President receives representatives of Slovenian minorities

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor, hosted a reception for the representatives of Slovenian minorities from Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary. This is a traditional event celebrating the Slovenian Cultural Day.


The minorities’ representatives, who were also greeted by the Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Mrs Ljudmila Novak, outlined their current position and the difficulties they are facing. In his address, President Borut Pahor thanked the guests for their unselfish commitment to minority organisations. He also assured them that Slovenia was well aware of its responsibility towards Slovenian national communities in other countries. At the core of the problem, in his opinion, are the financial resources needed for the work of minority organisations. Despite the current crisis, Slovenia is doing its utmost to minimise the effects of cuts on autochthonous minorities in Slovenia, while it expects the same of the neighbouring countries.

The President emphasised the exceptional importance of culture for the preservation of national identity and the role culture played in building an independent Slovenia. By way of conclusion, he extended his congratulations on the Slovenian Cultural Day. In the evening, President Borut Pahor also attended the state ceremony where the Prešeren Awards and Prešeren Fund Awards are conferred for outstanding achievements in culture.