Photo credit: Sleepwright / pixabay.com
The Day of Russian-Slovenian Friendship was celebrated in Slovenia for the first time. The memorial ceremony
took place on the high-mountain pass Vršić near a wooden chapel built 105 years ago by Russian war prisoners. The ceremony was attended by President of Slovenia Borut Pahor and some other high-ranking officials of the Slovenia, Russian Ambassador to Slovenia Timur Eyvazov, and Orthodox clergy, TASS reports.
The event took place several days after the telephone conversation between the leaders of Russia and Slovenia. During the dialogue, Vladimir Putin supported Borut Pahor's initiative to establish a day of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. It was decided to celebrate the holiday every year on the last Saturday of July at the Russian chapel.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev welcomed the audience and expressed a deep gratitude to the Slovenians for saving the chapel and memory of the Russian servicemen who died during the First World War. Kosachev called the annual meetings at the Russian chapel on the Vršić pass "a symbol of the sincere friendship of the peoples of our countries."
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia Zdravko Pocivalšek called the relations between the two countries “special” and stressed that Russia and Slovenia are “united by kindred Slavic blood,” as well as cultural and economic projects.
Russkiy Mir
