Museums Planning Exhibition of Presidential Gifts
Some 700 gifts received by Kučan during his two terms as president (1992-2002) have found a new home in the Ljubljana-based Museum of Modern History.
Meanwhile the Military Museum, located at the Maribor barracks, holds some 700 gifts given to Drnovšek (president between 2002 and 2007) and Türk (president between 2007 and 2012).
The collection of Kučan's gifts is very diverse, according to curator Monika Kokalj Kočevar. It includes paintings, sculptures, weapons, plates, candlesticks and a number of photos of the president with foreign dignitaries.
"Each gift has a significant symbolic value and a story," said Kokalj Kočevar, adding that it was hard to assess their value.
The Maribor Military Museum has included some 100 gifts received by Drnovšek and Türk into its permanent collection. The rest is stored in museum's depot's but can nonetheless be seen by visitors.
Some of the most interesting items include a golden coin of Pope Benedict XIV and an engraved globe of Jerusalem.
The gifts received by incumbent President Borut Pahor remain in the presidential palace, while some of the smaller gifts have been donated to a Ljubljana store run by a charity association for homeless.