Ministers Grlić Radman and Logar visit quake-hit Petrinja

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Anže Logar started his working visit to Croatia on Friday by visiting Petrinja, which was struck by a devastating earthquake on 29 December

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Anže Logar started his working visit to Croatia on Friday by visiting Petrinja, which was struck by a devastating earthquake on 29 December, and said that Slovenia is always prepared to help but that he hopes that won't be necessary in the future.

Immediately after the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Sisak-Moslavina County, Slovenia's government sent aid to Croatia - 300 sleeping bags, 100 beds, electric heaters, winter tents and 8 housing units. In addition, numerous Slovenian organisations and citizens provided help.

"Croatia is obviously located in an earthquake-prone area so I hope this sort of help will not be needed in the future, not because Slovenia wouldn't help but because we hope something like this does not happen again," said Logar.

He is the third European foreign minister to visit the earthquake-hit area, after Hungary's Peter Szijjarto and France's Jean-Yves Le Drian.

"I believe that Croatia would help us too. Even though I hope that it will never come to that, it is nice to know that you have a neighbour that will help you in times of hardship," added Logar.

The Slovenian minister said that Croatia had proven itself in managing the crisis in the aftermath of the earthquake and that one of the priorities of Slovenia's presidency of the European Union in the second half of this year would in fact be to make the EU more prepared for extraordinary situations.

Grlić Radman underlined the generous help of numerous Slovenian associations, municipalities, sports clubs, business people as well as the Slovenian Red Cross and Caritas.

He recalled that Slovenia had provided help also in the wake of the earthquake that struck Zagreb in March last year.

"Slovenia was among the first countries to express sympathies and offer concrete support and assistance. Croatia and its people greatly appreciate such solidarity from our neighbours," Grlić Radman said.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Tomo Medved, who is in charge of the task force for dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake, thanked the Slovenian minister and people for their prompt help, "an act that showed that as neighbours and friendly nations we are always there for each other, particularly in disasters and when people suffer."

Grlić Radman and Logar visited a family in Taborište, a village outside Petrinja, who received a mobile home from Slovenia. Logar said he hoped that they would need it "for as short a time as possible". The two foreign ministers then toured the quake-ravaged downtown Petrinja.

Text: Hina/MFEA

 

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