A memorial marking 20 years of Slovenia's independence was unveiled on Sunday at the former police building of the Škofije border crossing with Italy, one of the main battlegrounds during Slovenia's independence war.

Police Commissioner Janko Goršek said that at Škofije, police officers had "symbolically marked our newly-emerging country" when on 26 June 1991 they replaced the Yugoslavia border sign with Slovenia's in what was the first such act back then.

Delivering his keynote speech, Goršek said it sometimes felt like the efforts of the Slovenian police, the Territorial Defence Force and the entire Slovenian nation at the time of independence were forgotten.

"Today, when we remember the role police officers played in the independence war, we can easily honour those that have shaped our future. There is no hero in the world who could taint the memories and no time that could erase the gratefulness for their sacrifices."

Saying the war had not avoided the western Primorsko region, Goršek touched on the events at the Škofije border crossing which saw fighting between the Slovenian police and the Yugoslav People's Army (JLA), leaving three JLA soldiers dead.

Fabio Stefe of the Sever Association said that claims of war crimes being committed at the border crossings were untrue, as the police "acted defensively, lawfully...and in line with international conventions". "We regret the deaths of the three JLA soldiers" who died due to unnecessary attacks of the Yugoslav army, he said.

The ceremony was also attended by Tomaž Gantar of the Koper municipality, MP Marijan Križman, and the head of the Trieste border police Manuela De Giorgi.

Source: STA