ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 - Croatian and Slovenian Presidents, Zoran Milanović and Borut Pahor, unveiled a monument to a Slovenian poet, France Prešeren in Zagreb's Bundek Park, on Monday after they had unveiled a bust to one of the leaders of the Croatian National Revival, Ljudevit Gaj in Ljubljana earlier in the day.

The monument to Peršen is situated in Bundek Park's Alley of Poets, thus joining monuments to the Russian writers Aleksandr Pushkin and Sergei Yesenin, the Hungarian writer Mór Jókai and the father of Bulgarian literature, Ivan Minchev Vazov.

Prešern's poem Zdravljica (A Toast) is the text of the Slovenian national anthem.

Addressing the public, Milanović said that Croatian and Slovenian anthems were created during the same period and they also have in common the fact that that they are peaceful.

"What it (the Slovenian anthem) has in common with the Croatian anthem, besides being written at nearly the same time, is that it is very peaceful”, President Milanović stated at the unveiling of the bust of France Prešeren.

Milanović added that both Gaj and Prešern were "lawyers by profession, but unsuccessful ones."

"It was at the time when the national word and language, without which there is no nation, were formed, built, measured, and designed by lawyers. Today this is unthinkable. Such were the times, today we live in the time of a bureaucratized, but common European Union. A most beautiful day, this morning Gaj in Ljubljana, and this afternoon Prešeren – let us continue this way. Croatian-Slovenian relations are becoming a more and more beautiful story, and there is no reason for it not to remain as such," President Milanović said in concluding his address during the bust-unveiling ceremony at Bundek.

Pahor described Prešeren as "a key figure in Slovenian history," and that his poetry "promotes European values like good neighborly relations, coexistence and fostering differences."

He underscored that today great divisions exist in Slovenia, Europe, and the world and that in that context Zagreb and Ljubljana are capitals that are showing "Europe as their joint home" how to celebrate their own and European identities based on values that bring peace and security.

"I want this day to be a holiday of good neighborly relations, coexistence, friendship, and trust between two nations," said Pahor.

The idea for the monument to France Prešeren was initiated by Slovenia's Embassy and the Slovenian House in Zagreb whereby the Slovenian community in Croatia is celebrating 30 years of Slovenia's independence.

The City of Zagreb prepared the site for the monument and Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said today that he was happy to support the project.

"This monument is an expression of respect for and friendship with the Slovenian people," said Tomašević during the ceremony.

France Prešeren, who was born on 3 December 1800 and died on 8 February 1849, is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest Slovenian poets.

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ZAGREB, August 1, 2019 - Slovenian President Borut Pahor reiterated his view on the border dispute with Croatia on Wednesday, accusing the European Union of pampering Croatia like a spoilt child instead of insisting on the mutual implementation of the arbitration ruling.

"The border has been determined by the arbitration tribunal and sooner or later it will be applied," Pahor said on his Twitter account, recalling that on this day in 2009 in Sweden, in his capacity as prime minister, he and the then Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor signed an arbitration agreement and that the arbitration ruling was based on that agreement.

Pahor accused some European leaders of siding with Croatia. He said that Croatia was not honouring the arbitration ruling but was offering new bilateral talks claiming that Slovenia had irreparably compromised the arbitration process by trying to influence the arbitration judges.

"Some European leaders tell us that we are right and that the decision on the border should be respected, while at the same time suggesting that we come to that in such a way that Croatia can also save face. I tell them that the only right and fair thing to do is to treat Croatia like any other responsible country in a responsible relationship and that it is required to meet the assumed commitments, rather than treat it like a spoilt child that does only what suits it," Pahor said, as quoted by Slovenian media.

The news website Siol.net said on Wednesday that Pahor was currently holidaying in the Croatian part of Istria.

More news about relations between Croatia and Slovenia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, February 24, 2019 (Hina) - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and her Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor met for an informal working lunch in Zagreb on Saturday, her office said in a press release. Pahor stopped in Zagreb en route to Split, where he will take part in the Split Half Marathon on Sunday. The informal meeting between Croatian and Slovenian presidents was part of their regular meetings, which are aimed at nurturing the good relations between Croatia and Slovenia.

The two presidents discussed several matters, including the Brdo Brijuni Process meeting in Albania in May. They were in agreement that, given the current international situation, it is important to maintain good neighbourly relations and the political dialogue at the highest level.

They also discussed the last meeting of the Slovenia-Austria-Croatia trilateral and Pahor's plans for a Three Seas Initiative business forum in Slovenia in June.

More news on the relations between Croatia and Slovenia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 17, 2018 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Slovenian President Borut Pahor met at an informal working dinner in Croatia on Wednesday, continuing their regular dialogue, her office said in a press release.

The Slovenian President speaks to diplomats about the border dispute.

Despite Croatia’s decision to withdraw from arbitration proceedings, Slovenia prepares for the verdict.

Slovenian Interior Minister does not think that the wire fence should be removed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and European Council President Donald Tusk are also invited to the Brdo-Brijuni conference