Flag of Slovenia
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The national flag of Slovenia features three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian coat of arms located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands. The coat of arms is a shield with the image of Mount Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the centre; beneath it are two wavy blue lines representing the Adriatic Sea and local rivers, and above it are three six-pointed golden stars arranged in an inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje (Slovenian Grofje Celjski), the great Slovenian dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries.
The flag's colours are Pan-Slavic, but they were also used on older coats of arms and were considered national colours before they were first arranged on a flag in 1848 during the rise of nationalism in Europe. The ordering of colours was inspired by the Russian flag.
The flag continued to be associated with Slovenia during the country's incorporation into Yugoslavia. In 1945 a red star was placed on the flag, which was used by the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Following Slovenian independence from Yugoslavia, the star was removed and the new coat of arms was added. The flag was officially adopted on June 27, 1991.
The civil and state ensign for ships has the same design as the national flag, but a different shape (2:3 instead of 1:2). (Boats up to 24 meters use the national flag as an ensign.[1]) The naval jack is a white, blue, and yellow horizontal tricolor.
In 2004, a campaign started to partially or completely alter the flag in order to enhance Slovenia's international recognition, and especially to differentiate it from Slovakia and its flag. An eleven-striped design won the official contest. Public opinion seems to be strongly against changing the flag at the moment.
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1 Has significant territory in Asia. 2 Entirely in West Asia, but considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons. 3 Only recognised by Turkey. 4 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border between Europe and Asia.