Slovenia-Russia Friendship Day to be celebrated for the first time this year, on Saturday, 31 July 2021

In light of the upcoming 105th anniversary of the Russian Chapel at the Vršič pass, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today, on 29 July 2021, received the Russian Ambassador, Timur Eyvazov, and the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, who is co-chairman of the joint Intergovernmental Slovenian-Russian Commission and honorary patron of this year's ceremony at the Russian Chapel.

The Russian Ambassador presented the Slovenian President with a letter from Russian President Putin, in which he welcomes the proposal to declare Slovenia-Russia Friendship Day. This year, Slovenia-Russia Friendship Day will be celebrated for the first time, on Saturday, 31 July 2021.

On 23 July, President Pahor sent President Putin a letter proposing the declaration of a friendship day, which they discussed at length yesterday in a telephone conversation. They agreed that, despite certain differences in the two countries' political views, both nations wish to cultivate a dialogue through friendship day in the interest of lasting peace.

In his letter, President Putin asked President Pahor to transmit his "words of sincere gratitude to Slovenian citizens for their help in preserving the memory of our compatriots who passed away tragically far away from their homeland". He added, "We will continue to offer any help necessary to organise future memorial ceremonies at the Russian Chapel at the Vršič pass on the occasion of Slovenia-Russia Friendship Day".


Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA