President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova delivered a speech at the ceremony celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, in Venice.
For the President, celebrating the 35th anniversary is not simply a ceremonial act, but her return to her homeland, as a professor of constitutional law, former member of the Commission, and as President of a country that received assistance from the Venice Commission in the complex process of transition and democratic consolidation.
"The Commission began as a community of eighteen countries, united by hope, necessity and a deep faith in the law as a bridge to peace. Today, this circle has expanded to 61 members. The family has grown, and with it its task. It is not just a consultative body that provides opinions on constitutions and laws, but a competent advisor on constitutional matters, a defender of the rule of law, a mediator in times of deep division and a companion of peoples seeking their democratic path," said Siljanovska-Davkova.
She thanked them for the trust they had shown her and for allowing her to participate in shaping the democratic histories of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
According to her, independence, expertise and humanism at work make the commission a unique body, which is not only a collection of legal minds, but also a living conscience of constitutional democracy.
For the President, the Commission's strongest point was and is its ability to build bridges between East and West, North and South, between theory and practice, between law and life itself.
"When the Venice Commission was born, it was based on trust: trust in the law, trust in dialogue and trust in democracy. This trust has guided us for decades. However, trust, in itself, is never enough. It must be constantly renewed through our work, our courage and our compassion. Therefore, as we mark this anniversary, let us remember what makes this institution unique: its independence, its expertise and its humanity. The Venice Commission is not just a group of legal minds; it is the living conscience of constitutional democracy. Let this celebration be not only a reflection on the past, but also a call to the future, a future in which the Venice Commission, my Commission, continues to shine as a beacon of integrity, wisdom and hope", said the President.
