Borut Pahor

Ljubljana – The Freedom Movement has gained 4.6 percentage points to 31% in the June poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo to extend its margin ahead of the Democratic Party (SDS) to 9.5 points, despite the opposition party reaching its high watermark.

Ljubelj – A ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Ljubelj concentration camp noted the importance of recalling horrible events in the past to prevent new horrors of war. Speakers at Saturday’s ceremony urged efforts to prevent the spread of evil and called for peace in light of the war in Ukraine.

Gorizia – President Borut Pahor addressed a ceremony ahead of Primož Trubar Day in Italy’s Savogna on Tuesday, noting the importance of the Slovenian language for the Slovenian nation, saying that the “Slovenian language was and will be the foundation of our identity.”

Ljubljana – Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratiuk thanked Slovenia for its support for Ukraine as she addressed the press with Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana on Tuesday. Fajon said Slovenia would also support Ukraine in its EU accession efforts and announced the Slovenian ambassador would return to Kyiv next Tuesday.

Ljubljana – Visiting Slovenia as the first foreign official after the new government was sworn in, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Monday that Austria did not see any alternative to checks on what is its internal Schengen border with Slovenia. He discussed a number of issues with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.

Kočevski Rog – Victims of post-WWII summary executions were honoured on Saturday with a ceremony in Kočevski Rog, an area in south Slovenia where multiple mass graves have been discovered. Novo Mesto Bishop Andrej Saje and President Borut Pahor called for efforts towards reconciliation.

Brijuni – The presidents of Slovenia, Croatia and Austria urged accelerating EU accession talks with Western Balkan countries and condemned the war in Ukraine, which they believe cannot be resolved diplomatically at the moment. At their annual meeting in Croatia, they also discussed NATO enlargement and Croatia’s eurozone and Schengen zone entry.

Trieste – A commemoration was held on Wednesday evening at the National Hall in Trieste, Italy, to pay respects to late Slovenian author Boris Pahor, who died aged 108 in his native Trieste on Monday. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday at St Ana Cemetery in Trieste.

Ljubljana – Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will host her Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Ljubljana on Monday in what will be her first international bilateral meeting since the new Slovenian government assumed office. Schallenberg will also meet Prime Minister Robert Golob and President Borut Pahor.

Ljubljana – Former head of the Slovenian Evangelical Lutheran Church Geza Erniša has died aged 70 after being hospitalised due to illness, online portal Vestnik reports on Wednesday. He was the first bishop of the church in Slovenia, having held the post for 18 years until 2013.