Slovenia-UK Friendship Day
At the traditional ceremony marking the Slovenia-UK Friendship Day, President Pirc Musar, in her keynote address, emphasised the excellent relations between the two countries, which are also based on the selfless help provided by the local people to the crew of the crashed B-24 Liberator VI bomber. The President and HMA Tiffany Sadler laid wreaths at the memorial plaque to the crew members. The Slovenia-UK Friendship Day was made that much more special by the joint performance of the Slovene Military Orchestra and The Band of The Royal Yeomanry.
Gornji Suhor pri Vinici, 8 May 2023
News
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar attended the traditional ceremony marking the Slovenia-UK Friendship Day in Gornji Suhor pri Vinici, which has been celebrated for the fifth year running.
In her address, President Pirc Musar said that humanitarian and patriotic events and actions, such as those that took place in Gornji Suhor, forge priceless and eternal bonds between people and nations. “Slovenia and the United Kingdom are friendly and allied countries, connected by a common European heritage, shared values and principles of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the joint tackling of global challenges,” the President said, adding that the rich and diverse friendship between Slovenia and the United Kingdom is made that much more special by the bonds that are forged in culture and the arts.
In the light of the war in Ukraine, President Pirc Musar reiterated that peaceful settlement of disputes, solidarity, and respect for international law must remain the cornerstones of the international community. “An important aspect in this regard is the mutual trust-building and cooperation between nations in various areas, including defence and military,” said President Pirc Musar, noting that defence and military cooperation between Slovenia and the United Kingdom can therefore be an important example of how to build trust and deter potential threats, also further highlighting bilateral cooperation and cooperation within NATO.
President Pirc Musar expressed her special gratitude to the people of Gornji Suhor pri Vinici. She highlighted their heartfelt support, care, dedication and intergenerational transmission of memory as a great contribution to remembering our history and to the friendship between the two nations. “In the end, all things in life stand or fall with people. That is why I would like to say that you are a great example to the world of what Slovenians are like – a self-sacrificing and peaceful nation open to cooperation,” President Pirc Musar said, adding that their help has shown that in the horrors of war, we remain a people who want peace and the freedom to live on our own land, for ourselves as well as for others.
The guests at the ceremony were also addressed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Črnomelj Andrej Kavšek and His Majesty’s Ambassador to Slovenia Tiffany Sadler, who, alongside President Pirc Musar, laid wreaths at the memorial plaque in memory of the deceased crew members of the fallen British B-24 Liberator VI bomber.
The Allied B-24 Liberator VI bomber crashed on 31 March 1945 in Plaz near Gornji Suhor. Of the nine crew members, four survived with the help of the local people. The memorial plaque to the crew members was erected in 2018, and the Slovenia-UK Friendship Day has been commemorated since 2019, when the ceremony was attended by member of the British Royal Family, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
The programme for the ceremony was prepared by local artists, including the Dragatuš Children’s Folklore Group with young musicians and students from the Dragatuš Primary School, as well as musicians from the Slovenian Police Orchestra. A joint musical performance was prepared especially for the occasion by musicians of the Slovene Military Orchestra and The Band of The Royal Yeomanry.
To mark the Slovenia-UK Friendship Day, a joint flypast was planned by the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Red Arrows Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, who took part in the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday. Due to weather conditions, the joint flypast was unfortunately not possible.
