Ambassador Kirn visits Cleveland, Ohio

On December 9-10, 2009, Slovenian Ambassador to the United States Mr. Roman Kirn visited Cleveland, Ohio, home to the largest Slovenian population outside of Slovenia. Upon his arrival, Ambassador Kirn visited Lutheran Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital, whose President and CEO is Slovenian Clevelander Dr. David Perse, M.D. At Lutheran Hospital, Ambassador met with a small group of leaders from Cleveland's Slovenian community who presented the work of their respective Slovenian-American organizations. Ambassador Kirn discussed Slovenia's development and its positive attitude towards Slovenians living outside of Slovenia's borders, explaining that the Slovenian government is one of few governments around the world that employs a Minister specifically for its citizens living abroad. Ambassador Kirn stressed the importance of unity among the Slovenian community and encouraged the participants, representing a variety of organizations, to work together for the common goal of preserving Slovenian culture and heritage in Cleveland.

Later that evening, Ambassador Kirn and Mrs. Jovana Kirn were guests of honor at the Slovenian Independence and Unity Day reception conducted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland, at the Slovenian Museum and Archives. As the evening's main speaker, Ambasador Kirn addressed an audience of 130 which, included members from the Slovenian community, along with leaders in business, educational and civic life. Ambassador Kirn discussed the long and prosperous journey that Slovenia has made, from her decision to become independent to her present-day situation of relative success and prosperity. He gave thanks for the significant contributions that the Cleveland-Slovenian community made in helping Slovenia along her journey.

The following morning, December 10, Ambassador Kirn was welcomed by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cleveland City Councilman of Slovenian decent, Michael Polensek, at City Hall. Ambassador Kirn thanked the City of Cleveland for its ongoing support of the significantly-sized Slovenian community in Cleveland. Ambassador extended an invitation to Mayor Jackson to visit Slovenia, and his proposal was enthusiastically accepted.