Croatian President arrives in a two-day visit to Slovenia to celebrate its independence.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović arrived today in Ljubljana for a two-day visit to Slovenia on the occasion of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the independence of the country. At the Congress Square in the centre of the Slovenian capital, she was welcomed by full state honours by Slovenian President Borut Pahor, reports Večernji List on June 23, 2016.
The arrival of the President in Slovenia is connected with the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of independence of both Croatia and Slovenia, which mark the same day, 25 June 1991, when parliaments of both countries adopted declarations of independence from the then Yugoslavia.
At the central ceremony which will be held on Friday evening in Ljubljana, the Croatian President and her host will be joined by presidents of Italy, Hungary, Austria and Germany. Although the visit by the President to Slovenia is primarily of symbolic significance, with both sides wanting to emphasize the joint road towards independence and good-neighbourly relations, Grabar-Kitarović and Pahor will hold a meeting on Thursday, as well as a press conference.
On Friday, President Grabar-Kitarović will meet and hold separate discussions with other top Slovenian officials, Prime Minister Miro Cerar and Parliament Speaker Milan Brglez, and she will also be hosted by Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković.
The Slovenian media on Thursday highlighted the fact that the visit by Croatian President had a symbolic meaning for the relations between the two friendly and neighbouring countries that have simultaneously decided to make the historical step of declaring their independence in the chaotic time of the collapse of the former Yugoslav federation.
As part of the visit, President Grabar-Kitarović and Slovenian President will inaugurate a symbolic bench of friendship between the two countries in the popular Tivoli Park in Ljubljana.
