The works of many great Slovenian minds and artists bear testament to the fact that Slovenia's achievement of independence in 1991 was the fulfilment both of a dream that had lasted centuries and of concrete plans. It was also an act with which the Slovenian nation overcame its doubts about its ability to achieve self-realisation as a nation. I am referring to the works of Trubar, Prešeren, Cankar, Pregelj, Novacan, Kocbek, Vidmar, Kardelj, Pirjevec, Hribar, Bucar, Urbancic and many others, and to the decisions and actions of individuals and communities starting with group meetings of the Tabor movement in the 19th century, the battles of Rudolf Maister, the resistance against the occupying forces in 1941 and the culmination of all these efforts in 1991 when Slovenian politics as a whole finally matured into national and democratic politics and when the Slovenian people as a community succeeded in initiating action with which Slovenia was at last established as a collective that could choose its own destiny. All of this represents a commitment for the future that will show whether the nation possesses sufficient self-confidence, willpower and energy to preserve what has been achieved. Personally I am convinced that it does!