He will attend a ceremony at the Russian Chapel under the Vršič mountain pass. Medvedev is also expected to hold talks with the country’s top officials.

PM Medvedev will attend the traditional ceremony at the invitation of his Slovenian counterpart Miro Cerar. Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec recently said that he hoped Medvedev’s visit will strengthen economic ties between Slovenia and Russia.

According to Erjavec, the Russian market remains crucial to the Slovenian economy. However, the Ukrainian crisis, the economic sanctions against Russia, falling crude oil prices and the tumbling rouble have dealt a blow to the economy.

Erjavec said that trade between Slovenia and Russia is down 30 percent over the previous year. Other EU countries have suffered similar losses.

The Foreign Ministry recently said that the goal of the ceremony at the Russian Chapel, whose honorary patron is PM Miro Cerar, is to send a message of peace to the international community.

A. Č.; translated by D. V.