Controversial lines of text

Slovenia admonishes Styria over anthem plans

The new Styrian state government relies on symbols: Here the panther in the Landhaus courtyard; according to the government program, the anthem should be included in the constitution.

(Bild: zVg)

From the Dachstein to "the Wendenland at the bed of the Sav'" - so goes the "Dachsteinlied", the Styrian anthem. The FPÖ's plans to include the anthem in the provincial constitution are now causing diplomatic tensions: The Foreign Ministry in Ljubljana is insisting on "territorial integrity and sovereignty".

The "Bed of the Sav'" is located in what is now Slovenia and, like the whole of Lower Styria with towns such as Maribor (Marburg), Celje (Cilli) and Ptuj (Pettau), has not belonged to Styria for over 100 years. The same applies to the "vineyards in the Drav' valley". Štajerska was initially part of Yugoslavia and has been part of the independent state of Slovenia since 1991.

Slovenia has called on the new Styrian government to be "prudent" in its plan to safeguard the national anthem under constitutional law and has reaffirmed its "territorial integrity and sovereignty". On page 65 of the government program of the FPÖ-ÖVP government it says: "The state anthem, the 'Dachsteinlied', is to be included in the state constitution." 

New Styrian head of government: Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) and Manuela Khom (ÖVP)

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

"Territorial integrity and sovereignty"
The plan neglects the historical context in which the Dachstein Song originated, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry criticized to the daily newspaper "Dnevnik" (online edition). "In this and similar cases, the Ministry emphasizes territorial integrity and sovereignty and calls for prudence when it comes to steps of the highest symbolic value of the country, such as the national anthem," commented the Slovenian Foreign Ministry at the request of "Dnevnik".

"Dachsteinlied", first verse

High from the Dachstein, where the Aar still dwells,
to the Wendenland at the bed of the Sav'
and from the Alptal, which the Mürz roars through,
to the vineyards in the valley of the Drav'
This beautiful land is the land of the Styrians,
is my dear, dear homeland,
this beautiful land is the land of the Styrians,
is my dear, dear homeland!

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon

(Bild: Adam Berry/AFP)

Slovenia cultivates cooperation with its neighbors on the principle of reciprocity and in the spirit of common European values, the ministry emphasized, referring to the regular meetings of the Styria-Slovenia Joint Committee, most recently in Celje in January of last year. "We expect the multifaceted cooperation to continue in the future under the new leadership of the Austrian province of Styria," said the ministry, headed by Social Democrat Tanja Fajon.

Lack of understanding on the part of the FPÖ
Governor Mario Kunasek's office considers the criticism from Slovenia to be unjustified. The idea is to add a fifth paragraph to article six of the provincial constitution (provincial symbols), which would state: "The 'Dachsteinlied' is the anthem of Styria." It also states that white and green are the national colors of Styria.

The anthem has been sung for decades and Slovenia has never been bothered by it. "It is unrealistic to deduce from this that borders recognized under international law are not respected," they say.

Complaint to the Constitutional Court?
Sharp opposition to the blue-black plan also comes from IG Autorinnen Autoren. Its managing director Gerhard Ruiss expressed his outrage in an interview with "Dnevnik". "You cannot write an area into the constitution that is not part of the Austrian state," he said. If the Styrian provincial parliament were to do this anyway by passing a resolution to this effect, a constitutional review would have to be initiated, Ruiss said, bringing a complaint to the Constitutional Court (VfGH) into play.