Slovenian Ambassador addressed the launching event “Let’s Clean Albania in One Day 2012”

 

 

Tirana, 8 December 2011 

Slovenian Ambassador Mr. Bojan Bertoncelj addressed the launching event “Let’s Clean Albania in One Day 2012”, reflecting continuous support of Slovenia and Slovenian Embassy in Tirana to the biggest Albanian volunteer environmental project of mapping and cleaning up the illicit waste littering, of the local NGO “Green Line Albania” ( http://greenline.al/ ).

In line with the international movement “Let's Do It, World!”, Slovenia did its biggest volunteer cleanup action in the history in April 2010 and united before unimaginable number of over 270,000 participants (approx. 12% of Slovenians). To support and exchange good practices, Slovenia became coordinator for the Balkans region. To spark up new initiatives, a series of regional gatherings has been organized all over the world this year. In Slovenia the conference took place in April, bringing together volunteers from the Balkan countries to facilitate transfer of knowledge and experience in organizing large-scale volunteer actions and to establish a core management team for the successful implementation of the global cleanup in 2012 in each of the participating countries.

“Let’s Clean Albania in One Day 2012” launching event, with the special presence and address of Ms. Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Member of the European Parliament, witnessed also the address by Mr. Fatmir Mediu, Minister of Environment of Albania and Mr. Edmond Panariti, Vice-Mayor of Tirana.

Ambassador’s address:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure and optimism to witness official launching of this very special project – with such a great interest of civil society, interest groups, private sector, as well as of state, municipal and local authorities - not to forget media.

Through the last year, Slovenian Embassy has been standing active in supporting local volunteer activities leading to today’s event. We tried to echo huge enthusiasm and extremely successful Slovenian clean-up action along the lines of the international movement Let’s Do It World.

Cohesive and sensitization approach in strengthening people’s awareness in the area of environment and consumption habits has been crucial. Sustainable development, protection and care for the environment, as balanced through the norms and standards of the European Union, were reflected in expectations of citizens.

Soon, we are to see new round of the global action. In fact, next year it is expected to be the biggest volunteer environmental project in the history of mankind.

Slovenia has been and will be a part of it. For us, the first action “Let’s clean Slovenia in one day in 2010” was a show of talent, of volunteer culture and of environmental and social responsibility. Moreover, it was a testimony of being able to connect and act together.

With such an experience, this year, Slovenia echoed the message and opportunities for local actions by conveying additional enthusiasm and proven practices to new interested and participating countries of the Western Balkan region.

In doing so, we were encouraged by the advancing operational preparations of Green Line Albania NGO.

The launching event is the first and very decisive step in the run up to the 9 May 2012, when Albania will act. Of course, further preparation, coordination and cooperation - society wide - are essential.

Today, I wish this project every success.

I wish success in gathering the widest and instrumental support, success in making good use of synergies, success in sustaining awareness build-up, and, to embrace positive perception of every citizen in acting and undertaking responsibility for the environment - today and for the generations to come.

Let’s do it!

 

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