Restoration of Primorska to the Motherland Day

The holiday commemorates the entry into force of the Treaty of Peace with Italy (one of the Paris Peace Treaties) on 15 September 1947.

From that moment on, Istria south of the Mirna River, Rijeka, Zadar and certain Adriatic islands belonged to Yugoslavia.

At the same time, Veneto, Resia, Gorizia and the Canale Valley remained outside the Yugoslav and hence Slovenian borders. Unfortunately, that still included a large portion of ethnic Slovenian territory and population.

I'am Slovenian and I will stay Slovenian

Italy had a keen appetite for Slovenian territory ever since the secret Treaty of London (1915). Thanks to its participation in the Isonzo Front, Italy acquired a large portion of western Slovenia, including the Soča Valley, Trieste, Gorizia, Trenta and Istria, through the 1920 Treaty of Rapallo. This meant 350,000 ethnic Slovenians lost their right to express their Slovenian identity and speak Slovenian.

However, they continued to preserve their culture even in those harsh times.

For all these reasons, 15 September is an important day for all Slovenians, not just those living in the Littoral. It reminds us that having one’s own state, independence and free use of Slovenian are important values that need to be respected.