Minister Fajon visiting the Peršman Homestead | Author Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

The Minister described the police violence against the young camp participants as unacceptable and reaffirmed Slovenia's unwavering support for, and solidarity with, the Slovenian national minority. "The investigation into the incident must be swift and thorough, and its findings and clarification of the facts unequivocal. We also expect legal consequences for those responsible for the unacceptable intervention. We demanded this of the Austrian authorities immediately after the incident, and I shall repeat it again today in Celovec/Klagenfurt. Any prolongation of the investigation and delay in the publication of its report would be difficult to understand, despite the alleged complexity of the procedures," she stressed.

Minister Fajon emphasised the importance of preserving memory through a comprehensive view of our shared history, noting that an inclusive approach and a culture of remembrance strengthen mutual trust and coexistence. As she said, the incident at the Peršman Homestead shows that the Austrian state and society still have some work to do, particularly in light of the long delays in implementing the rights of the Slovenian national minority under the Austrian State Treaty, which was signed seventy years ago. She assured that Slovenia will continue to act as a protector of the Slovenian minority and consistently raise the issue of the full implementation of minority rights in dialogue with the Austrian side.

The Minister expressed her conviction that the Slovenian minority will remain one of the most important bridges in relations with Austria and the state of Carinthia. Slovenia is committed to continued dialogue and cooperation with Carinthia, which strengthens the position of the Slovenian minority in Austria, benefits the people on both sides of the border and consolidates good neighbourly relations. "We expect Austria to fulfil the expectations of the Slovenian minority in bilingual education: namely, that bilingual education and training is available at every stage of the education process, from pre-school education to the end of secondary school. We also expect the use of the Slovene language to be strengthened in Austrian public offices and courts," explained the Slovenian Foreign Minister. She also noted that the fiftieth anniversary of the Austrian Ethnic Groups Act next year offers an opportunity to adapt the legislation to current developments and times. Although this task has been entrusted to a parliamentary working group, establishing a similar working group within the government would be an important signal that the issue is being taken seriously, Minister Fajon stressed.

The Minister concluded that successful foreign policy is founded on good relations with neighbouring countries: "During the current term, we have pursued a dynamic and multifaceted dialogue with our neighbours at both political and expert levels, within the framework of the Ministry and on behalf of Slovenia. This is particularly valuable for Slovenian national minorities living in neighbouring countries."

During her visit to the Peršman Homestead, Minister Fajon laid a wreath in memory of the eleven members of the Peršman-Kogoj family who were killed as victims of Nazi violence at the end of the Second World War.