PRESS RELEASE
Presentation of IFIMES awards
LJUBLJANA/BLED, 14 February 2014 - The International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) held a special ceremony at Bled where it presented awards to:
- Dr. Gregor Virant, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia – “Special contribution to fighting organised crime and corruption”;
- Dr. Torhan Mufti, Minister for Provincial Affairs and Acting Minister of Communications of the Republic of Iraq – “Special contribution to promoting development of provinces in Iraq”;
- Erdal Trhulj, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – “Special contribution to development of the energy sector and economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina”;
- Dr. Božo Dimnik, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia to Slovenia and President of the Slovenian-Croatian Friendship Society – “Special contribution to development of Slovenian-Croatian relations”; and
- Budimir Lončar, the doyen of diplomacy and international relations – “The lifetime achievement award”.
The awards were presented by former President of the Republic of Croatia and the Honorary President of the IFIMES International Institute Stjepan Mesić, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Vice-President of the IFIMES Advisory Board Zoran Živković and IFIMES Director Bakhatyar Aljaf.
In the opening address President of the Council of the Institute and former White House Political Director Dr. Craig T. Smith stressed the importance of such awards because they enable organisations such as IFIMES to show that they appreciate the activities and efforts of individuals to create better conditions for dialogue and coexistence in the society. Although at first sight the fight against crime and corruption, the energy sector, development, cooperation and foreign policy do not seem to be related fields, the reality has shown that they all contribute to strengthening democratic processes and development of the society.The IFIMES Institute has decided to present awards to today's laureates in recognition of their life-time and professional efforts to improve other people's lives. Such awards are important – not only because they remind people of who the laureates are and what are their achievements, but – especially – because they put the laureates as an example to others and show how one person's acts can influence and improve other people's lives.
During the awards ceremony IFIMES Director Zijad Bećirović stressed that the award ceremony is a special and solemn event and an opportunity to award individuals whose contributions have marked the past and present time and who are expected to make great contributions also in the future. The present time is marked not only by the economic and social crisis but also the crisis of moral values, as complete societies are sinking in despair and hopelessness. Mr. Bećirović noted that the IFIMES Institute nevertheless decided to regard the crisis as an opportunity. Thus, during the past six months it has established two new departments: Department for Strategic Studies on Asia (DeSSA) with the head office in Vienna and Department for Local and Regional Studies (DeLORS).
The laureates thanked the Institute for the honour given to them and stressed that the awards represent a confirmation of their work and a motivation for future efforts.
Besides the Institute's management the ceremony was attended by numerous personalities from the political, business and public life from Slovenia as well as the Balkan and Middle East countries.
The award ceremony was followed by the reception in the honour of the laureates.
Ljubljana, 14 February 2014
