Minister says organisations representing Slovenians abroad are priceless
Ljubljana, 20 June - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon hosted on Monday the representatives of civil society organisations connecting Slovenians abroad with their homeland. After being briefed on their activities and ambitions, he labelled them as priceless.
Arčon held talks with the representatives of the expatriates' association Slovenska Izseljenska Matica, the Slovenian Expatriate Association Slovenia in the World, the Raphael Society, and the World Slovenian Congress.
"I'm very happy with all their activities. We agreed they will get actively involved in the project of the European Capital of Culture 2025 firstly as key promoters of the event and secondly as co-hosts of the Welcome Home event, which I wish is to be the richest so far, also in terms of its programme," the minister said in a reference to the annual get-together of Slovenians from abroad.
The 2025 European Capital of Culture title has been conferred on Nova Gorica and Italy's Gorizia.
Arčon said the Government Office for Slovenian Abroad would continue to support the organisations' activities, including Slovenian language lessons, art workshops, sports events, summer camps, issuing of publications etc.