Bled Strategic Forum to be held on 31 August as one-day event
Running under the title Challenges and Opportunities in the Post-COVID-19 World; Neighbours - Regions - Global World: Partners or Rivals?, the conference will be organised as a hybrid event. A high-level segment will take place in Bled while some discussions will be held online.
The decision to combine online and in-person events is due to the expectation that some coronavirus-related restrictions will continue to apply, especially social distancing recommendations, making it difficult to host large events indoors.
However, the organisers say the strong digital component "will open the possibility of online participation allowing us to host speakers who are unable to travel to Bled in person, and to stimulate virtual audience engagement".
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksander Geržina said that two major panels were planned - one with prime ministers and one with foreign ministers. Invitations were sent last week and the event will focus on Europe and the US, he added.
The Bled Strategic Forum has in recent years been organised as a two-day event in early September preceded by several days of sessions in the Young BSF segment.