The Trieste-based journal was launched in 1966 and was an important medium of democratic dialog, which was impossible in Slovenia at a time when the country was a part of Yugoslavia. Participating in the symposium were contributors to and contemporaries of Zaliv, as well as friends of Boris Pahor, along with students and connoisseurs of his work.

Important intellectuals representing the Slovenian community in neighboring countries were frequently published in Zaliv, as were writers from Slovenia itself – the latter usually under pseudonyms. Nowadays, Zaliv is best remembered for a scandal that was one of the key topics at today's symposium. In 1975, Zaliv published a brochure marking the 70th birthday of Edvard Kocbek. The publication contained an interview of Kocbek by Boris Pahor and Alojz Rebula. Kocbek spoke about the killings of the Home Guards after World War II and triggered a controversy that has not died down to this day. The Yugoslav authorities at the time reacted forcefully to the article and ended up jailing two Zaliv contributors -- Franc Miklavčič and Viktor Blažič.

The social event honoring the writer continued in the Tivoli Park, where a statue of Boris Pahor was unveiled. It stands not far from a statue of Edvard Kocbek; the proximity symbolizes the friendship between the two writers.

Staša Grahek (RA SLO)
Translated by J. B.