 The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, paid a visit to the Walk of Peace in the Soèa Region Foundation, where he viewed an interactive exhibition about the project ‘The Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea’ and the heritage of the Isonzo Front, and the Foundation library.
The President and representatives of the Foundation spoke about the realisation of the approximately 100 kilometre memorial path from Log pod Mangartom to Duino on the Adriatic coast, which is intended to preserve, renew, and the present historical and cultural heritage of the World War I on the Isonzo Front for study, tourist and educational purposes. Afterwards, President Türk visited some other locations related to ‘The Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea’. |
 President Türk characterised the Walk of Peace in the Soèa Region Foundation as a very important foundation that nurtures the culture of commemorating the period of the World War I.
According to the President, this memory says a lot about the kind of place Europe should be in the future, and reminds us to maintain and ensure long-term peace when resolving all the practical problems of Europe. The President added that the effort for Europe to develop in the direction of a firm and irreversible guarantee of peace was also an important element of relations between Slovenia and Italy, and the main message of his visit to the Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. |
 The President expressed strong support for the Foundation and other museums and organisations that give true and full meaning to these interesting tourist sites. He said that tourist attractions are not only places of natural beauty, but also show an understanding of history and its message, which we have to nurture constantly. The President also expressed the wish to form an area within the wider area of the Isonzo Front that would be known throughout Europe as the Peace Park, the place to cherish common European values of peace, coexistence, and cooperation for the future when marking the 100th anniversary of events related to the World War I. The President added that this had also been the subject of his talks with the Presidents of Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and other countries whose citizens fought in the Isonzo battles.
After meeting the representatives of the Walk of Peace in the Soèa Region Foundation, the President visited the Simon Gregorèiè Elementary School in Kobarid, where he viewed a short cultural programme prepared by the pupils. He laid a wreath on the Monument to the Fallen Fighters of the 9th Corps and Fallen Soldiers of the Russian battalion of the 30th Division of the 9th Corps in the Memorial Park of the NOB (Yugoslav People's Liberation War) in Trnovo pri Gorici, and then paid a visit to the White Dove international peace organisation. In ©kabrijel, the President laid a wreath on the Monument to Fallen Slovenian Soldiers. Afterwards, at Kromberk Castle, he viewed the exhibition ‘Our Mountain Riflemen’ about Slovenians in AustroHungarian mountain units before and during the World War I. |
 In the afternoon, the President visited the Republic of Italy, where he met the president of the Friuli–Venezia Giulia Region Renzo Tondo in the Lojze Bratu¾ Cultural Centre in Gorizia. After the talk, the President visited Gorizia Cultural Centre, where he met representatives of organisations of the Slovenian minority in Italy.
In a press statement, the President explained that his talks with the representatives of Slovenian organisations were a review of previous developments and future tasks regarding the position of the Slovenians in Italy. In this context, the President presented the Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea as an encouragement for strengthening coexistence, and as a way to indirectly help the Slovenian national community. |
 The people with whom he spoke emphasised some current issues concerning the institutional aspects of the political representatives of the Slovenian minority, such as the working committee for minority questions prepared by the Italian government, and insecurities related to the abolition of district councils in the Gorizia area. They also spoke about the financing of Slovenian organisations, which were somewhat affected by the anti-crisis measures.
Concerning the district councils, the President said that the times call for reforms and institutional changes, but he also warned that care should be taken not to let these changes in the state structure harm the minority. He spoke in favour of establishing as soon as possible a working committee for minority questions, which could be an important institutional framework for resolving these questions. In relation to financing, the President estimated that some progress was achieved last year and that we should ensure as systematic financing as possible in the future.
All these questions were also raised by the President Türk during the talks with Renzo Tondo, the President of the region. They also addressed the perspective of future cooperation, and agreed that it would be good for the Republic of Slovenia and Friuli–Venezia Giulia Region to have a more comprehensive discussion on the energy outlook. |
 Later, the President Türk visited the Gradina Visitors Centre, where he met representatives of the Italian municipality of Doberdo, and then visited the Natural History Museum of the Lake Doberdo and Lake Pietrarossa Nature Reserve, and watched a short cultural programme. |