Austrian Ambassador to Slovenia Clemens Koja and Ivan Olip, president of the Klagenfurt-based Slovenian publisher Mohorjeva družba, gave the books to Center Korak, the Slovenian Karitas, the Slovenian Association of Friends of the Youth, and the Social Chamber of Slovenia, among others.

The aim of the event "Podarjamo knjige" (Books as a gift) is to make Slovenian books accessible to everyone, according to the Austrian Embassy in Ljubljana.

As the project was launched in 2002, books were being donated to primary schools, libraries and parishes. In recent years, however, Slovenian NGOs across the country and abroad have also become book recipients.

Ambassador Koja said he was happy to see this year's event coincide with the week of Slovenia's Culture Day. He believes the event shows the importance of reading culture and book accessibility.

Olip, speaking on behalf of Mohorjeva družba, said that the publisher had proudly contributed to the event for many years in order to promote the Slovenian language and culture.

The charity event has been taking place each year since 2002 and is a joint effort of Austria and Mohorjeva družba from Austria's Klagenfurt. Some 50,000 Slovenian books have so far been given to various Slovenian NGOs, amounting to more than EUR 750,000, the embassy said.

Text: STA/G.M.