Seven years after the first democratic elections, and six years after achieving the independence, it has become necessary to review and evaluate the dismal state of the Slovenian thinking which brought us to a crisis of the Slovenian democracy. In the present review it has not been practicable to include all the crucial problems such as the protection of the environment, farming, health and social security insurance, and many other areas where the old way of thinking in a new disguise has caused damage or led to an impasse. Although detailed documentation could not be included here, we have pointed to sufficient evidence to make it clear that the present situation is in urgent need of change. It is our opinion that all three branches of the government, the political party in power and the parties of the opposition, the administration, and the President of the Republic, in cooperation with the organized labor, employers, the media and the entire Slovenian public must face up to the present situation, evaluate what has been accomplished and decide where to go from here. In our opinion, the very least that has to be done is the following:

• The Slovenian Parliament should adopt a solemn public declaration that the democratic Republic of Slovenia is clearly and unequivocally severing its bonds with all vestiges of the former totalitarian regime, its policies and practices, which have continued through the transition period. Consistent with European political and cultural principles, the Parliament should go on record by censuring and formally repudiating the former regime because of its anti-democratic nature and acts of repression that violated the basic human rights and freedoms. The declaration should, among other things, treat separately the Partisan National Liberation Struggle against the occupying forces, declaring it distinct from the Communist Party, whose successors today have transformed the idea of the resistance movement into an instrument for continuing the ways of the former regime.

  Furthermore, it will be necessary to:

• Face the totalitarian past in proper perspective by clearly and publicly condemning the crimes committed in the aftermath of the Second World War, naming and censuring the institutions and individuals who were instrumental in such crimes, compensating, in so far as possible, the victims, clearing the good name of all victims of political oppression, compiling a list of all victims, and identifying and marking the mass-graves in a dignified manner.
  

• Repeal all political sentences, all convictions under the statutes on enemy propaganda and verbal delicta, so that those prosecuted under totalitarian laws shall not be burdened with the requirement to prove their innocence.
  

• Implement the ideas and requirements of the Slovenian Constitution regarding the duties of the specific branches of the government and their institutions as defined in the Constitution, provide for sanctions against those who fail to respect the limits of their authority. It is necessary to establish institutions based on the rule of law which will guarantee respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.
  

• Resolve judicially and without delay the illegal and improper activities that were taking place during the "transition." This is one of the basic conditions for the affirmation and achievement of the rule of law in Slovenia. With regard to this issue, the Slovenian government must acknowledge its own infirmities and at the same time deal with the questionable practices of the "continuity" people who have succeeded in transforming their former political monopoly into a capital monopoly during the privatization process. The general public desires an end to such practices. In making this demand, we do not seek abstract justice or punitive actions but the establishment of a basis for the democracy and rule of law.
  

• Create an atmosphere of understanding for those who during the period of transition through no fault of their own found themselves on the margin of the society in economic distress and set up mechanism to assist them in recovering their well-being.
  

• Accelerate without delay and complete the denationalization in accordance with the laws on the books and conclude an agreement with the Church on questions of property ownership and compensation acceptable under European standards.
  

• Ensure real freedom and plurality in the media in fact and not in the appearance only. Neither of these can be achieved without the existing media and their personnel. We must recognize that the media are professionally called upon to watch over the democratic processes, that they must be fair in their reporting, and that, in a democracy, they must allow the entire spectrum of opinions to be heard.
  

• Create conditions for full development of Slovenian culture, science, and education. It is only with our language, knowledge, heritage, and creativeness that we can affirm our right to a place in Europe as an authentic community.
  

• Establish and carry out a program to link all Slovenians living abroad regardless of their political differences.
  

• Establish in our endeavors towards integration with the European Union a clearly defined program which will identify the European standards with Slovenian national interests.
  
  
  
  

  SUMMARY

  
  
  

  The gravity of our situation is unfortunately so formidable that we cannot expect to cope with it by continuing to carry on in the old ways. A decisive move is required to transform the transitional Slovenia, still a captive of the practices of the old regime and old ways of thinking into a modern European democracy.

  In the near future, we hope within the European Union, there are real challenges awaiting us. If we desire as a state and national community to maintain our identity in Europe we must begin by conducting ourselves by its highest standards.

  The situation has unfortunately reached such a low level from which we cannot recover if we continue along the old lines. The present, transitional Slovenia, with its old models of thinking and old practices, requires a fundamental transformation to become a modern democratic European state.

  end