Slovenian Home in Zagreb marks 95th anniversary

As long as Slovenian words are heard in Zagreb, there will be Slovenians and a Slovenian home in the Croatian capital, Darko Šonc, the president of the Slovenian Home association since 1994, said in his address.

"To be Slovenian is to be conscious, to be Slovenian is to remember our ancestors, the land from which they came. It is a fundamental part of our identity," he said, adding that with their identity Slovenians enriched their adopted cultural environment.

On the occasion Rudi Merljak of the Office for Slovenians Abroad presented Šonc with an award in recognition for the association's contribution and efforts for the community.

The ceremony was also attended by Slovenian Ambassador to Croatia Gašper Dovžan, and Armin Hodžić, the MP representing several ethnic minorities, including Slovenians, in the Croatian parliament.

One of the oldest Slovenian associations outside Slovenia, the Slovenian Home Zagreb has been operating continuously under different names since it was founded on 9 November 1929 by Fran Zavrnik as the National Library and Reading Room.

After Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in 1991, the association became a meeting point for artists, lecturers, diplomats and entrepreneurs, as well as political officials from both countries.

It was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia for its role in the preservation and development of Slovenian identity in Croatia, while Zagreb honoured it with the city's charter for its contribution to the development, progress and reputation of Croatia's capital. The association has about 400 members.