Slovenia remembers this year the first international recognitions of Slovenia's status as

an independent state. On 15 January 1992, the European Community, the forerunner of

today's European Union, recognised the Republic of Slovenia. A door opened to

recognitions which began flooding in from all over the world, and Slovenia finally joined

the international community on 22 May 1992 by becoming the 176th UN Member State.

Today, Slovenia has established diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries.

Israel officially recognized Slovenia on 16th April 1992 and on 28th April of the same

year the countries signed the Protocol establishing diplomatic relations.

For the past twenty years, the Foreign Ministry has helped build Slovenia's international

visibility, resulting in its membership to the EU, NATO and OECD, the Presidency of the

UN Security Council, the European Council and the Council of Europe, its accession to

the euro and Schengen areas, and its activities within numerous international

structures.

Slovenia aims to remain active in the international community and to continue

defending its historic, geographic, economic, political and national interests.