Pirc Musar discuses minority issues with Van der Bellen

Vienna, 29 January - Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar met on Wednesday with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen to discuss the issues of the Slovenian minority in Austria. Pirc Musar also visited the seat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Vienna, Austria Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen meets Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar. Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

Vienna, Austria
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen meets Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar.
Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

Vienna, Austria Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar (left) meets the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OVSE) secretary-general Feridun Sinirlioglu. Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

Vienna, Austria
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar (left) meets the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OVSE) secretary-general Feridun Sinirlioglu.
Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

Vienna, Austria Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar and her husband Aleš Musar meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and his spouse Doris Schmidauer. Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

Vienna, Austria
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar and her husband Aleš Musar meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and his spouse Doris Schmidauer.
Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/UPRS

The presidents stressed the commitment to the continued strengthening of relations between Slovenia and Austria, especially in areas where there is a shared interest, Pirc Musar's office said.

Pirc Musar highlighted the importance of the support of the Austrian president for initiatives to implement the rights of the Slovenian minority in Austria.

Both Slovenia and the representatives of the Slovenian minority have been saying that not all the commitments from the Austrian State Treaty regarding the Slovenian minority have been fully implemented.

Pirc Musar said that in the past few years the climate of peaceful coexistence has been improving in the federal state of Carinthia, stressing the efforts of the regional government regarding bilingual education.

She expects more efforts to be made to resolve the open systemic and other questions regarding the Slovenian minority. Most important for Slovenia are questions related to the Slovenian language, its public use and education.

Pirc Musar said she regretted the intention of the Styrian government to enshrine the state's anthem into the federal state's constitution. The anthem refers to the historical borders of Styria, which includes parts of modern-day Slovenia.

The president called for caution in using symbols alluding to Slovenian territories. Slovenia is a decisive advocate of international law and principles of peaceful coexistence, including the respect for territorial integrity, she said.

Pirc Musar said she was pleased that Slovenian companies have been strengthening their presence in Austria and investing in Austrian economy. More than 270 companies majority owned by Slovenians are registered in Austria, most in Carinthia, the president's office said.

The president also met with OSCE secretary-general Feridun Sinirlioglu to discuss the current security situation in Europe.

They agreed that OSCE plays an important role in the European security architecture. Pirc Musar stressed the need for stable financing of the organisation and for an agreement on a unified budget.

In the evening the president and her husband Aleš Musar and the Austrian presidential couple will attend the opening of The World in Colours, an exhibition showcasing masterpieces of Slovenian painting from 1848 to 1918.

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