President Pahor and President Sakellaropoulou concluded their official visit in Koper

In response to the invitation of the president of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, the Greek president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, began her two-day official visit to the Republic of Slovenia yesterday. The visit of President Sakellaropoulou is the first official state visit following the declaration of the epidemic in Slovenia and the first visit of the Greek president following her election.

Both presidents began their second day of the official visit in Koper, accompanied by Jernej Vrtovec, minister of infrastructure.

They uncovered the bench of friendship between the two countries at the monument of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the founder of modern Greece. The statue was given to the city of Koper by the Hellenic Republic. The generation of Ioannis Kapodistrias originates from Koper (Capodistria). He is also known in history as the founder of modern Greece and its first governor, who also participated at the Ljubljana congress, which is marking its 200th year anniversary this year.


Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

High-ranking guests were greeted by Aleš Bržan, the mayor of the municipality, who welcomed them to Koper, a city that is historically connected with the first president of the independent Greek state, Ioannis Kapodistrias. “The European unity, the values of integration between nations as advocated by Mr Kapodistrias, are being put to the test in these times. I do believe, however, that together, we will be able to overcome these challenges as well”, said Mayor Bržan.

President Sakellaropoulou noted that Ioannis Kapodistrias was elected as the first Greek governor who fought for the establishment of the first modern Greek state. She said that the bench of friendship in Koper is a symbol of long-term friendship between the two countries.

President Pahor noted that two years ago, when he was in Greece as part of an official visit, he uncovered a commemorative plaque in the city of Napflion in honour of Ioannis Kapodistrias. “The bench of friendship will reaffirm the link between both nations, both countries and the common European future”, said President Pahor and added that Kapodistrias was also one of the first heralds of a unified Europe, these were his visionary dreams, claimed President Pahor. “Not only does this city encourage us to remember the past, but it also prompts us to be responsible for a better future”, concluded President Pahor.

At official visits of foreign heads of states hosted by President Pahor, a special part of the program was introduced at the initiative of the president, the placement of the bench of friendship. It is a permanent commemoration to the meeting of important statespersons that visited Slovenia and who therefore contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relationships between the two countries. 21 benches of friendship have been placed in many Slovenian places during President Pahor’s mandate.

Both presidents then observed the school project play on Ioannis Kapodistrias and took a walk through the old city centre of Koper.

They then visited the Port of Koper, which has been successfully cooperating with Greek shipowners, and toured the location of the future solar power plant.


Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

The official visit was concluded with a tour of Innorenew, the centre of excellence for green technologies, which is building the largest wooden building in Slovenia in the city of Izola. In the framework of the New European Bauhaus initiative, the European Commission included the InnoRenew CoE research institute as the sole representative from Slovenia that focuses on an interdisciplinary research of renewable materials and sustainably built environment.


Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA