President Pahor on a state visit to Zagreb: "I am pleased that my last official visit abroad will be to Croatia. I have always worked hard for good relations between us. Foreign and European policies always start with the neighbours."

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, is on a state visit to the Republic of Croatia today and tomorrow. This is his second official visit to Croatia and last official visit abroad.

In addition to enhancing political, economic, cultural, scientific and other forms of cooperation, both presidents also spoke about the current European and international topics, in particular, the Russian aggression against Ukraine and energy security. As the co-leaders of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, presidents Pahor and Milanović paid special attention to the situation in the Western Balkans, the European perspective of the countries in the region and the evaluation of the security situation.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

President Pahor’s visit started with a reception with military honours and was followed by a private conversation between both presidents and a plenary session of the delegations of both countries chaired by the presidents.

Following the official discussions, the Slovenian President said that he strove to the best of his abilities for the countries to have orderly and cordial relations in his roles as the Prime Minister and later as the President of the Republic. He assessed that the atmosphere of the relations between the two nations and countries had changed for the better since 2010, and this is ongoing today. "The relations between Zagreb and Ljubljana are exceptionally important and carry a special weight."

President Pahor congratulated Croatia on its imminent entry into the Eurozone and Schengen. "As the Prime Minister, I strove for Croatia to become a member of the European Union," he noted. "I am certain that the provisions of the arbitration agreement will apply sooner or later, as there is no other good or better alternative," President Pahor added. He said that he was very proud of the legacy he was leaving behind as the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic with regard to the relations between both nations and countries.

In connection to the arbitration agreement, the Slovenian President recalled, "When speaking about the arbitration agreement, we are talking about an agreement that resolved the issue of a blockade. It is adamant that we also keep in mind the moral dimension of our actions. I would like for the Slovenians and the Croatians to remember one thing: that when resolving the blockade, it was not the European Union or the USA or Sweden acting as the intermediary, but we, Slovenians and Croatians, who resolved this issue on our own with the trust that needed to be built," he highlighted.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

President Pahor later met the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, and then the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković.

After the discussions both presidents will attend a special reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is one of the most prominent cultural institutions in Zagreb, currently managed by a director originating from Slovenia, Zdenka Badovinac. The presidents will view the exhibited artworks and meet with the artists and representatives of cultural institutions in both countries, who contribute to the lively exchange of cultural relations between the countries with their work and through mutual cooperation.

At the end of the first day of the visit, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, will host a formal dinner for President Pahor and other guests from Slovenia.

On the second day of the visit, presidents Pahor and Milanović will attend a business event entitled "Business Meets Politics – Energy Today and Tomorrow" organised by the Business Club of Slovenian and Croatian Entrepreneurs, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Zagreb and the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia.

The Slovenian President will donate a two-hive apiary to Zagreb ZOO as a lasting memory. A short ceremony will be held at the presentation of the gift of the Republic of Slovenia to the city of Zagreb, which will be attended by the representatives of the Slovenian minority in Croatia.