Tuerk elected as Slovenia's president

Slovenians have elected Danilo Tuerk him as the former Yugoslav republic's third president. Slovenians "obviously understood my opinions, my stands and my achievements," Tuerk said. Voters in Sunday's election showed, he said, they wanted "something new." Tuerk elected as Slovenia's president Tuerk, 55, garnered 68 percent of votes, according to nearly complete results — more than twice as many as his rival, conservative ex-Prime Minister Lojze Petrel. He ran as an independent, but was supported by opposition center-left parties. An expert in international law, Tuerk resurfaced in local politics with the elections after spending most of his career in international affairs. He was appointed Slovenia's ambassador to the United Nations in 1992, just months after the country gained international recognition. He held the post until 2000, when he became the assistant for political affairs to the U.N. Secretary General at the time, Kofi Annan. He recently described that period as "interesting and highly demanding." In 2005, reportedly disappointed because Annan had not promoted him to undersecretary general, he returned to Slovenia. He is currently an associate dean at the Faculty of Law. During the campaign, some questioned his ability to run the country, considering that he had been absent for so long. Peterle used the issue to question Tuerk's patriotism, suggesting that Tuerk was away while politicians at home fought for the country's independence. Tuerk rejected the allegation. Some media published articles he wrote in the early 1990s in which he advocated independence. The refined, gray-haired Tuerk, remained dignified as results were announced, just smiling as his supporters whistled and screamed. Even though his victory was seen as a boost to the parliamentary opposition — those who oppose the prime minister — Tuerk said that as president he wanted to unite Slovenians. During the campaign, he presented plans for each Slovenian region on his Web site. But he also commented on events abroad. Critical of the occupation of Iraq, Tuerk said foreign troops there are "part of the problem, not the solution," and advocated a greater role for the U.N. He has also sought to reach younger voters: he writes a blog and has joined the social networking site Facebook, mostly listing young people as his friends. He also wrote on his site that during his tenure in New York, he had the pleasure of meeting Michael Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Rudy Giuliani — and that Angelina Jolie "enchanted" him with her care for refugees. Born in Maribor, in northeastern Slovenia, Tuerk said he wanted to help making a "better and fairer world." He earned a Ph.D in international law. Particularly interested in legal protection of human rights, he cooperated with Amnesty International on several cases of human rights abuses in the former Yugoslavia. He is married with one daughter. Danilo Turk (Beta)

Tuerk elected as Slovenia's president

Tuerk, 55, garnered 68 percent of votes, according to nearly complete results — more than twice as many as his rival, conservative ex-Prime Minister Lojze Petrel.

He ran as an independent, but was supported by opposition center-left parties.

An expert in international law, Tuerk resurfaced in local politics with the elections after spending most of his career in international affairs.

He was appointed Slovenia's ambassador to the United Nations in 1992, just months after the country gained international recognition.

He held the post until 2000, when he became the assistant for political affairs to the U.N. Secretary General at the time, Kofi Annan. He recently described that period as "interesting and highly demanding."

In 2005, reportedly disappointed because Annan had not promoted him to undersecretary general, he returned to Slovenia. He is currently an associate dean at the Faculty of Law.

During the campaign, some questioned his ability to run the country, considering that he had been absent for so long. Peterle used the issue to question Tuerk's patriotism, suggesting that Tuerk was away while politicians at home fought for the country's independence.

Tuerk rejected the allegation. Some media published articles he wrote in the early 1990s in which he advocated independence.

The refined, gray-haired Tuerk, remained dignified as results were announced, just smiling as his supporters whistled and screamed.

Even though his victory was seen as a boost to the parliamentary opposition — those who oppose the prime minister — Tuerk said that as president he wanted to unite Slovenians.

During the campaign, he presented plans for each Slovenian region on his Web site. But he also commented on events abroad.

Critical of the occupation of Iraq, Tuerk said foreign troops there are "part of the problem, not the solution," and advocated a greater role for the U.N.

He has also sought to reach younger voters: he writes a blog and has joined the social networking site Facebook, mostly listing young people as his friends.

He also wrote on his site that during his tenure in New York, he had the pleasure of meeting Michael Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Rudy Giuliani — and that Angelina Jolie "enchanted" him with her care for refugees.

Born in Maribor, in northeastern Slovenia, Tuerk said he wanted to help making a "better and fairer world." He earned a Ph.D in international law.

Particularly interested in legal protection of human rights, he cooperated with Amnesty International on several cases of human rights abuses in the former Yugoslavia.

He is married with one daughter.