,

01:09:43.702 --> 01:09:46.164
and I trust that they will
take appropriate action.

01:09:46.285 --> 01:09:49.401
But what is just as perverse,
if you ask me,

01:09:49.522 --> 01:09:52.875
is that these same individuals
are now being interviewed

01:09:52.996 --> 01:09:59.177
for several hours by the candidates
of the largest opposition party

01:09:59.298 --> 01:10:01.298
as if they were friends.

01:10:01.888 --> 01:10:05.392
That's what is
actually eye-opening.

01:10:05.513 --> 01:10:08.021
We can now see
who we're dealing with,

01:10:08.142 --> 01:10:11.062
and that if what we saw
two years ago happens again,

01:10:11.183 --> 01:10:12.865
it might get even worse.

01:10:12.986 --> 01:10:15.142
Because they have
no shame anymore,

01:10:15.263 --> 01:10:20.181
they are openly appearing with
bullies, tying other people to posts.

01:10:20.302 --> 01:10:23.726
Is this what we can expect from them
if they come back to power?

01:10:23.847 --> 01:10:27.800
Is this what they will be advocating
in the European Parliament?

01:10:27.921 --> 01:10:29.213
I am ashamed

01:10:29.333 --> 01:10:33.036
to have such people representing
Slovenia in the European Parliament.

01:10:33.157 --> 01:10:36.956
I think Slovenia
should say no to such people.

01:10:38.203 --> 01:10:41.188
I hope this message
will get through to the people.

01:10:41.309 --> 01:10:45.898
Gregor. -This morning,
the environmental NGOs

01:10:46.019 --> 01:10:49.206
called on your state secretary,
Mr. Levičar,

01:10:49.327 --> 01:10:53.090
the State Secretary for the National
Nuclear Programme, to resign.

01:10:53.211 --> 01:10:55.898
They also called on you
to dismiss him,

01:10:56.019 --> 01:10:58.800
because they accuse him
of running the JEK2 project

01:10:58.921 --> 01:11:01.904
only in the interests of
the political and economic elites.

01:11:02.025 --> 01:11:04.025
What is your response?

01:11:07.009 --> 01:11:10.192
Firstly, the JEK2 project
is a very important project

01:11:10.313 --> 01:11:13.372
for the energy
and overall future of Slovenia,

01:11:13.493 --> 01:11:17.921
which is why we decided
from day one to be transparent.

01:11:18.042 --> 01:11:22.561
Because of that, today,
six months before the referendum,

01:11:22.682 --> 01:11:24.525
so we have enough time,

01:11:24.646 --> 01:11:28.798
a very broad public debate
has started to develop.

01:11:29.303 --> 01:11:32.679
One of the tasks
of the State Secretary is

01:11:32.935 --> 01:11:36.988
to make sure that all the relevant
information is available,

01:11:37.109 --> 01:11:41.854
so that the people can make
an informed decision on this issue.

01:11:41.975 --> 01:11:46.602
We still have six months,
and he has a very clear task.

01:11:47.227 --> 01:11:51.508
If the result is positive,
then his task will continue,

01:11:51.629 --> 01:11:53.495
otherwise, it will not.

01:11:54.103 --> 01:11:56.372
As for the specific case,

01:11:57.263 --> 01:11:59.702
I have obtained
written communications,

01:11:59.823 --> 01:12:02.106
I am not going to go
into the fault of individuals.

01:12:02.227 --> 01:12:04.682
These communications
are at your disposal.

01:12:04.803 --> 01:12:07.201
Who didn't attend the meeting,
who send the invites...

01:12:07.322 --> 01:12:10.111
Please contact the PR,
it will be made available to you.

01:12:10.232 --> 01:12:14.394
Read the written communication,
let's not do the he said, she said.

01:12:14.515 --> 01:12:20.908
Thank you very much,
there are no more questions.

01:12:21.102 --> 01:12:23.094
Thank you for being with us.

01:12:23.215 --> 01:12:25.389
As you leave,
you can take a picture

01:12:25.510 --> 01:12:29.316
of the Palestinian flag
on the front of our building.

01:12:29.437 --> 01:12:32.709
Have a nice day
and a successful following year.

01:12:32.830 --> 01:12:36.001
Goodbye.
-Good luck, thank you.