Minister meets Slovenian community in Czechia
Brno, 14 April - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon on Thursday visited the Slovenian community in Brno, Czechia. He stressed the importance of maintaining contacts with Slovenians living outside the country and praised the good cooperation, friendship and historical ties between the two countries.
Ljubljana
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
File photo
Arčon was received by governor of the South Moravian Region Jan Grolich. The pair discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and stressed the importance of maintaining contact with fellow countrymen who live in other countries, the Office for Slovenians Abroad said.
Arčon stressed that Slovenians living abroad were a bridge between Slovenia and the country they live in. Next to the strengthening of cultural ties economic cooperation is also important and here Slovenian associations, individuals, embassies and consulates play an important part.
The minister attended the opening of the Slovenian Days in Brno festival. He said he was very happy to attend the event that celebrates the Slovenian culture, language, Slovenians in Czechia and the Slovenian-Czech friendship.
"Slovenia can be proud and grateful that extraordinary Slovenians live and work outside our country," the minister said.
Slovenia and Czechia share historical bonds "which we can build our joint friendship on and cooperation in different fields", he said.
The minister also attended the screening of a short film by Slovenian architect Ajda Biderman Plesnik about Slovenian-Czech parallels in construction and architecture. He said architecture was an "important tie between the two friendly countries, which cooperate excellently in all areas".
The Slovenian Days in Brno are hosted by the Slovenian Embassy in Prague in cooperation with the Czech-Slovenian association from Brno, Slovenian language teacher at the Masaryk University in Brno and other partners and with the financial support of the Office for Slovenians Abroad.
According to the office, more than 400 Slovenians currently live in Czechia.