Minister Jaklitsch visits Slovenian community in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, 11 October - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch is on a visit to the Slovenian community in Argentina, as part of which she attended on Sunday the 66th Slovenian Day, the main annual event of the community in Buenos Aires. Jaklitsch also marked the 65th anniversary of the Slovenian community centre San Justo.
Ljubljana
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
The minister attended mass in the San Justo Cathedral and the raising of the Slovenian, Argentinean and EU flags in the centre, which was followed by a reception for the Slovenian Day and the anniversary of the centre.
The ceremony was addressed by Jure Komar, the president of United Slovenia, the umbrella organisations of Slovenia in Argentina, Slovenian Ambassador to Argentina Brian Alain Bergant and Minister Jaklitsch.
The minister thanked the compatriots in Argentina for being an example of loyalty to the Slovenian identity and the spiritual tradition of the nation, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad said in a press release on Monday.
"I wish that you continue to be connected with each other, and with the homeland of your ancestors. You are the inalienable part of our nation. The Slovenian nation is not complete without you," she added.
Jaklitsch also thanked the community for its contribution for the recognition of Slovenia 30 years ago and took the opportunity to hand out recognitions to several institutions that recently celebrated major anniversaries.
The minister met the leadership of United Slovenia, who told her about the challenges related to spiritual care and teaching of Slovenian, as well as maintenance of large community premises in light of the declining membership numbers.
Jaklitsch also met around 70 young people associated in two youth organisations and also visited last weekend the Slovenian communities in the Buenos Aires neighbourhoods of Ramos Mejia and San Martin, and in Berisso, La Plata.
The minister visited the packaging maker Interpack, headed by Hernan Zupan, the honorary consul of Slovenia in Buenos Aires, and met members of the executive committee of the recently established Slovenian-Argentinean Chamber of Commerce.