Archives for February 2nd, 2006

Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir. (source)

Slovenia’s president Janez DrnovÅ¡ek has recently been travelling around the world trying to rattle up support for his Darfur initiative. So far it’s drawn some lukewarm support from France, the United States and elsewhere. DrnovÅ¡ek is expected to travel to Sudan personally later this month for further talks. In a recent interview with CNN, they mention that part of his plan would involve housing 10,000 Sudanese refugees in Slovenia. Logistics and feasability aside, that’s the kind of selfless benevolence you just don’t hear from politicians these days, especially European ones. That’s why I think that DrnovÅ¡ek’s efforts, even if they don’t go anywhere politically, may still bear a lot of fruit at home. This initiative is bringing up a lot of interesting questions about what Slovenia’s role in the world is, and what it should be. The fact that DrnovÅ¡ek has decided to intensely involve himself with this, when he could just as easily sit back and enjoy the delicious side benefits of the largely ceremonial presidency, is in itself quite inspirational and does this nation proud. I know I am.

In the meantime, though, Slovenia’s private industry has also been involved in some Sudanese initiatives of their own: supplying the Sudanese dictator Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir (currently number one on the Parade list of the world’s worst dictators) with a $4.5 million luxury yacht. The New York Times recently published a story about the boat’s difficult trip from Slovenia’s Adriatic coast to Sudan. You can read it here: Sudan Leader Waits, and Waits, for His Ship to Come In. (Printer-friendly version)