Slovenian President attends the opening of the 61st Dubrovnik Summer Games

Dubrovnik, 10.7.2010  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attended the official opening of the 61st Dubrovnik Summer Games at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr Ivo Josipoviæ. During their meeting, the Slovenian and Croatian presidents took the opportunity to have a longer informal conversation, in which they discussed various bilateral and international issues.

In his statement to the press before meeting, the Slovenian President emphasised that the basic principles of cooperation between Slovenia and Croatia have already been established. Dr Türk added that both he and President Josipoviæ supported the constructive efforts the two governments have made, wishing them both success. The Slovenian President ensured that they are both willing to assist the Prime Ministers of Croatia and Slovenia should they require any advice or any other kind of assistance.

President Türk also commented on the progress of talks between the two countries in resolving the issue of Ljubljanska Banka and Croatian savers. According to his words, the beginnings of possible solutions are already starting to materialise, but this issue should be approached bearing in mind that these are questions which should not be postponed.

Before the meeting, President Türk announced that both he and President Josipoviæ would also discuss the Trieste meeting on 13 July 2010, when he and the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, would attend a "Route of Friendship" concert and visit the site of the Narodni dom, which was burnt down 90 years ago.

President Türk noted that "this visit is of outstanding symbolic significance, since the Italian President, together with the Slovenian and Croatian Presidents, will come to the Narodni dom and pay their respects to the memory of the suffering endured at that time." He underlined that, until now, no such gesture had yet happened in relations between Slovenia and Italy. In his opinion, the Trieste meeting was an important political event which has a powerful significance and that, in the margins of the meeting, there would also be an opportunity for further discussions.