President Pahor receives the highest order of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion
Prague, Czech Republic, 28. 10. 2017 | press release
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the ceremony commemorating the Czech National Day, celebrated on 28 October, at the special invitation of the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman. On this occasion President Zeman conferred upon President Pahor the highest order of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion, as an award of the Czech Republic for merits in strengthening and improving the relations between Slovenia and the Czech Republic and for exceptional merits for the Czech Republic.
Other distinguished persons also received awards at this ceremony, among them former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, and former Mayor of Vienna, Michael Häupl.
President Pahor met with President Zeman before the ceremony. The two presidents stressed that the friendship between the Czech and Slovenian nations is based on historical ties, both in terms of political relations as well as in economic and cultural cooperation. They exchanged their views on current bilateral and international issues and committed themselves to strengthening the friendship between the two countries.
In a special statement for the Slovenian media given before the ceremony President Zeman emphasised that he was very pleased to be able to confer the highest order of the Czech Republic upon President Pahor, whom he has known for more than twenty years. He pointed out that the excellent relations between the two countries are due inter alia to the efforts of President Pahor. President Zeman thanked President Pahor for his initiative for the stabilisation of West Balkans and the peace in the European Union.
The recipients of this high order include the British Queen Elisabeth II, the Spanish King Juan Carlos I, American President Bill Clinton, Czech President Václav Havel and Austrian President Heinz Fischer.
At today's ceremony President Zeman also posthumously conferred a Tomas Garrigue Masaryk Order on the Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. Plečnik's great-great-nephew Janez Jocif accepted the order in the architect's name.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA