I remember 26 December 1990 very well. Early in the morning, we set out for Slovenia, hoping to arrive in time to vote.

The electoral commission was already clearing up the polling station when I got there, gasping for breath. Given the fact that I had come from the Netherlands I was allowed to cast my “yes” vote, not knowing that half a year after this vote I would feel guilty about the events that took place as a result of our independence. 

The events themselves after independence resulted in the gathering of Slovenians in the Netherlands. Before this, there was no need to gather together. The Slovenians in the Netherlands are integrated into Dutch society and by using modern communication media, contact with Slovenians at home became accessible to everyone. We gathered together in order to help accelerate the recognition of Slovenia by the Netherlands. When Slovenia was gaining independence, the Netherlands held the European Union Presidency. Hans van den Broek, the Foreign Minister, was not in favour of Slovenia’s independence. In spite of the petition and continuous lobbying efforts of the association (which was called the Committee for the Recognition of Slovenia) in different political groups and in the Standing Committee for European Affairs, it took Slovenia half a year to be recognised by the Netherlands. Having achieved this objective, there was no need to remain united. Since Dutch sympathizers with Slovenia were also members of the Committee, the Committee was renamed the Association of Friends of Slovenia. The leadership of the association had been in Dutch hands for a long time until the presidency was taken over by Mojca Nodelijk Gustin, who headed the association for a number of years.

I do not follow current events in Slovenia. The reason for this is the fact that I want to spend holidays at home relaxed and I do not want to get involved in burning issues which are often at odds with reason. I do not want to follow eternal “reconciliations” that hinder development. I do not understand the conservatism of the Catholic Church and I am shocked at the fact of how people are easily misled. At the same time, I am disappointed about how easily Slovenians can be misled. 

In spite of a difficult political and economic situation, Slovenia managed to overcome the crisis. However, Slovenia has a lot of reserves, especially in the area of culture, education and concern for Slovenians abroad. It does not seem right to me that we Slovenians abroad are given so much attention in various forms. The fact that the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad exists, is absurd. I believe that we Slovenians abroad are adults and do not need to be tied to our mother’s apron strings. At the same time, we have no right to these apron strings that are paid for by the Slovenians in their homeland.