In her speech, the Slovenian Ambassador Tamara Weingerl Požar stressed that Slovenia and Greece enjoy excellent relations that started more than 30 years ago and are close partners in the EU and in NATO. Not only politics, but also interpersonal contacts link the two countries. She underlined that Slovenians and Greeks are attached through a name, which holds a lot of symbolism for the Greeks – Kapodistrias. The ancestors of the first Governor of Greece Count Ioannis Kapodistrias came from Koper (Capodistria), one of the most important Slovenian cities with a large port "Luka Koper", the shortest logistical link to Central Europe.

The two countries are also linked through music and the wonderful Duo Basili-Kosovinc. The duo is united by the desire to explore music from different periods and is looking for new ways of musical expression in the field of contemporary classical music. In their repertoire, it focuses on classical compositions, contemporary works and the works of Timotej Kosovinc, who is also a composer himself.

Cellist Cristina Basili, who lives in Austria, comes from a Greek musical family. She studied in Switzerland, US and Austria. She is a laureate of many cello competitions and regularly performs at concerts as a soloist or member of various chamber ensembles throughout Europe and America.

Timotej Kosovinc is a Slovenian guitarist and composer. He studied composition and guitar in Vienna. In his works, he stands out with a unique combination of classical and modern compositional techniques with musical material from the field of popular music. Kosovinc is the recipient of numerous prizes from guitar and composition competitions.

The duo played a varied programme of classical music (Mendelssohn, Bach, Piazzola), but also the works of Timotej Kosovinc. We could also hear the well-known Slovenian Avsenik song "Slovenija, od kod lepote tvoje" arranged by Timotej Kosovinc and the Greek song " Άστα τα μαλακιά σου" arranged by Cristina Basili and Timotej Kosovinc.

The sonata for cello and guitar of Radamés Gnattali was dedicated to the victims of the Tempi accident, with which the musicians and the Embassy expressed their sympathy to the families that lost their loved ones in the terrible tragedy. Despite the sad and difficult times through which the Greek society is undergoing, this music evening is about hope, friendship and unity, stressed the Ambassador. She concluded with some words in Greek: "Αυτή η μουσική βραδιά είναι για την ελπίδα, την φιλία και την ενότητα." 

In the name of the Municipality of Piraeus, Ms Irene Daifà, the Deputy Mayor, addressed the introductory words.