VISIT BY HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES TO SLOVENIA

Ljubljana, 2 November 1998



At the invitation of Mr Milan Kucan, President of the Republic of Slovenia, HRH the Prince of Wales, the heir to the British throne, is visiting Slovenia today and tomorrow (2 and 3 November 1998). In Gorenjska and in Ljubljana the Prince of Wales is learning about Slovenia’s efforts to achieve further inclusion in European integration, about the economic and social development of Slovenia, the country’s natural beauty and cultural features as well as the activities and efforts Slovenia is undertaking in those areas which are of particular interest to His Royal Highness.

After arriving at Brnik Airport, the Prince of Wales, together with his host President Kucan, visited Bled and the Vrata Valley in the Triglav National Park. There he was informed about protection of the natural and cultural heritage and organic farming in Slovenia; and at the Pericnik waterfall the Prince of Wales observed a mountain rescue exercise. This evening President Kucan is hosting a gala dinner at Brdo Castle in honour of the Prince of Wales. Also invited are prominent representatives of the cultural, scientific, economic and political life of Slovenia, many of whom contribute to the forging of closer ties between Slovenia and the United Kingdom. In Ljubljana, where the Prince of Wales will spend the second day of his visit, he will first of all sign his name in the Gold Guest Book of the City of Ljubljana and visit the old town, the Three Bridges, Preseren Square, the market place, the Plecnik Arcade and the exterior of the Cathedral. He will then meet pupils at Fuzine Elementary School and hear about some of the youth problems as the schoolchildren see them, and about the youth issues that will be discussed at a seminar of criminologists and other representatives of Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The Prince of Wales will also attend the official opening of British Week in Ljubljana, jointly organised by the Nama department store and the Commercial Section of the British Embassy in Ljubljana.