Text and photos: Juan David Latorre.
Last Wednesday the Slovenian Embassy celebrated the 30th anniversary of its independence with a reception that brought together numerous ambassadors and diplomatic, military and political personnel, under the strictest anti-Covid sanitary measures.
The Slovenian ambassador, Robert Krmelj, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union during this six-month period, welcomed the attendees, who included the ambassadors of France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Armenia, as well as the minister counsellor of Germany. The Director General for Europe, Raquel Gómez-Cambronero, was also present.
In his speech, the ambassador pointed out: “In the referendum on independence held in December 1990, 95% of Slovenian citizens cast their vote for Slovenia to become an independent and sovereign state. These results demonstrated an extremely high level of national unity, which was the key to the formation of an independent Slovenia and gave the strong political, legal and moral basis for independence”.
“Today, the ambassador continued, Slovenia is included in the most connected and integrated part of the European Union. In the 30 years of its existence, Slovenia has transformed itself into a safe, prosperous and modern country, well aware of the importance of democracy, solidarity and respect for both the individual and the community, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU and economic growth above the average of European countries. We need a strong, united and very well integrated and interconnected EU, with the European institutions working actively for the benefit of all Member States and citizens of the Union, whether it is climate change, economic competitiveness, economic and social cohesion, solidarity, security, respect for the rule of law and the European Union as a global player”.
“Slovenia takes over the second EU Council Presidency in its history at one of the most challenging times in the history of the European Union still marked by the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, but also at a decisive moment when the EU is taking important decisions for the future of Europe, which are also about a broad and lasting recovery based on the complex transformation of our economic models. Our priorities are based on our conviction that the European Union can only face the challenges together. Interconnectedness, cooperation and solidarity of all for the sake of European citizens are essential to strengthen resilience”.
Finally, the Slovenian Ambassador indicated that “next year will mark the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Spain. During this time the two countries have strengthened economic cooperation and other forms of ever closer cooperation and connectivity. Trade after the recovery from the pandemic is visibly growing again and is expected to soon reach and exceed pre-epidemic levels, when our trade exchange reached record levels of more than 1.1 billion euros. We look forward to more investment between the two countries, which is one of our main objectives. The strengthening of relations between the two countries is marked, among other things, by the expansion of the network of our honorary consuls in Spain. In a few days we will open a new Honorary Consulate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, thus counting on the deepening of cooperation between Slovenia and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
