eNEWSLETTER EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF IN TEL AVIV July – August 2017

HAPPENING NOW

Mrs. Miriam Steiner Aviezer - recipient of Medal for Merits of the Republic of Slovenia

On July 5, 2017, Mrs. Steiner Aviezer received the Medal of Merits for her work related to the remembrance of the Slovenian righteous and their brave humanitarian acts to save Jews during the Holocaust. Mrs. Steiner Aviezer received the Medal from the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr.

Photo:Borut Pahor/facebook.com

Change of diplomats at the Embassy

Mrs. Darja Ferlež, Deputy Head of Mission, completed her term at the Embassy of Slovenia in Tel Aviv and returned to Slovenia. Mr. Blaž Masle is taking the position of the Deputy Head of Mission as of August 1, 2017.

Mrs. Darja Ferlež and Mr. Blaž Masle. Photos: VTA

1 Meet Blaž Masle:

Dear Friends of the Embassy, A few days ago, I joined the team of the Slovenian Embassy in Tel Aviv, replacing Mrs. Darja Ferlež upon completion of her term. Let me briefly introduce myself. I graduated and obtained my MA in international relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana. I started my career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Division for Africa, Middle East, Asia and Oceania, where I was, among other things, a desk officer for Israel during the Slovenian EU Presidency. Afterwards, I served at Slovenian embassies abroad - first in Budapest and then in Cairo. After returning to Slovenia, I worked in the Division for International Organizations, where I was responsible for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). At the Embassy of Slovenia in Tel Aviv, I will be in charge of political, consular, economic, scientific and cultural affairs and other diplomatic tasks. I will try my best to contribute to further enhance the cooperation and relations between Slovenia and Israel. I look forward to working in Israel and to our cooperation in the upcoming years. Blaž Masle

SLOVENIA IN ISRAEL

Signing the Agreement between Slovenia and Israel

On August 16, 2017 Ambassador of Slovenia to Israel Ms Barbara Sušnik and Ambassador of Israel to Slovenia Mr Eyal Sela signed the Agreement between Slovenia and Israel on gainful activities for family members of a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post. The signed Agreement will offer possibilities for family members of diplomats to work in the receiving country.

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik and Ambassador Eyal Sela. Photo: MFA, Jerusalem

Role of Women in Peace Process event at Knesset

On 19 July 2017, Ambassador of Slovenia Barbara Sušnik participated at the Knesset's event on The Role of Women in Peace Process, organised by Heads of the parliamentary Women's Lobby for Peace and Security MK Ksenia Svetlova and MK Michal Rozin.

The event was prepared in cooperation with Women Wage Peace Movement. Ambassador Sušnik presented, as one of the speakers, what Slovenia is doing in terms of gender equality and women empowerment in peace and security. Among other

2 speakers were Ambassadors of Ireland Alison Kelly and of Cyprus Thessalia Salina Shambos, as well as many Members of Knesset, including MK Tzipi Livni, MK Yakov Perry, MK Esawi Frej, and representatives of Women Wage Peace.

Ambassador of France, Ms. Helen Le Gal, Ambassador of Slovenia Ms.Barbara Sušnik and Ambassador of Ireland, Ms. Alison Kelly at Knesset. Photo: VTA

Visit to Ghetto Fighters' Museum

LT: Mr. Blaž Masle, DCM, Ambassador Ms. Barbara Sušnik, Mrs. Raya Kalisman and Mr. Itai Bar at Ghetto Fighters museum. Photos: VTA

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik and the Deputy Head of Mission Blaž Masle visited the Ghetto Fighters' Museum on 9 August 2017. The Director of External Relations Raya Kalisman, who is also a Founder of the Center for Humanistic Education and Itai Bar explained the concept and mission of the Museum, and presented the exhibitions. The ways of possible cooperation were discussed, particularly related to life and contribution of the Slovenian righteous, as well as other educational initiatives.

The Ghetto Fighters' Museum is the first Holocaust museum in the world, and the first of its kind founded by Holocaust survivors. It is located near Akko in the Western Galilee and is well-connected within the community, particularly the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz.

MA degree in Child Development Program at Haifa University

On 27 July 2017, Ambassador Barbara Sušnik attended the Master Degree Graduation Ceremony for international students at the University of Haifa. Aljoša Rudaš from Roma community in Slovenia was awarded MA degree in Child Development Program.

3 The certificates were presented by Avi Sagi- Schwartz, Professor of Psychology and Child Development, Director of Center for the Study of Child Development, and Academic Head of International MA Program in Child Development; and by Gustavo S. Mesch, Professor of Sociology and Rector of University of Haifa.

MA Graduate Aljoša Rudaš with prof. Avi Sagi-Schwartz and Rector Prof. Gustavo S. Mesch, Photo: VTA

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik with prof. Avi Sagi- Schwartz, Director of Child Development Program, and Rector prof. Gustavo S. Mesch. Photo: VTA

SPORTS

Football Champions League – fourth round Slovenia's NK and Israel's Hapoel Beersheba

The first match between Slovenia's NK Maribor and Israel's Hapoel Beersheba on 16 August at Turner stadium in Israel created a strong buzz and high expectations for the city of Beersheba and its football club. The match presented an unprecedented opportunity for Israel to take part at the UEFA Champions League. The score: Hapoel Be'er Shebba B.C. - NK Maribor in BeerShebba 2:1

Photo from the first game in Beersheba. Photo: VTA The second match took place on 22 August in Maribor, Slovenia at Stadium. 600 Beersheba fans went to Maribor! The score NK Maribor – Hapoel Beersheba in Maribor 1:0 was not enough for BeerSheba to pass and NK Maribor was moving ahead in the UEFA Champions League! Good Luck!

4 Elan to make purple skis in tribute to Maribor

Slovenian sports goods manufacturer Elan has decided to celebrate Maribor's progress to the UEFA Champions' League with a limited edition of slalom skis in the purple colour of the club's jersey. Designed by the Slovenian agency Gigodesign, a limited series of Elan SLX skis will be available at the start of the upcoming season. The company said the skis were a "tribute to the enviable success story that brought Maribor to the Champions League for the third time ". Source: www.sta.si

ECONOMY

Economic situation in Slovenia remains favorable

The economic situation in Slovenia remains favorable at the start of the second half of 2017, resulting in further improvements in the labor market situation . The number of people in work has in recent months reached similar levels to those at the start of 2007. At the end of June there were 15% fewer registered unemployed than a year previously and businesses are expecting further growth in employment in the coming months. Activity is increasing in most sectors this year and Source: http://www.vlada.si 21.07.2017 prospects remain favorable. Photo: Mostphotos

TOURISM

The first half of 2017 predicts a record-breaking tourist season

In the first six months of 2017, 15% more tourist arrivals and 12% more overnight stays were recorded in tourist accommodations than in the same period of the previous year. The number of overnight stays is nearing 5 million. The number of foreign tourist arrivals in the first half of 2017 increased by 19% (more than 1.3 million) and of their overnight stays by 17% (more than 3 million). Source: http://www.stat.si

5 Hot Tourist Attraction in the Loka Valley: A Bear Safari

The Loška Valley is full of tourists from all over the world these days. They have unexpectedly discovered places at the foot of Mount Snežnik, after a local named Miha Mlakar came up with a truly special tourist feature – guided tours along bear paths. You probably remember the recent video that went viral of bears happily bathing in a pool of water. The pool was created by Mlakar for the bears to quench their thirst during periods of tremendous heat. The video hit a quarter of a million views in just a few days. In 2007 Mlakar came up with the the idea to turn his hobby, bear watching, into a business. But the mills of bureaucracy grind slowly and it was only recently that the young businessmen received all the necessary permits and hunters' permission. At first, the hunters were sceptical about the idea of tourist bear watching, saying that this happening in the wilderness and not in a zoo. But Mlakar's idea became a great success. The interest is huge, especially amongst foreigners without a bear population. Bears are watched from ten posts located across a wide area from to Delnice in Croatia. Tourists watch the bears through window slits and can take photos of them. Mlakar says that his venture is not an industry. Tours take place only a couple of times a year and there are a maximum eight people in a group. The tourists have to respect numerous instructions in order not to endanger the natural environment of approximately 500 bears. It is good if you are of a patient nature – waiting to see a bear usually takes several hours. In Europe, the brown bear in his natural habitat can be encountered only in Slovenia and the huge interest in bear photo hunting is therefore not surprising. All ten watching posts are already sold out for the next two years with the greatest interest coming from Italy, Austria, Switzerland and the UK. K. S., MMC; translated by K. J. Source: http://www.rtvslo.si/news-in-english/hot-tourist-attraction-in-the-loka-valley- a-bear-safari/431153

Upper Soča Valley tourism booming

Bovec, 20 August - Local tourism organisations from the upper Soča Valley in north- western Slovenia are happy with the numbers of this summer, which significantly exceed last year's statistics. Bovec is showing a record summer season for a third year in a row, with a 44% rise in the number of overnight stays reported for the first half of the year.

6 Almost 100,000 overnight stays were recorded in July alone, which is by 22,000 more than in the same month last year. The figures for August are also expected to be better than last year.

Photo: http://www.lifeadventures.si

Castles of Slovenia- Crowns above the city

Slovenia is truly a fairy-tale country. Its landscape is dotted with castles, manor houses and fortresses that conceal stirring stories of the past behind their walls. Some castles have been renovated and converted into museums, hotels and venues for events, and many sit proudly on hilltops and offer breath-taking views.

Bled Castle. Photo: Rožle Bregar

The castles in present-day Slovenia were built in various periods of the middle Ages and in the and baroque periods, although the first traces of castle-building date from antiquity. From the tenth century onwards, several hundred castles, manor houses and great country mansions were built in the land, which, though small, was a strategically important territory.

Taking into account all existing structures, from those that have been renovated to those that lie in ruins, there are estimated to have been around 900 castle-type buildings in Slovenia over the past centuries.

Castles were built on clifftops and hilltops – wherever access was only possible from one side, which in those times made them easy to defend. From the sixteenth century onwards, manor houses and country mansions began to be built in lowland areas, while magnificent palaces began to appear in towns. All are evidence of our rich history, although this was often unkind to such buildings, since many have fallen into ruin or disappeared without trace. Well-planned and well-constructed castles, on the other

7 hand, withstood even the largest peasant revolts and enemy attacks. Many places around Slovenia are famous precisely because of their wonderful castles, today lovingly restored and a source of pride for the entire country.

Some notable castles

Ljubljana Castle , a powerful medieval fortress, dominates the skyline of Slovenia’s capital city and offers an unforgettable panoramic view of its surroundings into the far distance. It is constantly surprising us with new experiences. This year, for example, an exhibition entitled Plečnik above the City has opened at the castle to honour the memory of Ljubljana’s most famous architect. . Photo: Arne Hodalič This exhibition of Jože Plečnik’s plans for the Castle Hill, both realised and unrealised, remains on view until 1 October 2017.

Bled Castle stands on a steep cliff above Lake Bled . The image of this castle above the lake, with its romantic little island and church, is a classic view of Bled that is instantly recognisable both at home and around the world. Based on written sources, Bled Castle is the oldest in Slovenia, being first recorded in 1011. Notable features – in addition to the spectacular view – include the castle forge, print-works, Knights’ Hall and castle chapel. Many prominent world leaders and politicians have visited Bled Castle and enjoyed the unique view over the beautiful surroundings. Bled is also the venue for many traditional annual events, such as Medieval Days , a summer cultural programme held at the castle, the Bled Festival and the Okarina Festival (dedicated to folk and world music).

Predjama Castle is something unique among Slovenia’s castles: carved into a cliff and connected to the passages of a cave that lies behind and beneath it, it was built almost 800 years ago. It is the largest in the world, and has been officially recognised as such by Guinness World Records. The most famous inhabitant of the castle was the rebellious knight Erasmus of . According to legend, Erasmus defied the imperial army for more than a year. The besieging army tried to starve him out and thus crush his resistance, but thanks to a secret passage through the cave behind the castle he was never short of fresh food. Today the castle is said to be haunted by his ghost.

Celje Castle , which stands on a hill above , is the largest medieval castle in Slovenia and was once the home of the Counts of Cilli (or Celje). The latter were the

8 most important ruling dynasty to have their home and dynastic seat within the territory of present-day Slovenia. The castle offers magnificent views, while visitors also enjoy exploring the walls and other remains of this once mighty structure that altogether cover an astonishing 5,500 m². The best-known story connected to is that of the forbidden love of Frederick II of Celje for Veronica of Desenice, a noblewoman of a lower rank. The principal opponent of their relationship was Frederick’s father, Hermann II of Celje, who had his son locked up in a tower, where he remained for more than four years. Since that time the tower has been known as Frederick’s Tower. Veronica was accused of having seduced the man through witchcraft, and thus occured the first known witch trial to take place within the territory that today falls within the borders of Slovenia. Celje Castle. Photo: Matjaž Jambriško

Maribor Castle stands in the old town centre. It was built between 1478 and 1483 on the orders of Emperor Frederick III in order to fortify the north-eastern section of the city walls. The present castle is a mixture of architectural styles, reflecting the different periods of its construction. The most important room in the castle is the formal Knights’ Hall, which is decorated with frescoes by members of the Quadri family and Lorenzo Laurigo. The oval ceiling contains the scene of a cavalry battle between the Christian and Ottoman armies, painted in 1763 by Johann Gebler of Graz.

Podsreda Castle is one of the few well-preserved cultural monuments from the Romanesque period, and undoubtedly the most important in Slovenia. It was built in the first half of the twelfth century, and its medieval core survives practically whole, making it notable even at the European level. Visitors to the castle can also view an exhibition dedicated to the celebrated mathematician Jurij Vega. Podsreda Castle. Photo: Jošt Gantar

9 was first noted in written sources in 1444, although the essential features of the present Renaissance castle date from the sixteenth century. The castle’s history is marked by finds from the period of the Roman Empire, when a road ran from here towards Byzantium, and other finds from the time of the Ottoman incursions. One legend connected with Mokrice Castle tells of Countess Barbara, who was unlucky in love. Widowed at a tender age, she fell in love with a nobleman who was a great traveller and, having set off on a journey, did not return. For many years the Countess waited for him, until at last, one spring morning, her heart broke. In sorrow, she climbed to the top of the tower and threw herself into the void. According to legend, although she died her heart remained alive, and is still at Mokrice today. Every year on 4 December, the Feast of St Barbara, a cannonball rolls three times round the castle courtyard, impelled by the ghost of the unfortunate Barbara. Today Mokrice Castle is an exclusive hotel and serves as a venue for ceremonial events, conferences and other meetings, and gala receptions.

Trees and duck ponds form the wonderful backdrop to Snežnik Castle , whose origins date back at least to the thirteenth century. It is one of the two castles in Slovenia that can boast the original interiors of its last princely owners. Inside, visitors can see the reception rooms, the bedrooms of members of the household, the guest bedrooms, two dining rooms, the theatre, the private drawing room, the library, the servants’ quarters and the cellar – all with their original furnishings and fittings. The Egyptian room is an interesting curiosity. Besides original furniture, works of art, books, tiled stoves, light fixtures, carpets and a wealth of useful and decorative objects, the castle contains a fine collection of hunting trophies from the time of its last owners. Snežnik Castle. Photo: RRA Zeleni Kras d.o.o. archives

One of the oldest and best- preserved castles in Slovenia is . Its interiors mainly date from the baroque and Biedermeier periods. The castle contains a rich collection of works of art and objects of great value, that are still on view today. The castle was fully restored between 2010 and 2012 in order to conserve its cultural heritage.

10 Strmol Castle is now a hotel that offers a unique experience to its guests and serves as a magnificent setting for business meetings and private functions. Strmol Castle. Photo: Strmol Castle archives

Imposing Castle stands on a hill above the town of Ptuj, and is built on the remains of a Roman temple. Owing to its strategic position, the castle played a very important role in the Middle Ages. For centuries, the mighty fortification protected the settlement below it, while today its picturesque beauty attracts many visitors. In the seventeenth century the castle gained state rooms with rich stuccowork decoration. Today these are used to house museum material.

The origins of Brežice Castle date back to the year 1241, when Brežice was first mentioned in written sources. The castle is decorated with remarkable paintings, which experts have described as a “first-rate baroque gallery” and a “little encyclopaedia of ancient mythology”.

Brežice Castle. Photo: Iztok Medja.

Today the castle is home to the Posavje Museum, consisting of numerous collections. The winemakers Vino Brežice have been maintaining and carefully tending their noblest and most precious wines in the cellars of Brežice Castle since 1946. The castle cellar, carved into the living rock and walled with stone and brick, is the only cellar of its kind in Slovenia. The castle hosts numerous events, including the concerts of the Brežice Festival.

Text by Danila Golob

11 ENVIRONMENT

Slovenian World Bee Day initiative at UN level

The project website www.worldbeeday.org.

Since 2014 Slovenia has been carrying out numerous activities aimed at reaching observance of a World Bee Day on May 20th at UN level. The project which was initiated by the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association has received a generous endowment in support, i.e. more and more countries and other non-governmental institutions have given strong support to it.

Joint efforts made by our beekeepers and the state in the recent years have set up a wide-spread social movement in support of protecting the bees and nature, connecting producers and consumers on the local level and using the beekeeping know-how, experience and tradition when facing modern-day challenges. Moreover, we continue our common international path with the initiative to declare May 20 a World Bee Day at UN level. In proposing declaring a World Bee Day, the Republic of Slovenia endeavors to make the world public aware as much as possible of the importance of bees for humanity, especially in terms of eradication of hunger and malnutrition and preserving the environment and biodiversity.

On 6 July, 2017 The FAO, a UN organization specialized for food and agriculture, gave its official support and with it the final decision at the United Nations General Assembly until December 2017.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia

12 UPCOMING EVENTS

European Day of Jewish Culture 2017 - September 3, 2017 at Mini Theater Ljubljana

The European Day of Jewish Culture takes place all over Europe on September 3rd. At 18:00 the opening of a large exhibition “The Red cycle - inspired by the Torah" of the Slovene painter Oki Rotovnik will be held at Mini theater Ljubljana.

Vienna's tango quintet with Ronen Nissan offers an exceptional concert in Yiddish with world renowned singer Paula Barembuem at 20 pm.

Tickets for the concert: 15 EUR in advance and on the day of the concert 20 EUR. Ticket: www.mini-teater.si SPECIAL THANKS TO AUSTRIAN CULTUR FORUM, EMBASSY OF ISRAEL AND SINAGOGA MARIBOR.

Bled Strategic Forum 2017

The world is rapidly changing, with globalisation and digitalisation significantly increasing the pace of our lives and bringing us closer together than ever before, as well as presenting profound challenges to our self-perception, politics, economy, security, and society. The annual Bled Strategic Forum 2017 will address the “New Reality” we live in and seek for the answers to the pressing issues of today’s globalised world.

Providing a high-level platform for discussions, the 12th Bled Strategic Forum will take place on 4 and 5 September 2017. As a leading strategic conference in Central and South East Europe it will offer the room for exchange of ideas and concepts through the panels, round tables and one-on-one interviews in the idyllic environment of Bled, Slovenia. More at: www.bledstrategicforum.org

On 1-3 September 2017, Young Bled Strategic Forum will take place with focus on "The Environment – No Flow, No Go"

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Presidential election at the Republic of Slovenia will be held on October 22, 2017

Slovenian citizens in Israel have the possibility to vote by post. Prior registration is required by 21 September 2017. See more information at www.dvk-rs.si

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