Authority Plans in Styrian Styrian unacceptable

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met in Vienna with the new Austrian diplomacy leader Beate Meinl Reisingerwho talked about the possibilities of deepening already close relations between neighbors, as well as open bilateral issues, including exercising the rights of the Slovenian minority in Austria and about the controversial intention of the Styrian provincial government to enter an anthem in the provincial constitution, which sings Slovenian territory.

Almost two months after the oath of the new Austrian central government led by Chancellor Christiano Stocker The Slovenian Foreign Minister in Vienna expressed his satisfaction that she also included the care of bilingual education in the coalition agreement. “Quality education in minority is fundamental to the preservation of language, culture, identity, the future of the minority. We would like bilingual education to be present throughout the educational period, from pre -school education to the end of high school, « Tanja Fajon said during a joint press conference with her colleague Beate Meinl Reisinger.

The Austrian host also expressed his satisfaction that in the coalition agreement the aforementioned care for minorities, while acknowledging that this could be further upgraded. In accordance with the practice so far, the Slovenian guest also recalled the German -speaking community in Slovenia, which is not officially recognized as a minority. She emphasized that the Austrian government is important to strengthen this community. « This is mutual responsibility and wealth, the wealth of different languages, cultures and good practices of coexistence, » she said of national communities on both sides of the border.

A milestone for Austria and Slovenes

The Minister’s visit to Vienna coincided with the near 70. The anniversary of the signing of an Austrian state contract, with which the northern neighbor, a decade after the end of World War II, became a sovereign state again after the end of World War II. ADP also represented a milestone for Slovenes in Austria; Its Article 7 of the Austrian state to members of the minority set out, but seven decades after its creation, these are partially fulfilled.

Tanja Fajon emphasized in Vienna that Slovenia is considered a « undisputed successor » of the Austrian state treaty, and expressed the expectation that Austria would fully fulfill its international legal obligations arising from its content.

The upcoming round anniversary of ADP sees the leader of Slovenian diplomacy as an opportunity for the country to strengthen the protection of the Slovenian minority together and thus contribute to its existence. « I suggested that the minister have completed the new government reform in Carinthia, Austria, which will allow all members of the Slovenian minority to access the use of the Slovene language before the courts throughout the settlement area, and I am glad that we have found a lot of synergies in these issues. »

While answering journalistic questions, the Slovenian minister also took the opportunity to condemn the plans of the Styrian provincial government led by the far -right freedmen (FPÖ) on the entry of the nationalist -colored anthem in the provincial constitution.

« We believe that it is unacceptable to enter an anthem in the constitution, which in its text mentions the territory of the neighboring – Slovenian – country, » emphasized Tanja Fajon, saying that such an act would be understood in Slovenia extremely bad. « It could also be interpreted as a territorial tendency and had negative consequences for bilateral relationships. »