In a letter explaining the reasons for his resignation, Keber stated that he was not afraid of the difficulties facing RKS. “I was aware of them when I came here, and I was willing to resolve them. I still have this commitment, but I don’t feel that I have the necessary support. In fact, I recently encountered instances of mistrust and insinuations that have hurt me.”

Kerber stated that this was not a case of giving up, but rather of accepting the fact that most people in the organization don’t perceive “key internal problems that prevent RKS from successfully meeting outside challenges – or they expect the problems to resolve themselves.” He added: “I know that my decision will disappoint those who shared my views and that I will be criticized for giving up too quickly.”

The Red Cross is regretting the resignation
The Red Cross has issued a statement saying that the organization has carried out most of the planned tasks in 2017: “Along with 56 regional chapters and almost 900 local Red Cross subsidiaries, as well as thousands of volunteers and employees, the Slovenian Red Cross has carried out all crucial tasks resulting from public authorizations and other humanitarian programs that the organization had forecast in its 10th Commitment to the Public. At the recent congress of RKS’s members, the representatives approved all reports and the planned program for 2018. They noted an increase in donor funds, which are allowing the captivity of the Red Cross to expand.”

The statement added that RKS regrets that President Dušan Keber and Vice President Zvonka Ješelnik have chosen to resign. To prevent interruption to the organization’s work, a conference of RKS has already named a new leadership. RKS is now represented by Vice President Irena Nečemer and Executive Committee member Alojz Kovačič.

RKS expects to receive a new President in December after a confirmation hearing at a congress of members. Keber became the head of RKS on June 24, 2016 and was expected to remain in the position until 2019. RKS named him President after the resignation of Nataša Pirc Musar, who had taken over the presidency in late June 2015, after the death of RKS President Franc Košir in December 2014.