Opening Address by H.E. Dr. Danilo Türk, President of Slovenia at the 4th Summer University for Democracy, Council of Europe

**English:** Dr Türk pointed to the main challenges to democracy today. He opened by saying that in recent decades democracy has become the preferred form of governance, and that this process is likely to continue in the future. Democracy is an expression of deep aspirations of people to live in freedom, dignity and prosperity, stressed Dr Türk. He went on to add that democracy could not be imposed from abroad, but it can be assisted by international or regional organisations and movements for democracy. **Slovensko:** V svojem nagovoru je predsednik opredelil glavne izzive, s katerimi se danes sooča demokracija. Demokracija je v zadnjih desetletjih postala v svetu prevladujoč model vladanja, ta proces pa se bo najverjetneje nadaljeval tudi v prihodnosti. Demokracija je izraz globokih teženj ljudi, da bi živeli v svobodi, dostojanstvu in blaginji, je poudaril predsednik. Ob tem je dodal, da je ni mogoče vsiliti od zunaj, lahko pa ji pomagajo mednarodne ali regionalne organizacije ter gibanja za demokracijo.