Helena Jaklitsch

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Commission for Slovenians Abroad has endorsed the candidacy of Matej Arčon from the Freedom Movement for minister without portfolio for Slovenians abroad. Nine MPs voted for and two against his bid to head the office for Slovenian ethnic minorities in Slovenia’s neighbours and the diaspora around the globe.

Klagenfurt – Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch paid a visit Friday to the Slovenian minority in Gailtal/Zilja, a valley in Carinthia. The preservation of Slovenian language and culture as well as bilingual education were in the focus.

Buenos Aires – Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch completed her visit to the Slovenian community in Argentina on Friday to visit Slovenians living in Brazil before completing her ten-day visit to Latin America in Sao Paulo on Sunday, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad said on Saturday.

Szentgotthard – Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch attended a traditional meeting of Slovenian sport organisations from the neighbouring countries in Hungary’s Szentgotthárd on Saturday. The minister emphasised the importance of sport in preserving the Slovenian identity in the neighbouring countries.

Milwaukee – Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch is wrapping up her multi-day tour of the Slovenian communities in the United States by meeting Americans of Slovenian descent in Illinois, after she visited on Friday the federal state of Wisconsin, a home to around 6,500 people of Slovenian descent.

New York, 22 September – President Borut Pahor, who is in New York for the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, held several bilateral meetings on Tuesday, including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss cooperation, Afghanistan and migrations. He also attended an event marking 30 years of Slovenia’s independence.

Basovizza – A ceremony for four victims of Fascism executed in September 1930, known among Slovenians as the Basovizza Heroes, was held at the memorial site on Sunday, with Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch saying that it was a reminder of how much misery and pain humans and authorities could cause if they let hatred and exclusion win.

A bust of Alojz Rebula (1924-2018), an award-wining diaspora writer and translator, has been unveiled in front of the Church of St Helen in Loka pri Zidanem Mostu, the birth place of his wife, where he spent the last years of his life.

Ljubljana – The government has decided to launch a free-of-charge testing campaign near border crossings with Italy. Rapid antigen testing will be available from Wednesday for commuters, students being schooled across the border and owners of property across the border.

Ljubljana – The government amended the rules for entry into Slovenia last night to scrap some of the exceptions for entering the country without the quarantine requirement or a negative coronavirus test.