Israel opens first embassy in Slovenia as relations improve
Sa'ar announced the opening of the embassy after the Janša government were sworn in in June
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar opened the new Israeli Embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday.
This is the first time Israel will have a resident embassy in the country, and it is the fifth embassy Israel has opened in the last year and a half.
Sa'ar announced Israel's intention to open an embassy in Slovenia after the new Janez Janša government was sworn in earlier this year. The previous government had declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persona non grata and threatened to arrest him.
Janša has made efforts to repair the relationship since being sworn in in June and has lifted all restrictions imposed by the previous government.
In addition to diplomats, business leaders were also present in an effort to repair trade and economic relations.
"After a long period of less intensive political contacts, it is time to shift cooperation between Slovenia and Israel into a higher gear," Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer told reporters at the event.