Putin to attend July ceremony at Slovenia's Russian Chapel

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed to attend a memorial ceremony at a Russian Chapel in Slovenia on July 31, state-run Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported Tuesday, quoting Slovenian President's office.

Putin accepted the invitation by Slovenian President Borut Pahor when they had a "long and open" phone conversation on Tuesday, the STA reported, quoting Pahor's office.

According to the STA report, the two presidents focused on the details of Putin's visit to the Russian Chapel, a small church built in Slovenia during the first world war to commemorate Russian prisoners of war (POWs), marking the centenary of a key memorial to Russian soldiers in Slovenia.

Pahor sent the invitation to Putin on March 14, also acknowledging in the invitation that Putin and him hold "different views" on certain important subjects, while adding that this was additional encouragement for dialogue, said the STA.

In March 1916, more than 100 Russian POWs was killed by an avalanche while building a key Vrsic mountain pass road for the supply of the Isonzo Front.

A chapel was built to remember them and Slovenians and Russians have been gathering there each year to pay their tribute as well as to foster cooperation, according to STA.

Source: XINHUA