Those in attendance were addressed by the President Borut Pahor and Supreme Court President Branko Masleša. Pahor shared that all institutions have the task of carrying out their work as effectively and as successfully as possible. Masleša warned that guaranteeing a state governed by the rule of law is the task of all branches of government.

President Pahor estimates that great strides forward were made in the field of the judiciary in recent years, but that there is still some work to be done. According to the President, judges themselves must do this work and “no one else can or is allowed to” do so on their behalf. Furthermore, politics also plays its part by formulating effective laws.

In his speech at the commemorative plenary session of the Supreme Court, President Pahor warned of the dangers that await the EU as our “broader homeland.” He warned that the EU is currently in a situation in which it faces a crisis, which could, in the years to come, cause conditions under which “we will be forced to once again make decisions against our will concerning some vital issues regarding our development.”

In his speech, Masleša stressed that the celebration of the 25th anniversary of independence is an opportunity to consider the role that the judiciary has played since independence “which has been a consistent and logical answer to the violation of law in our former state.” He estimated that the assumption “that once democracy and the operation of a free market are established, the state will be automatically governed by the rule of law, has not been realised.”

STA news

At today’s national celebration in Koper commemorating Sovereignty Day and the 25th anniversary of the departure of the last Yugoslav People’s Army soldier from Slovenia, Prime Minister Miro Cerar emphasised in his keynote speech that the events of 25 years ago form the foundation of our statehood and, as a result, also the foundations of our new confidence and responsibility. Among other things, he thanked “the brave women and men of the time, Slovenian police officers, members of Territorial Defence, and all those who took risks and actions to guarantee that Slovenia would successfully gain its independence.”

The celebration was also attended by President Borut Pahor, President of the National Assembly Milan Brglez, President of the National Council Mitja Bervar, and Minister of Defence Andreja Katič.

The purpose of today’s celebration is to remember the events that happened 25 years ago when, during the night of 25 and 26 October, the last Yugoslav People’s Army soldier left the territory of our country, thus concluding the process in which Slovenia gained its independence. The Yugoslav Army began to retreat from the Port of Koper on 20 October, but 25 October was determined as the final day of retreat. The last Yugoslav People’s Army soldiers boarded two ships that sailed with their flags, thus making those ships foreign territory according to international law. Since last year, 25 October has been celebrated as Sovereignty Day, a national public holiday that is not a non-working day.

During the night of 25 and 26 October 1991, the last Yugoslav People’s Army soldier left the territory of our country, thus concluding the process in which Slovenia gained its independence. Tonight, the 25th anniversary of this event will be commemorated at a national celebration at Arena Bonifika in Koper, where the keynote speaker will be Prime Minister Miro Cerar, and the event will also be attended by President Borut Pahor.

The Office of the Republic of Slovenia will also have an Open Doors Day today, and President Pahor will hold a special celebration at the Presidential Palace, where he will confer the Silver Order for Services state decoration upon the Military Officers Association of Slovenia.

The last soldier of the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA), against which members of the Slovenian Territorial Defence and the police fought in a ten-day war, left Slovenia 25 years ago, when the last ships carrying YPA soldiers left the Port of Koper during the night of 25 to 26 October.

The Yugoslav Army began to retreat from the Port of Koper on 20 October, but 25 October was determined as the final day of retreat. The last Yugoslav People’s Army soldiers boarded two ships that sailed with their flags, thus making those ships foreign territory according to international law.

After the Slovenian War of Independence finished in 1991, negotiations between Yugoslavia, Slovenia, and Croatia took place on the Brioni Islands. These ended when the so-called Brioni Declaration was signed on 7 July 1991, by means of which independence-related activities in Slovenia were suspended for three months. By the time this moratorium ended, Yugoslav authorities realised that they would be unable to keep Slovenia in Yugoslavia, so talks on the departure of the YPA from Slovenian territory followed. 

Since last year, 25 October has been celebrated as Sovereignty Day, a national public holiday that is not a non-working day.

STA news 

The three-month moratorium on Slovenian independence-related decisions, arising from the Brioni Declaration signed on 7 July 1991, expired on this day 25 years ago. With the expiry of the moratorium, Slovenia started implementing independence legislation. It took control of its borders, while the National Assembly decided that the tolar would be the new Slovenian currency.

After the ceremonial declaration of independence of Slovenia on 26 June 1991, the Ten-Day war started, which resulted in casualties. Already on the following morning, tanks were sent from the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) barracks in Zagreb with the objective of securing the external borders of Slovenia and protecting the territorial integrity of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).

The authorities in Belgrade intended to keep Slovenia within Yugoslavia by force. The clashes between the JNA and the Slovenian Territorial Defence and the Slovenian Police started on 27 June near Metlika, and ended on 3 July 1991, when the defeated Yugoslav Army started withdrawing to barracks.

In order to reach a final cease-fire, delegations of the European Union, Slovenia, Croatia and the SFRY met on 7 July on the Brijuni Islands. After the 15-hour negotiations, the sides involved in the Yugoslav crisis signed the Brioni Declaration, which ended hostilities on Slovenian territory.

By signing the declaration, the Slovenian side committed to freezing independence processes, but it actually sped them up. The Yugoslav authorities thus gradually realised that it would not be able to prevent Slovenia's independence, which is why it decided on 18 July to withdraw the JNA from Slovenia in three months.

The last JNA soldier left Slovenia in the night between 25 and 26 October 1991. This event is considered by many as perhaps the peak event in the process of Slovenia's independence.

STA news 

On 8 October 1991, Slovenia paved the way for monetary independence by introducing its own currency. The tolar, which had played a very important stabilisation role and enjoyed a high level of trust, was replaced by the euro in 2007. 

Monetary independence started when the three-month moratorium on the implementation of the independence decisions expired, in accordance with the Brioni Declaration, and when the then National Assembly adopted the relevant legislation.

The tolar was born a few minutes after midnight on 8 October 1991. It was divided into one hundred stotins (cents).

Before the issue of tolar banknotes and coins, vouchers were used as legal tender in Slovenia. The exchange of Yugoslav dinars for vouchers in all financial institutions in the country started on 9 October 1991 and lasted three days, with the exchange rate between the dinars and vouchers in this period being 1:1. According to the assessments of the Finance Ministry, the exchange was "one of the fastest and most successful".

The exchange rate of the tolar was initially set at 32 tolars to the Deutsche Mark. 

The Bank of Slovenia put into circulation the first tolar banknotes – 100-tolar, 500-tolar and 1,000-tolar banknotes – on 30 September 1992. The Slovenian currency was designed by Miljenko Licul and his team, and was printed by the British company Thomas de la Rue. The central bank then gradually withdrew the vouchers from circulation.

The first banknotes were followed by the 10-tolar (November 1992), 20-tolar (December 1992), 200-tolar (February 1993), 50-tolar (March 1993), 5,000-tolar (December 1993) and 10,000-tolar banknotes (March 1995); in January 1993, the banknotes were joined by 1-, 2-, 5- and 50-cent coins, while 10- and 20-cent coins were put into circulation in April 1993, followed by the 10-tolar coin in April 2000. The banknotes featured acclaimed Slovenians, while iconic Slovenian animals were featured on the coins.

The story of the tolar ended in 2007, when the euro became the Slovenian national currency. 

Vouchers and tolar banknotes can be exchanged in Banka Slovenije indefinitely. Coins can be exchanged only until the end of the year.

STA news 

To celebrate 25 years of Slovenian statehood, the Permanent Mission of Slovenia in Geneva, in cooperation with the United Nations Office in Geneva, opened an exhibition portraying the country's natural and cultural heritage. The photographic exhibit entitled "I Feel Slovenia: 25 years of independence" can be viewed at Palais des Nations until 15 July.

"25 years ago, the calls of Slovenian civil society for democracy and human rights brought about fundamental change in the country's course – a proclamation of independence," recalled Ambassador Šuc in his remarks.

Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva Michael Møller meanwhile brought to mind, in his message at the opening of the exhibition, that Slovenia - for which caring for the planet and its resources was a priority - was one of the most water-rich and forested countries in Europe, and had this year an opportunity to make its mark on the global sustainability movement, in particular in Geneva as the operational hub for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The exhibition has been prepared by the Government Communication Office of the Republic of Slovenia in cooperation with Slovenia Press Photo.

Photogalery

On Statehood Day, thousands of people gathered at the traditional Buenos Aires Celebrates Slovenia event on May Avenue in Buenos Aires that connects the presidential palace and the parliament. The celebration began in the morning with a mass in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, and continued on May Avenue where all the leading music and dance groups of the Slovenian community presented themselves, while guests and passers-by tasted typical Slovenian dishes, acquainted themselves with the Slovenian tourism offer and Slovenian associations operating in Argentina, and purchased Slovenian books. 

During the main part of the event, Janez Dovč and Boštjan Gombač played the Slovenian national anthem. The audience was welcomed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Buenos Aires, Jadranka Šturm Kocjan, representative of the Buenos Aires City Government for human rights and cultural diversity, Mercedes Barbara, and President of the United Slovenia (Zedinjena Slovenija) association, Jure Komar. 

In honour of the 200th anniversary of Argentina, the Maribor and Mladika dance groups performed typical Argentinian dances, and guests from Slovenia, Andreja Podlogar and Blaz Bertoncelj, danced the Argentine tango. In the second part dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independent Slovenia, the Sounds of Slovenia duo, Janez Dovč and Boštjan Gombač, presented Slovenian folk music, and the Slovenian choirs of Buenos Aires jointly sang a medley of Slovenian songs, which they crowned with Slovenija, od kod lepote tvoje (English: Slovenia, whence thy beauty?). 

The Statehood Day celebration ended around midnight with the Slovenian milonga in La Viruta de Solanas, one of the most popular tango halls, with Andreja Podlogar and Blaž Bertoncelj as the main guests. 

This year's Police Day, which took place on 27 June, was especially festive, since it marked the 25th anniversary of the Police in independent Slovenia. The main ceremony was entitled Slovenian Police in Service of People (Slovenska policija, vedno za ljudi) and took place at the Brdo Congress Centre.

In addition to Slovenia's Minister of the Interior Vesna Györkös Žnidar and Director General of the Police Marjan Fank, the guests were also addressed by the Europol Director Rob Wainwright who highlighted the excellent cooperation between Europol and Slovenian Police: “States cannot cope with the complex criminal and terrorist threats alone. Slovenia is aware of this fact and turns to us for help more and more frequently. It is very active in this regard, which makes it a very valued partner.”  

The Minister of the Interior and Director General of the Police also awarded the highest decorations. Each attendee of the event also received a special booklet entitled In 25 years to a modern police organisation based on European standards (V 25 letih do sodobne in po evropskih merilih oblikovane policijske organizacije) and a commemorative badge issued by the Slovenian Police in honour of its 25th anniversary.  

On the 25th anniversary of independent Slovenia, the Slovenian Alpine Museum remembered the raising of the Slovenian flag at the top of Mount Triglav twenty-five years ago. On 12 June 1991, a group of 21 mountain rescuers hung the Slovenian flag on top of Slovenia's highest mountain – at that time, the design of the flag was not official, since the Assembly had yet to confirm the new coat-of-arms.

On the 25th anniversary of this event, the Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana organised a special event which was attended by most of the then participating mountain rescuers and a room full of visitors. They revived the memories of the event with a short film which was shot from a helicopter by the Radio Television Slovenia cameraman Janez Kališnik. The footage of the fluttering flag was shown on 26 June 1991, at a ceremony on the Trg Republike Square in Ljubljana, where the new Slovenian flag was raised for the first time.

On 18 June, the main Zasavje region ceremony was held at the top of the Kum hill in honour of the Statehood Day and the 25th anniversary of the air attack on the local transmitter. The keynote speaker Prime Minister Miro Cerar recalled the courage our veterans demonstrated during the process of attaining independence. He said that the people of Slovenia should not be ashamed of expressions of patriotism.

“Let us be proud, but not repeat our mistakes; we should look towards the future,” Cerar pointed out before numerous guests, including MPs, mayors of the Zasavje region, representatives of veterans organizations, and culture professionals. He called for cooperation for the benefit of every citizen in Slovenia.

He mentioned that Slovenia has made quite a few important steps forward over the past two years. “It is particularly important that we managed to yet again become an economically solid country witnessing economic growth and increase in employment,” he estimated. He added that the Government is committed to a future where there will be enough work to ensure a decent life, and will take the first decisive reform steps in this direction already this year.

Upon the anniversary of its 25 years of existence, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth organised a meeting of the key players who significantly marked the development of the Slovenian youth sector in the past 25 years, including the Office’s former directors. They all agreed that the Office has managed to establish a unified youth policy with a clear vision of what needs to be done to help young people integrate into society.

The event, which was also attended by the first Director of the Office Stanko Šalamon and his successors Zorko Škvor, Dominik S. Černjak, Boris Tomašič and the current Director Peter Debeljak, was held at the Kult 316 Biotechnical Educational Centre where young students are trained for work in tourism and the hospitality industry. Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, who was also active in the youth sector 25 years ago, acted as the honorary patron of the event.

On 15 and 16 June, a conference entitled 25 years of the Republic of Slovenia – challenges, dilemmas, expectations took place at the Institute of Contemporary History. 

Despite the fact that, historically speaking, these 25 years are quite a short period, they represent a particular challenge for the researchers of recent history. A lot happened to this small country between 1991 and 2016, and these events call for a systematic analysis. There certainly are numerous dilemmas associated with the challenges of researching and presenting the history of the Republic of Slovenia.

Twenty-five years after the attainment of independence, well-established researchers identified and defined the problems of researching autonomous and independent Slovenia. The objective of the conference was to establish a methodological, scientific, problem-appropriate and coherent foundation for further research.

On Tuesday, 14 June 2016, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Zagreb, in cooperation with the Slovenski dom cultural society in Zagreb and the Council of Slovenian National Minority of Zagreb hosted a gala concert and reception at the Croatian Music Institute on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Slovenia’s statehood. 

In her speech, Ambassador Knez emphasised that Slovenia can be proud of what it has achieved in its quarter-century long journey; it established itself as a respected member of the international community, with good neighbourly relations, including Croatia; despite some open issues, the countries share an extensive positive agenda. 

The President of the Association of Slovenian Societies in Croatia, Darko Šonc, stressed the importance of minorities for the integration of nations. The guest of honour, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Željko Reiner, called everyone's attention to the similarities of both states’ path to democracy and expressed his belief that they can resolve the few open questions they have in the spirit of good neighbourly relations. 

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor attended and addressed the audience at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of oath taking of the first generation of Slovenian recruits of the 510th Territorial Defence training centre at Ig. 

In his speech, the President repeatedly emphasised the importance of unity in the emancipation process: “The beauty of the independence process was that it included people, not excluded them.” In light of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence, the President gave Janez Cimperman, mayor of the Ig Municipality a Slovenian flag, a protocol gift of the President of the Republic: “The Slovenian flag is a symbol of unity that connects us, regardless of the differences between us. We must encourage what is common among us and be proud of what we create together.” 

Before the ceremony, the President attended the unveiling of a memorial in memory and as a reminder of 27 June 1991, when, during the Independence War, a helicopter of the Yugoslav People’s Army was shot down at the Ljubljana Marshes. 

At the Plaza Vaticano Square in front of the famous Teatro Colón theatre, the Buenos Aires Minister of Culture, Darío Lopérfido, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Argentina, Jadranka Šturm Kocjan, formally opened the Slovenian Month in Buenos Aires, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of independent Slovenia and the 200th anniversary of Argentina. In the presence of the Argentine authorities, representatives of the Slovenian community, the diplomatic corps and cultural institutions, they opened the exhibition entitled I Feel Slovenia. I Feel 25. 

Ambassador Šturm Kocjan emphasized the importance of cultural ties between Slovenia and Argentina, and added that the Slovenian Month in Buenos Aires is the largest cultural project between the two states since Slovenia’s attainment of independence. She presented the exhibition as a reflection of Slovenia: a boutique state that is active, green, and committed to sustainable development. That is why our capital Ljubljana was awarded this year’s honorary title of the European Green Capital. 

The Buenos Aires Minister of Culture Darío Lopérfido praised in his opening speech the creative power of Slovenian artists and the importance of culture for the recognition of countries around the world. He stressed that Slovenia and Argentina are cultural nations and that culture represents the future cooperation between the states. 

The exhibition I Feel Slovenia. I Feel 25. will remain open until 26 June 2016. 

On 7 June 2016, a temporary exhibition called Les25/Selection of Contemporary Slovenian Wood Design by Barbara Predan and designer Ranko Novak was opened in the lobby of the Ministry of Culture building to mark the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia’s independence. 

The exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia’s independence offers transparent and important information on selected products featuring top contemporary Slovenian wood design. 

The exhibition presents the following exhibitors and selected works:

SoNo Arhitekti architectural bureau: the Slovenian Pavilion represented at the EXPO Milano 2015, OFIS Architects: Alpine shelter below the Skuta Mountain, Studio Miklavc: the Triglav National Park mobile info point, Toni Kancilja: the Istra Cabinet, Luka Bassanese: Nika Collection, TOK TOK: Martin’s desk and Trobla (wooden amplifier), Gigodesign: Froc high chair, Tak kolektiv: cupboard, Tilen Sepič: Eclipse lamp, Blaž Habjanič: Toplr – wooden coat hanger, Wilsonic Design: Mister crocodile on a stick, Re-generacija: a friendly enemy – the Japanese knotweed and its use in paper-making, Oloop design: community of making, Design Studio Mashoni: Ribrand, Rinz ROS: UNI bird house, ONDU: ONDU pinhole camera.

The exhibition's opening was accompanied by a short speech by the Minister of Culture Anton Peršak and the author of the exhibition Barbara Predan. 

The exhibition will remain open until 17 June 2016, every working day from 8 am to 5 pm.

These thoughts were written by a pupil from the Brežice primary school Hana Škrinjar who participated in the competition marking the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia’s independence. The Innovation and Creativity of Young People for the Future of the Homeland (Inovativnost in ustvarjalnost mladih za prihodnost domovine) competition was organized by the Ministry of Education, National Education Institute of Slovenia and the Government Communication Office. It was announced in March and all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools were invited to express their creativity.

The competition offered students the opportunity to express, on the occasion of 25th anniversary of independence, their patriotic sentiments as well as innovation, creativity, knowledge and potentials in various areas (art, music, dance, literary). As many as 76 educational institutions entered the competition and sent their multimedia presentations by 9 May 2016. All the submitted multimedia presentations were worth watching and a good indicator of high-quality teaching within educational institutions.

The closing event of the competition was held on 3 June 2016 at the Bolero dance school. The programme for the event was prepared in cooperation with kindergartens, primary and secondary schools participating at the competition. Through their stories and creations, Slovenia was presented in all its beauty, captured with the optimism of creative and smiling young, future-oriented people. Minister Maja Makovec Brenčič highlighted the latter in her speech, saying that young people are the future of our country. 

At the event, the best contributions about Slovenia were also awarded. The awards were bestowed by the Minister and the Director of the Centre for School and Outdoor Education Alenka Kovšca. 

Upon the invitation of the Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia Juliusz Janusz, President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor visited the premises of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ljubljana. 

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence, the President and the Nuncio discussed the relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Holy See, and the probable attendance of the former Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano at the Statehood Day celebration which was held on 24 June 2016 in Ljubljana. 

They also spoke about the possible visit of Pope Francis in this year or the next.

Exactly 25 years ago, on 2 June 1991, the first generation of military recruits, who served in the Territorial Defence, swore an oath of allegiance in the military training centres at Ig and Pekre. This was also the official start of the Slovenian Armed Forces’ development. 

On 15 May 1991, the first training of 300 military recruits, who were the first to swear an oath of allegiance to Slovenia on 2 June, started in the military training centres at Ig and Pekre. 

In 2003, Slovenia abolished conscription and established a professional army.

Slovenian Press Agency (STA) news  

In cooperation with the Defence Attaché of the Republic of Slovenia in Turkey, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Ankara hosted a reception on 1 June 2016 to mark the Statehood Day, Slovenian Armed Forces Day and the 25th anniversary of Slovenian independence in Ankara. The reception ceremony was attended by Slovenian people living in Turkey, high-ranking representatives of the Government of Turkey, parliament and army, representatives of diplomatic corps, business people and media representatives.

The guest of honour and the representative of the Government of Turkey was Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Faruk Çelik who is also Chairman of the Turkish Side of the Slovenian-Turkish Joint Economic Commission. In his opening speech, Minister Çelik congratulated Slovenia which he described as a friendly and allied state. 

On this occasion, the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces hosted an exhibition featuring a selection of documentary photographs and documents illustrating the processes of Slovenian emancipation and military defence in 1991.

The Minister for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion Alenka Smerkolj has attended the annual Ministerial Council Meeting and Forum organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and entitled Enhancing Productivity for Inclusive Growth. The Minister’s visit to the OECD began with a meeting with Secretary-General Angel Gurria. Later, she was the main guest at the reception ceremony organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia to honour the 25 years of the independent Slovenia. At the ceremony, the Minister addressed Slovenians who live in France, the diplomatic corps and other representatives of the local administration. She pointed out that, within the context of diversity, our young state, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on 25 June, boasts hundreds of different attractive faces.

Furthermore, she believes that Slovenians have demonstrated, on several occasions, that they have the knowledge and the ability to succeed. What unites us are the sustained efforts for a better tomorrow which is also the objective of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and Slovenia’s Development Strategy led by the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy. “In last few months, we outlined a long-term vision of Slovenia together with the citizens. In the future, Slovenia will present a stable state of trust and innovativeness emphasizing the importance of learning for life with which the quality of our citizens’ lives will be improved. However, many steps await us in order to realise our vision,” said the Minister. At the same time, looking back on our journey which united us 25 years ago inspires hope that Slovenia will succeed and that on the 50th anniversary of Slovenia we will actually live up to our vision.

Since 1991, Pošta Slovenije (Slovenian Postal Service) has issued more than 900 postage stamps. They depict Slovenia’s natural and cultural heritage, technical achievements, art, famous Slovenians,  sports and other major events. It has now honoured the 25 years of Slovenian independence by issuing a special stamp depicting Mount Triglav, which is both the country’s highest peak and symbol of its national  identity. 

Back on the 10th and 20th anniversaries of Slovenian independence, the Post of Slovenia issued special commemorative stamps, and last summer it held a competition for a commemorative stamp with which it intended to mark the 25th anniversary of this country. Regarding the basic concepts and selection it consulted with the Protocol Service of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government Communication Office, which is also marking the 25th anniversary of Slovenian independence by setting up a thematic website www.slovenija25.si. This is a contact point for chronological and historical data, current overviews from the areas of culture, home affairs, foreign affairs, tourism, sports and more, as well as a source of rich images and video material. Two decades and a half of the independent country are also shown through numbers and statistics.

The Commission for Issuing Postage Stamps and Indicia selected from among the entries received the creative offering from the design company Villa Creativa, featuring a photograph of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. The photograph is the work of professional photographer Joco Žnidaršič.

The special commemorative stamp was issued on 27 May 2016, and on the same day was presented to the Slovenian National Assembly. Immediately upon the minting of commemorative coins by the Bank of Slovenia, the Post of Slovenia will also issue a philately/numismatic set. The precise date for the issuing of the coins is not yet set, all we know is the fact that it will be in the second quarter of this year. 

Symbol of Slovenia

In a plebiscite held 25 years ago, Slovenian citizens voted in a democratic process in favour of independence, and achieved an independent state through peaceful means. In this way we fulfilled the centuries-old dream of generations of Slovenian women and men. Those generations had built their identity and national consciousness through culture, language and symbols, prominent among them Mount Triglav. 

The highest peak of the Julian Alps, Triglav was revered by the various peoples (Celts, Romans, Lombards and Slavs) who crossed the territory of present-day Slovenia at one time or another. For a time the mountain represented little more than a border region, but it was invested with greater significance during the Age of Enlightenment in Slovenia. Triglav became the inspiration for numerous poets, authors, travel writers, painters and politicians.

Atop the summit of Triglav stands the Aljažev Stolp turret – a mountaineer’s refuge and the bastion of Slovenian identity, erected in 1895 by Jakob Aljaž, then parish priest in Dovje. Since 1999 Aljažev Stolp has been protected as a cultural monument of national importance, and as such it is highly important in maintaining Slovenia’s cultural heritage. The symbolic significance of Aljažev Stolp differs from the symbolic significance of Triglav itself, which as the highest mountain watches over Slovenia. Aljažev Stolp represents what stands on top of Mount Triglav and tells us that this is our Slovenian soul.

A magnificent view opens up from the summit of Triglav, stretching all the way from the Adriatic Sea, via the Dolomites and High Tauern to the Karavanke, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Pohorje, right across Slovenia to the highest peaks of the Julian Alps. Each year Triglav is visited by huge numbers of people, and climbing to the summit holds special importance for mountain hikers. 

Courage, resolve and unity, all these are represented in Triglav, whose symbolic message is also included in the emblems of statehood, and Slovenia is the only country whose national symbols – the coat of arms and flag – feature a specifically identified mountain. The message inherent in Triglav also convinced the Commission for Issuing Postage Stamps and Indicia, which selected the special stamp to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the independent Republic of Slovenia.

The main ceremony marking this year's Slovenian Diplomacy Day was held at the Cankarjev dom hall in Ljubljana to celebrate 25 years of Slovenian diplomacy. The diplomats present at the event were addressed by President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Prime Minister Miro Cerar and Foreign Affairs Minister Karl Erjavec. All three extended their gratitude to all Slovenian diplomats who were or are still engaged in this great yet, at the same time, demanding and challenging occupation.

Minister Erjavec pointed out that the efforts made by the then short-standing diplomatic tradition in Slovenia yielded concrete results relatively soon after the proclamation of independence, when Slovenia gained international recognition, which placed it on the international map as an independent state equal to other countries.

In 2004, the Slovenian Government proclaimed 22nd May the Slovenian Diplomacy Day. This date was chosen to commemorate the day in 1992 when Slovenia joined the United Nations, which symbolised the culmination of the state's efforts to achieve independence. By becoming a member of this important international organisation, Slovenia was also accepted as an equal partner in the international community. 

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Miro Cerar said that the date was chosen to symbolically affirm full commitment of the Slovenian state to the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter, including the respect for the principle of the sovereign equality of all states and the right of self-determination of peoples, peaceful politics and the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as the respect for human rights and fundamental liberties. 

Prime Minister also pointed out that the European Union has, during all this time, played the key role in the full array of ambitions and efforts made by our foreign policy, and that Slovenia still sees the EU as an important guarantee for stability, safety and prosperity. 

It is in the interest of Slovenia to strengthen the position of the European Union as one of the key global players in foreign policy as well. "For this reason, it is very important that Slovenian diplomacy continues to actively participate in shaping a Common Foreign Security Policy for the European Union and the preparation of an EU Global Strategy," added the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, he emphasised that the Slovenian foreign policy invests extensive efforts into preserving and strengthening good relations with the neighbouring countries as it is precisely such relations that are key for advancing Slovenian political and economic interests while, at the same time, they also enable better protection of the ethnic minorities' rights for people who live in these states and are an important part of the Slovenian national identity.

Prime Minister Cerar also expressed his content how pleased he is with the exceptional progress of Slovenian diplomacy in terms of support provided to the Slovenian export-oriented economy.

The Prime Minister Miro Cerar was the speaker at the ceremonial academy commemorating the 25th anniversary of the events at Pekre. In his speech, he stressed that the lives of all those who sacrificed themselves for the independence of Slovenia are also built into the foundations of our country. The events at Pekre should remain in our memories and in the memories of all our generations as a symbol of the unconditional unity of Slovenian women and men. 

According to the Prime Minister, the days surrounding 23rd May 1991, when the Yugoslav People's Army (JLA) and the Slovenian Territorial Defence came head to head for the first time near the training centre of the Territorial Defence in Pekre near Maribor, significantly brought Slovenians together in unity, courage, and the hope that they should endure on the route to independence following the plebiscite. “The events at Pekre were a historical test of the resolve of Slovenians to enforce and defend our decision to establish an independent state even with the use of arms,” he stated.

He also took this opportunity to call for unity now. “At that time, we were driven by the desire to become our own rulers. Today, we are driven by the desire to strengthen our country on the map of competitive and developed countries. We are making efforts to make Maribor a big part of this map,” said the Prime Minister, stressing the Government’s plan to develop a modern training centre for fire-fighters and members of Civil Protection Services in Pekre.

“In the past, we were capable of great acts, and today we also have to summon the necessary knowledge, unity, courage, and resolve in order to endure on our path. Let us contemplate our future with confidence and trust,” he added. He thanked all those who risked their lives in Pekre and anyone who contributed to the first important victory over the JLA in any way.

On 18th May 2016, a ceremony commemorating the 26th anniversary of the formation of the Manoeuvre Structure of National Defence was held. At the ceremony that took place at the Brdo Congress Centre, those present were addressed by the Minister of the Interior, Vesna Györkös Žnidar, the Minister of Defence, Andreja Katič, and Bojan Lunežnik on behalf of veteran organisations. The event was also attended by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor.

According to Minister Vesna Györkös Žnidar, today we live in a safe, democratic state, and we are free to think and act as we wish and without fear: “Perhaps we now take this for granted and as nothing special – especially the younger generations, who were already born in a state that was new and different from the one in which their parents were born. However, I find this a foundational and priceless social gain, without which individuals cannot live with dignity and success, and without which there is no development or progress in society.”

The Minister of Defence Andreja Katič emphasised that the formation of the Manoeuvre Structure of National Defence – a milestone project that contributed to our statehood – in the spring of 1990 actually marked the beginning of Slovenia's independence in the military field. “With great courage, at great risk, and in closely guarded secret, the members of the Manoeuvre Structure of National Defence, supported by all who provided their facilities for hidden storage, prevented the JLA and the federal authorities from taking weapons from the Territorial Defence of Slovenia,” said the Minister of Defence. She also emphasised that the connection between the military and militia components, or the “green” and “blue” components, continues to show the unity of the defence and security structures of the Republic of Slovenia in 1990. The Minister of Defence shared her conviction that the operations of the Manoeuvre Structure of National Defence as one of the main organisations in the fight for the independence of the Republic of Slovenia, the operations of the Territorial Defence and the then active Militia in the War for Independence can be compared to two great decisions by the Slovenian nation in the past century: the fight for the northern border and the resistance against the occupation in World War II.

The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Metrology has traditionally organised Metrology Day every year on World Metrology Day, which  commemorates the signing of the Metre Convention, an international treaty signed by representatives of 17 countries on 20th May 1875 in Paris. On Monday, 16th May 2016, this day also had another special symbolic meaning, as it commemorated 25 years of metrology in independent Slovenia. For this reason, some directors from previous years, who played an important role in the past 25 years of metrology in independent Slovenia, thus significantly contributing to the development of metrology in Slovenia, also attended this year’s 2016 Metrology Day. 

We were reminded of the beginnings of metrology in Slovenia by the Director of the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Metrology, Dr Samo Kopač, in his review of the development of metrology from 1991 to today. He concluded this interesting historical review of the first 25 years of metrology in independent Slovenia with the final thought that we can be proud that, although ours is a small country, we are not only comparable to, but belong at the very top of, European metrology, due to our expert knowledge, metrological development and the results achieved by our metrological laboratories. In light of this, we would like to foster and promote metrological culture in Slovenia by means of a new metrological strategy, so that it can serve users of metrological services to the best possible extent.

Metrology Day continued with a programme rich in expert content, which included three topical panels: Food, Technological Measurements, and Energy. On these panels, national laboratories and representatives of organisations carrying out verification of metering devices were able to combine their areas of expertise and action and introduce them in terms of integration and networking with the economic sector and users of their services.

At a special ceremony today, the President of the Republic of Slovenia delivered documents on the honorary patronage of events commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Ten-Day War. The Honour Guard of the Slovenian Armed Forces also participated at the ceremony. 

The President of the Republic of Slovenia emphasised that the purpose of today’s ceremony was to remind Slovenians of the historical significance of the War for Independence and of the people who, in one way or another, participated in defending the decision of the majority of people to become an independent state. This was to become the foundation for the confidence shown in making future courageous decisions. 

“In this brief part of history, Slovenians showed great historical maturity in the political, military, and diplomatic sense. We mainly proved to ourselves and to the international community that we know how to join forces to achieve our common goals,” said President Pahor, stressing that it is this kind of political, diplomatic, and military unity, which was required to defend the momentous goals of the nation in 1991, that is necessary for our future. “This string of events that we connected for the first time today should strengthen the awareness of the younger generation in particular concerning the importance of the War for Slovenia, the Slovenian army and police for the defence of our sovereignty,” the President concluded. 

We proudly consider the brave actions during the Ten-Day War to be among those events through which we remember the unity in the period of our fight for independence.  This year, by accepting the single honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, these actions were connected in commemorative ceremonies under a single name for the first time in the history of the independent state of Slovenia, so that our citizens could be reminded that these actions led us to our independence. 

The annual Colorado Military Ball took place on Saturday, April 30 in Pueblo. Organized by the National Guard Association of Colorado the event took place at the Omni Interlocken Hotel-Broomfield and was hosted by the Adjutant General for Colorado, Major General H. Michael Edwards. In attendance was also General Frank J. Grass, who serves as the 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Ambassador Dr. Cerar also joined the event to honor the long-term cooperation between Colorado National Guard and the Slovenian Armed Forces, which began soon after Slovenia gained its independence, in the framework of the State Partnership Program.

Next day, the chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Slovenian ambassador to the U.S. described at a press conference developments that have grown out of the partnership between the Colorado National Guard and the Republic of Slovenia. “The nearly quarter century of partnership between Colorado and Slovenia has tremendous value for our nations and allies,” said Major General H. Michael Edwards . “Colorado’s and Slovenia’s relationship is quickly evolving amid a complex security situation in Eastern Europe which involves a refugee crisis, and the threat of terrorism, " he stressed. The Colorado-Slovenia partnership dates to 1993 when United States European Command employed the National Guard to assist nations in Central and Eastern Europe in preparing for NATO membership

During his visit to Colorado, Ambassador Dr.  Božo Cerar also visited the city of Pueblo, where a large American-Slovenian immigration community has resided in the past. Puebloans of Slovenian heritage gave a warm welcome to the ambassador Saturday morning, first, with an appreciation breakfast where he was presented with an honorary proclamation from city leaders. After the breakfast, the ambassador toured the Gorsich Technology Center at Pueblo Community College, where he was greeted by College President, Dr. Patty Erjavec. From there, he took a trip to  St. Mary's Slovenian Library and Gorsick Genealogy Center. The ambassador brought gifts for the collection, including copies of a bi-lingual children's books and a Slovenian English dictionary. 

He also met with Pueblo native Rudy Krasovec, who serves as chairman of the American Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ, and former U.S. Congressman of Slovenian ancestry, Mr. Ray Kogovsek, who formerly served as honorary consul for Slovenia.   

Today, the Prime Minister Miro Cerar visited St. Stanislav’s Institution in Ljubljana. Pupils of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, which operates within this institution, organised a round table titled “25 Years of Independent Slovenia – Paths and Sidetracks”, to which they invited the Prime Minister and the Auxiliary Bishop of Ljubljana, Dr. Anton Jamnik, as their discussion partners. In the discussion, the Prime Minister Miro Cerar emphasised that independence was the realisation of a long-time dream and that Slovenia had managed to achieve its most important goals; however, he also stressed that it must continue to grow in a way that will enable today's younger generations to add to, and upgrade, existing achievements, so that Slovenia can become even better. 

In his discussion with the pupils, the Slovenian Prime Minister stated that our past successes had also lulled us to sleep to a certain extent, which was evident once the world financial crisis broke, which was multi-layered for our society: economic, social, and political. He expressed the hope that we are leaving the crisis with greater maturity, that we are aware that we must make daily efforts in a well-ordered society with a good education system and successful companies and not forget our fellow humans and general values.   

“We must continue to work, to learn lessons from our history, and focus on young people. We must build our country, so that the younger generations coming after us will be able to add to, and upgrade, the existing achievements in order to be able to live in an even more satisfied and successful society,” the Prime Minister said to the gathering of young people, adding that the Government that he is leading is making daily efforts to do this. 

17th April is the European Youth Information Day. The website mlad.si interviewed Matjaž Medvešek, the Director of the Youth Information and Counselling Centre of Slovenia (MISSS), and discussed the importance of youth information, the results of the poor quality of information and information channels, what youth centres and youth workers can do in the field of information, etc.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, visited the First Gymnasium in Maribor today, where he was joined by Lojze Peterle, the first prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia and, currently, a member of the European Parliament, to hold a discussion with the pupils titled “The Formation of the Independent State of Slovenia.” 

Over one hundred pupils and both high-profile guests were greeted by Manja Kraševec, a representative of the community of pupils. She emphasised that the Gymnasium always had a respectful attitude to the events during the fight for independence, so she sincerely thanked the guests on behalf of all pupils attending the Gymnasium for introducing them in greater detail to the events surrounding the fight for independence.

In his introduction, the President of the Republic of Slovenia clarified that, in discussions on the formation of the independent state of Slovenia, he would like to attempt to inform young people of the most important people in that period of the Slovenian political spring and independence: “In these discussions, I would like to remind you of important and courageous decisions that were first seen as very daring, but then proved to be visionary.”

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, visited Črnomelj Secondary School today, the only secondary education institution in Bela Krajina, where he and Jože Školč, who was the last president of the Association of Slovene Socialist Youth in the period of the fight for independence, held a discussion titled “The Formation of the Independent State of Slovenia.”

Over four hundred pupils and both high-profile guests were greeted by Valentina Ambrožič and Timaž Kasunič, pupils attending the fourth year of the general gymnasium programme. They mentioned the main events in the Slovenian fight for independence, and they thanked the guests on behalf of the pupils for the opportunity to be able to learn first-hand important details about how the foundations of Slovenia were laid. 

The discussion titled “The Formation of the Independent State of Slovenia” was opened by the President, who stressed the importance of the events that occurred twenty-five years ago. He said that these events considerably marked our past, and the future of today's young generation even more so. In his introduction, he clarified that, in discussions on the formation of the independent state of Slovenia, he would like to attempt to inform young people of the most important people in that period of the Slovenian political spring and independence: “When you ask what our state and our society should do to make your future the way you would like it to be, do not think, but act.”

At the sitting of the children’s parliament, young people discussed the traps of youth, specifically the traps of the internet and social media, hardships, violence, and self-image. “Do not forget that you are very important and that no one can make any decision instead of you. Never give up and always persevere,” Prime Minister Miro Cerar advised the young people.

At the sitting of the 26th National Children’s Parliament of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, over one hundred members of parliament held discussions, first in working groups and then at a plenary session.

Miro Cerar told the youngsters that he respects the fact that young people decided to participate in a parliamentary discussion on such an important topic as the traps of youth. “Adults sometimes inadvertently underestimate young people and we sometimes think that we should provide too much guidance and be concerned for you. It is right to provide advice and give you our attention, but to a large extent you are the creators of your own lives and primarily responsible for yourselves,” he stated.

He invited young people to continue to do the things that had brought them to the Parliament. According to him, no matter how much advice young people receive from adults, this will never be a substitute their own decisions. “Your generation is responsible for itself and, in the future, it will be the very generation that will decide the destiny of us all. Keep this in mind: it is up to you how you will live,” Miro Cerar said, and he stressed the importance of intergenerational cooperation.

Today, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended the 26th sitting of the National Children’s Parliament. This year, the young members of Parliament are discussing “Traps of Youth.”  First, they were greeted by Milan Brglez, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and the host of the sitting, and Darja Groznik, the President of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth. 

“For Slovenia, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the independence of its own state is a great holiday. It commemorates unity, like-mindedness, and freedom. During the period of the fight for independence, Slovenians showed courage, despite the obstacles encountered on the way to their goal. However, we proved that we can tread this path bravely if we tread it together,” Nina Knoll said to the Parliament. Nina is a 12-year-old from the Dolenjska region. She asked President Pahor for advice on how to make her dreams come true. The President shared his experience from 25 years ago, when the founding documents of our country were adopted in this very building, with the youth. At that time, one main question dominated: what would secure our national interests? “Despite varying opinions, there was dialogue in this room. We founded this country, so that we and our children could have a brighter future. Many things changed for the better, and many things hurt our dreams along the way,” said the President of the Republic of Slovenia, and he also gave the youngsters something else to think about: “The actions you take to make your dreams come true should never be dishonourable,” and he stressed that they should be ambitious, courageous, and daring when making the decisions needed for realising their goals, but they should also be guided by integrity.

On Thursday, 7th April, a 20-page brochure on Slovenia was published as a special insert in the Washington Times. This insert commemorated the 25th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence, and was published on the anniversary of the United States’ recognition of Slovenia (7th April 1992).  The newspaper also emphasised the 25th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence by using the official logo in the brochure itself and on its front page with the title: Republic of Slovenia: 25 Years of Independence. 

The brochure was also published on the all-American teacher website NIETeacher.org, which provided the brochure to 300 American newspapers and 700 other partners, including in Canada and Australia. Therefore, the readership encompasses over 106 thousand schools, 380 thousand teachers, and 14 million pupils. 50 thousand copies were inserted into the Washington Times. 

Individual chapters in the insert include basic information on our country, Slovenia’s history, an overview of our political system, national symbols, culture, language, cuisine, Slovene emigration to the USA, the economy, education, castles, nature, sports, and a quiz about Slovenia. 

On Tuesday, 5th April, the Minister of Defence, Andreja Katič, was the speaker at the final ceremony of the My Homeland –Slovenia Celebrates its 25th Anniversary literary competition. At the ceremony, which took place at the Vič Primary School in Ljubljana, the Minister awarded young authors of literary works. Primary school pupils from the upper grades of Slovenian primary schools and primary schools in neighbouring countries participated in the literary competition, which was held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor. 

In her speech, the Minister of Defence expressed her happiness at being among young people who love their homeland and respect the efforts that enabled us to now live in independent and sovereign Republic of Slovenia. At the same time, she also said that she had been honoured to receive an invitation to join the veterans of the War for Slovenia, who took on the risk at vital moments and fought to defend our young state. “You are the most deserving of our gratitude for the fulfilment of the long-lasting desire of our forebears, many of whom sacrificed their lives so that we can now manage the destiny of our nation,” she emphasised. 

The Minister also told the participants of the literary competition that she was proud of them because they use their talents, knowledge, and energy for a noble cause, they honour their homeland with words in poetry and prose, and thus express their respect for the events leading up to our independence, even though they did not experience them personally.  Finally, she also expressed her gratitude and recognition to the parents, teachers, and mentors who teach young people values that are very important for our nation and raise them to become active citizens. 

The Slovenian Assembly adopted an amendment to the constitution 25 years ago today that effectively extracted the country from the laws of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, in what was a significant step towards Slovenia's secession from Yugoslavia.

The amendment, adopted less than two months after the independence referendum, determined that Slovenia will regulate its relations with other countries and international organisations in line with international law.

It also annulled all the provisions of the constitution that transferred Slovenia's rights as a sovereign entity to Yugoslavia.

On the same day, the assembly also adopted a resolution on a consensual break-up from Yugoslavia, based on the conclusion of the collective presidency that there was little chance of reaching an agreement on a confederation, which Slovenia had for a while sought.

The legislative motions triggered a cascade of moves that extracted Slovenia from Yugoslavia. Just weeks later a law was adopted in which abolished mandatory military service in the Yugoslav People's Army.

On 25 June 1991, the assembly adopted the Basic Constitutional Charter on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Slovenia. The country's independence was announced a day later.

Source: STA

On Tuesday, 9 February 2016, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended the event at Gimnazija Šiška, the largest sports school in Slovenia, to officially open the permanent exhibition "Gallery of Famous". For twenty-five years, the school has been living the story of coordinating school-related contents and sports-related contents and it was attended by some of top athletes of Slovenia. President Pahor paid tribute to the Principal, Dejan Rudolf, and gave him the Slovenian flag in the light of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Slovenian independence.

The fifty best athletes of Slovenia, of these, twenty-five Olympic Games participants were officially accepted in the Gallery of Famous. Their sports portraits were represented by Aleš Fevžer, a sports photographer. Students presented themselves showing their sports skills in the sporting programme. The group was addressed by Tina Čarman, the former student of Gimnazija Šiška, who participated at the Athens Olympics in 2004, giving the following advice to students:  "Do not forget about the education while practising sports since every sports-related path is finished one day. For you to be able to choose a job you will like, you must have knowledge. Let sports accompany you all your life," concluded Čarman.

"The Gallery of Famous gives the opportunity to generations before you, to the current generation and to generations to follow to become inspired by the photographs of their achievements," said the President of the Republic on the importance of the Gallery of Famous. And he gave the following piece of advice to the secondary school students: "By way of their victories, when tops athletes stand on the winner's podium, they show us that it is not true that something is not possible but that everything is possible. We draw the border lines ourselves. If we are ambitious and we know how to survive when defeated,  we may conquer the most. This is the inspirational message which is given by you to the young generations."

On the Independence and Unity Day which in Slovenia is being celebrated on 26 December 1990 to commemorate the day when the outcome of the plebiscite was made public, an Open Day was organised at the President's Palace.

On this occasion, President Pahor congratulated nearly five hundred visitors attending the event and the citizens of the Republic of Slovenia on Slovenia's national holiday and wished happy holidays and wished all the very best for the coming year.  In his speech, he emphasised that unity may only be built around a vision. "Advocating unity without a vision is pointless because it is not possible. Unity does not grow overnight. It must be nurtured with effort and cooperation," pointed out President Pahor in his speech and added that during significant events in history, we, as a nation and as the state, had to know what we wanted. "It is equally important for us to be united in this regard," highlighted President Pahor in his speech.

Today, the Prime Minister Miro Cerar attended the unveiling of the sculpture which was set by the people of Novo Mesto to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the national independence and he then took part at the Formal Academy celebrating this anniversary and the 650th anniversary of Novo Mesto's foundation. In his speech, he integrated both events and emphasized both the significance of obtaining the city rights and the importance of the vote for independence.

The primary-school competition in photography, entitled "Slovenia - My Homeland", in which 74 primary-school pupils from all over Slovenia took part, was organised in cooperation with Janez Puhar Photographic Society from Kranj and the Photographic Association of Slovenia. President Pahor paid tribute to the Principal, Dejan Rudolf, and gave him the Slovenian flag in the light of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Slovenian independence. The competition was concluded with the opening of a photographic exhibition, by a projection of the accepted photographs and by giving the awards to the best authors and their mentors.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended the event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the vote for the Slovenian Independence, entitled "Poljče 1990 - 2015" and delivered his welcomed speech.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, visited GRM Novo Mesto - Biotech and Tourism Centre where, together with Ivan Oman, the member for the first democratically elected Presidency of the Republic of Slovenia, he led the discussion with students on the topic of "Creation of Independent State of Slovenia".

The new permanent exhibition entitled "Path to Independence" was opened in the Park of Military History Pivka on 17 December 2015. The exhibition displays the progress of gaining independence of the Republic of Slovenia with the attention being especially drawn to the Independence War of 1991, making it possible for a visitor to experience the war developments in the direct contact of some of the most important exhibits of the period.