Minister for Slovenians Abroad meets Community in Austria

Klagenfurt, 22 June - Minister for Slovenian Abroad Matej Arčon travelled to Klagenfurt on Wednesday for his first official visit with the Slovenian community in Austria as minister. After a meeting with key community representatives, Arčon underlined the importance of regular dialogue and thanked the various organisations for their devoted work.

Klagenfurt, Austria
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon (centre) meeting representatives of Slovenian community in Carinthia.
Photo: Katja Kodba/STA

Klagenfurt, Austria
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon (centre) meeting representatives of Slovenian community in Carinthia.
Photo: Katja Kodba/STA

Arčon met with Valentin Inzko of the National Council of Carinthian Slovenians, Marjan Sturm of Association of Slovenian Organisations in Carinthia and Heribert Kulmesch of the Community of Carinthian Slovenians.

He was accompanied by state secretary Vesna Humar and General Consul to Klagenfurt Anton Novak, who hosted the meeting at the consulate.

Arčon also touched on the European Culture Capital 2025 in Nova Gorica, expressing expectation that the Slovenian community in Austria would take part in the project which focuses on cross-border cooperation and the life of minority communities.

Community representatives presented to him the challenges and issues they face, especially regarding bilingual education, and the use of bilingual place name signs in the province of Carinthia.

The meeting agreed that a task force should be formed that will meet regularly to follow clearly defined objectives to improve the situation of Slovenians in Austria.

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© STA, 2022