Slovenia objects to Styrian anthem in Austrian constitution
Slovenia hopes the provincial government of Styria will abandon the plans to enshrine the provincial anthem that speaks about Styrian territory stretching well beyond the borders of modern-day Austria in the provincial constitution, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said in an interview with the Austrian press agency APA.
She said a decision to enshrine the anthem Dachsteinlied in the provincial constitution would be unacceptable and could be interpreted by Slovenia as a territorial claim, the minister, who paid a visit to Vienna on Friday, said in the interview, CE Report quotes STA.
Fajon said that the plans of the provincial government of Styria led by the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) benefited noone. "I hope they will change their mind before the vote (in the provincial parliament)."
"We are living in a very tense geopolitical environment and we need neighbourly relations and moves that benefit both nations," she stressed.
The minister noted that Slovenia had conveyed its regret about this intention to Austria through diplomatic channels.
"I also discussed this with my colleague Beate Meinl-Reisinger at the meeting on Friday and we will see what happens when the vote comes," Fajon said, adding that this was not the most important topic of her visit to Vienna.
Observers believe the issue hinders the long-standing cooperation between Slovenia and Styria, APA reported.
Fajon said that the next meeting of the joint committee of Slovenia and Styria is scheduled for autumn. "We have time until then to see what the next steps will be," she said.
In line with the plans of the Styrian provincial government, which is made up of the FPÖ and the People's Party (ÖVP) after the November 2024 elections, the anthem Dachsteinlied should be enshrined in the provincial constitution. The anthem is controversial because its lyrics, which date back to the 19th century, describe the territory of Styria as extending to the banks of the Sava and the Drava rivers, the area of present-day Slovenia, and use the outdated term Vendi to refer to the local population, APA said.
