On his first visit to Slovenia, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the President of Slovenia Borut Pahor inaugurated the Islamic Cultural Center in Ljubljana yesterday. The historical moment and the visit marked a turning point in the relationship between both countries, further highlighting Qatar’s stance on promoting diplomatic and friendly relations with nations worldwide.
According to a QNA report, both leaders unveiled a Friendship Chair at the Center with their names. The Center also aims to contribute to the consolidation of tolerant values of Islam among the Muslims of Slovenia and play a role in spreading tolerance and moderation.
Besides that, H H the Amir’s visit to Slovenia, a stop on a series of stops which has seen him visit Iran and Turkey, cements a new frontier of cooperation with a Balkan state despite having enjoyed 30 years of diplomatic relations. It is worth noting that H H the Father Amir visited Slovenia over 10 years ago and was received by then-president Danilo Turk, who also visited Doha in 2010.
The Amir’s tour would also see him visit Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.
A joint statement issued yesterday after the visit said that the two sides discussed the latest regional and international developments, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. They also reviewed the Slovenian-Qatari partnership in various fields with plans to develop them and broaden horizons, especially with the promising investment opportunities for both countries and cooperation in energy.
In January 2015, President Pahor visited Doha to attend the opening of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship. H H the Amir received him in New York on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021. This was followed by Pahor’s visit to Doha in March this year, where he reiterated that his country was keen to develop and strengthen cooperation relations with Qatar, especially considering Qatar’s regional and global position.
Over the years, the trade volume between the two countries has seen a significant increase, and there are ongoing talks to link the Slovenian port of Koper, which also serves most of the Balkans, with the Doha Port.
Qatar and Slovenia are linked by several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering the bilateral cooperation in various areas, including economy, health, sports, culture, air services, avoidance of double taxation, joint news exchange between QNA and the News Agency of Slovenia, in addition to a protocol for consultation between the foreign ministries of the two countries and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in tourism.
