Arčon wraps up visit in Serbia
Belgrade, 15 May - Ending his three-day visit to the Slovenian community in Serbia, Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon met the chair of an organisation representing Slovenians in Serbia and Slovenia's honorary consul there on Tuesday. He also attended a meeting of Slovenian business executives active in Serbia.
Ljubljana
Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
File photo
Arčon met Saša Verbič, the chair of the National Council of the Slovenian Ethnic Minority, the highest representative body of the community in Serbia, and Slovenia's honorary consul in Novi Sad, Rajko Marić.
The organisation represents the community in education, culture, awareness-raising and language policy.
The business event which the minister took part in was aimed at networking. It was organised by the Slovenian Embassy in Belgrade.
"I'm honoured to have been able to visit all [Slovenian minority] associations that are active in Serbia and meet their presidents and members, who selflessly devote their free time and efforts to help preserve Slovenian culture and identity," Arčon said.
The associations are an important bridge between Slovenia and Serbia, he added as he presented some of his office's draft projects aimed at encouraging Slovenian expatriates to return to their homeland, his office said in a press release.
The meeting was also attended by Serbia's honorary consul in Slovenia, famous chef Tomaž Kavčič.
Moreover, the minister visited a monument to Edvard Rusjan (1886-1911) in Belgrade, which honours the Slovenian pioneer of aviation not far from the site of his tragic air crash, during which he sustained severe injuries and died while being transported to hospital.