Minister Križanič at the Embassy

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1 EMBASSY NEWSLETTER Minister Križanič at the Embassy MINISTER KRIŽANIČ AT THE EMBASSY SLOVENIAN GENERAL ELECTION ON DECEMBER 4 SLOVENIANS REMEMBER LOJZE SLAK EURO NIGHT 2011 IBS INTL BUSINESS SCHOOL LJUBLJANA THE REBIRTH OF RIMSKE TERME THERMAL SPA FAREWELL TO NEJA LIST TO DO Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW Washington, D.C , USA T: Along with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington organized, within the framework of its economic diplomacy activities, an event to introduce Slovenia as a great investment opportunity as well as a fantastic vacation destination. The event was organized jointly with the Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group (WIPG), composed of high-ranking officials in the business and trade association communities, as well as staff members of various U.S. government agencies, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives, all of whom share a strong interest in international affairs. The main speaker was the Minister of Finances, Franc Križanič, who talked about current euro zone challenges and actions of euro countries to overcome them.

2 Ambassador Roman Kirn presented the investment opportunities in Slovenia, while Maša Šiftar de Arzu offered a virtual tour of Slovenian most attractive tourist locations. At the end, the guests were able to enjoy Slovenian culinary delights and wine, where, once more, potica (walnut roll cake) was the star of the night. POLITICS Slovenian General Election on December 4 After the National Assembly last week voted out the Prime Minister s cabinet, Slovenian President Danilo Türk said Wednesday he would dissolve the parliament effective on October 21, a month after the government lost a confidence vote. Since Slovenia s declaration of independence in 1991, the National Assembly thus far voted out two cabinets. In both cases, a PM-designate was appointed to form a new government. This time, however, a new PM-designate was not proposed by the given deadline either by any of the political parties, or at least 10 MPs, or by the president. As a result, Slovenians will be casting their ballots in the first snap election in Slovenia s history on December 4. This will be the sixth general election in Slovenia where parties and groups of voters will enter the battle for the 90 seats in the parliament, which will be allocated according to a proportional representation system. The elections will also be held at certain Slovenian embassies abroad. The list of candidates and voting places will be provided in the weeks before the elections. 2

3 Slovenians Remember Lojze Slak Lojze Slak, one of Slovenia s most popular folk music accordionists and bandleaders, who also helped popularize the Slovenian style of polka music outside of Slovenia, mostly in the United States, died on September 29 at age 79. Slak was born in 1932 in the village of Jordankal in the Dolenjska region of Slovenia. Inspired by his uncle Ludvik, he began playing the accordion at the age of seven. At fifteen, he began playing at weddings and other events as a solo performer and then in a group called Lojze Slak Trio. CULTURE bass) and Stane (clarinet). In 1964, during a performance on the Ljubljana public radio, he met the singing group Fantje s Praprotna, which gave a birth to one of Slovenia s best known and most influential music ensembles Lojze Slak Band. A significant change in his career came in 1957, when he appeared in a solo performance on a radio talent show Pokaži, kaj znaš!, at which he impressed both the general public and professional musicians. Two years later, he started playing with his brothers Tone (trumpet), Matija (double In his later years, he tried to bring the folk music closer to the young generations by working together with rock bands, like Big Foot Mama. His four hundred original music works and numerous adaptations include a number of hits and evergreens, like Raj pod Triglavom, Mama, Srečno, mlada Slovenija, Svatje že vriskajo and others. His adaptation V dolini tihi is one of the twenty biggest Slovenian hits of all times. Slak toured regularly in the United States, most frequently in the Cleveland area, as he was widely popular among Slovenian Americans and broader audiences. 3

4 Euro Night 2011 For the fourth year in a row, the European embassies in Washington, D.C. gathered to celebrate the Euro Night. More than 20 European Union embassies each showcased its respective culture, traditions and culinary specialties at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France on September 23. CULTURE Around 1500 visitors enjoyed live music from various artists and danced to the electric sounds by Spanish DJ Digital 21, while taking a tour around Europe and feasting on national dishes and drinks from open bars. Slovenian representatives dressed in national costumes promoted Slovenia with various rich brochures on our country and tourism, including hiking trips, amazing wine routes and spa resorts. Guests could also taste a bit of Slovenia -- two versions of our famous potica were served one filled with cottage cheese and raisins and the other with a walnut and cocoa filling. The embassy s intern Laura Čepin impressed visitors by wearing the national costume of the Gorenjska region. IBS International Business School Ljubljana offers two new study programs for students - International Business with Foreign Languages (English, German, and other) and International Business with Sustainable Development. The program allows the students to listen to lectures by professors with high academic degrees, who also teach at other Slovenian and foreign universities such as University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IBS International Business School Ljubljana University of Primorska (all in Slovenia), Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, Jammu University in India, Kauno Kolegija in Kaunas, Lithuania, Munich Business School in Germany, and Pacific University in Hawaii to name a few. Individual teaching approach and small group courses are one of the core characteristics of these study programs. IBS also offers distance learning program. 4

5 TOURISM The Rebirth of Rimske Terme Thermal Spa The Rimske Terme spa is a newly established tourist destination with an emphasis on business, wellness and spa programs. With the motto The wealth of the past for the challenges of the present, the spa, the oldest thermal spa in Slovenia, invites guests to its completely renovated premises as it reopens its doors after 65 years. The resort was officially opened on May 27, 2011, by the Slovenian Prime Minister, Borut Pahor. With its sophisticated, thoughtful and tasteful design, reflecting an architectural sensitivity to its historical heritage, the modern resort and thermal spa in Rimske Toplice, located along the right bank of the Savinja River between Laško and Zidani Most, wishes to attract the most discerning guests, like those who used to visit the spa in the past. The numerous quotes in Latin by the sages and philosophers of ancient Rome in the corridors and rooms of the spa are an eternal reminder to us of the need to constantly restore the integrity and inner harmony of the human body, mind and soul. The reconstruction of the thermal spa is a story created by six successive governments and several ministries that has finally and successfully been brought to an end. Moreover, the project implementation was so precise and in compliance with all the required rules that the spa could easily obtain its ISO certification. The costs of the reconstruction of the thermal spa, carried out by the company, Rimske terme d.o.o., owned by a consortium of eight companies and the state, amount to 48.5 million, financed in part by 7 million in EU grants. Rimske terme, divided in the 4-star Rimski Dvor and Sofijin Dvor complexes and the 3-star Zdraviliški Dvor complex, includes 357 beds in 190 accommodation units, as well as a business and convention center, rehabilitation premises with large wellness premises and a thermal section. Its offer ranges from relaxation programs to renting conference halls. 5

6 The beneficial features of the springs around the spa were known already to the Romans, who gave the name to the spa (Roman Baths) by building the first pools in 39 BC. More information about the special offers of Rimske Terme thermal spa is available on: Another one of us, Neja, whom many of you knew personally, ended her tenure with the embassy and left Washington. Besides coediting the weekly Embassy Newsletter, she was a great addition to the embassy staff. As a cultural and public diplomacy officer she was involved in cultural and other promotion of Slovenia in the United States through various events in the embassy as well as on wider European level. We hope she has the chance to see as much world as possible and wish her all the best on her new path. ANNOUNCEMENTS Farewell to our Colleague Neja Brglez 6

7 LIST OF EVENTS List To Do 1. FDI Summit Slovenia 2011 The Slovenia Times, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy and Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI), is organizing a two-day business summit devoted to the foreign investment environment. As a business networking event, the FDI Summit Slovenia 2011 is an executive-level business conference devoted to the investment environment and opportunities in Slovenia. As such, it offers an outstanding opportunity for networking with the leading business people in the region, top government officials, existing international investors in Slovenia and those interested in entering the Slovenian market and develop their business in the country and the wider region. Where: Grand Hotel Union in Ljubljana, Slovenia When: October 12 to 14, 2011 For more information about the Summit please visit: 2. Wine Tour in Slovenia The tour leaders from Knoxville, Lydia Pulsipher, Professor of Geography, author, and Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia, and her husband, Mac Goodwin, archaeologist, author, and a lover of Slovene wines for over 18 years are organizing a Slovenian Wine Tour. Together with friends of Slovenia they will visit several vineyards and winemakers. When: October 16 through October 28, 2011 More info: web.me.com/macgoodwin/wine_tour_in_slovenia/slovenia_wine_tour.html 3. New Exhibition River Slovenia, with its beautiful rivers, is a paradise for everyone: those looking to relax and the ones seeking more challenging outdoor adventures. Exhibtion features a set of photographs by Jaka Vinšek, a young but very successful Slovenian photographer. When: Ongoing - December 31, 2011 Where: Embassy of Slovenia, 2410 California St., NW, Washington, DC More info: (202) The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington., is available on: Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: vwa@gov.si, Editor: Maša Šiftar de Arzu 7