NEWSLETTER Slovenia Participates at La Grande Fête De La Francophonie
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Law Students ITF Director Announcements from Ljubljana Bergant Visits and Upcoming at the Embassy Washington Events page 3 > page 4 - 5 > page 8 - 13 > NEWSLETTER MARCH 27, 2015, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 06 Slovenia Participates at La Grande Fête de la Francophonie On Friday, March 27, Washington, this year from March 2015, the Embassy of France 5 until April 1. in Washington hosted perhaps Slovenia traditionally the most eagerly anticipated participates in the event due to event during “le mois de la its status as an observer at the francophonie”, La Grande Fête de International Organization of La la Francophonie. The traditional Francophonie (OIF - Organisation a cultural and promotional event, internationale de la Francophonie). which attracted around 2000 Although Slovenia is not a French- visitors, was the highlight of the speaking country, our embassy annual Francophonie Cultural recorded a large number of Festival, which takes place in visitors at the presentation of our tourist attractions and cultural characteristics. The visitors were invited to sample Slovenian traditional foods, and a lot of their attention and admiration was also devoted to the Slovenian national costume. Next to Slovenia, more than 30 embassies of member and observer states joined in presenting their culture and cuisine. Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si Slovenian booth. Guest could taste Carniolian sausages and potica. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Virginia, MN, High School Students visit the Embassy A group of twelve of a diplomatic mission. In the group also visited the White high school senior students addition to Ms. Nuška Zakrajšek, House, the Library of Congress, from Virginia, MN, and their the cultural officer, the 17- the Pentagon, and the U.S. chaperones, stopped by at and 18-year-olds were also Supreme Court, along with the embassy of Slovenia on welcomed by the Ambassador, memorials, museums and many Thursday, March 26, during their Dr. Božo Cerar, who talked other significant places. Students trip to the nation’s capital. The with them about his role as also had the opportunity to purpose of the visit was to learn the ambassador to the United meet with U.S. Senators from about Slovenia, its touristic, States, presented current topics Minnesota, Al Franken and Amy geographical, historical, in international relations and Klobuchar, who is of Slovenian economic and cultural features answered their question. ancestry and comes from the and to hear about the activities While visiting Washington, Iron Range area. MARCH 27, 2015, PAGE 2 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Law Students from Ljubljana at the Embassy On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, a group of 35 senior law students of the University of Ljubljana School of Law (Pravna fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani), accompanied by Professor Franjo Štiblar, PhD, visited the Slovenian Embassy. Students were first acquainted with some facts about the mission of the embassy and its range of activities. After the welcoming remarks by cultural and public diplomacy officer, Ms. Nuška Zakrajšek, economic the Slovenian and American Department of State as well as counselor Mr. Gorazd Renčelj foreign policy priorities and U.S. Congress. presented the main features of the bilateral relations between the two Prior to its visit to economic and trade cooperation countries. Her work in the field of Washington, the group visited New between Slovenia and the U.S. the competition law presented York City, including the Slovenian Ms. Tjaša Tanko explained to the Urška Petrovčič, who works at mission to the U.N., the New York students what kind of assistance the local consulting firm and also City Criminal Court, the New York the consular department can offer joined the debate. State Supreme Court’s Appellate to Slovenian citizens, whereas Ms. During their stay in the Division and its Civil Branch, the Petra Langerholc described her nation’s capital, in addition to law firm Seward & Kissel, LLP, and work as the political counselor. visiting the Slovenian Embassy, the U.S. Eastern District court of The discussion was also joined the group also visited the World New York. They also met with New by Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar, Bank, the International Monetary York State Judge and Surrogate who outlined basic features of Fund, the Global Legal Research Frank J. LaBuda, who explained work in the field of diplomacy, Center at the Library of Congress, to the students the American legal and answered questions about the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. system. MARCH 27, 2015, PAGE 3 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Jacqueline Widmar Stewart Presents Finding Slovenia As part of the Embassy In order to expand the The students were Adoption Program, this year, students’ knowledge about enchanted by her storytelling as the Embassy of Slovenia is Slovenia, the embassy arranged she shared with them her own bonded with the fifth graders of a lecture by American Slovenian experiences which she drew the Hearst Elementary School writer Jacqueline Widmar Stewart. upon while working on the guide. in Northwest Washington, who The purpose of her visit to the class She gave them a broader insight have been since the beginning on March 25 was to introduce her into the country’s history, culture of the school year learning work as a writer and to present and landscape, and at the end about their adoptive country, her guidebook Finding Slovenia, also presented a signed copy of Slovenia. the second book she wrote. the book to the class as a gift. ENHANCING HUMAN SECURITY ITF Director Visits the U.S. Director of International explosive remnants of war, as well profit organization devoted to the Trust Fund ITF Enhancing Human as in facilitating safe and long- elimination of threat from post- Security, Ambassador Damjan term development in the conflict- conflict and disruptive challenges, Bergant, visited Washington, D.C., affected communities. including landmines, explosive last week. He had a number of The talks have been very remnants of war (ERW) and the meetings with the representatives constructive. There has been great illicit ownership and use of small of the U.S. State Department, U. interest and a positive perspective arms and light weapons (SALW), S. House of Representatives, and expressed on continued support in Southeast Europe and other several international institutions of ITF activities from all relevant affected regions in the world. (Organization of American States, stakeholders, especially as far as Established by the World Bank, USAID). The purpose disruptive conflict and post-conflict Government of the Republic of the meeting was to strengthen issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of Slovenia in March 1998 (as cooperation and promote ITF Ukraine, and Colombia are a public entity of private law), activities in reducing threats to concerned. the ITF had as its initial purpose human security from mines and ITF is a humanitarian, non- helping Bosnia and Herzegovina MARCH 27, 2015, PAGE 4 ITF Director Bergant with Congressman Mike Turner (OH). Dir. Bergant with Amb. Adam Blackwell, Secretary for Multidimensional Security at OAS. in the implementation of the problems and helping landmine was asked by mine-affected peace agreement and to provide survivors with comprehensive countries and donors to expand assistance and support in relation rehabilitation across the region of operation to other mine-affected to post-conflict rehabilitation. Southeast Europe. As the European regions and countries. More Since its inception, ITF has Commission acknowledged ITF as information on ITF projects and expanded its activities to include the reference model of regional activities: http://www.itf-fund.si/ , the elimination of landmine organization in mine action, ITF where one can also get involved as a donor. CONSULAR AFFAIRS Two Legislative Initiatives by the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Proposed by the Chamber dopolnitvah Zakona o dohodnini) a day and hour within official of Agriculture and Forestry are If you are a Slovenian hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, two initiatives to start a legislative citizen residing in the U.S. and Thursday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, process to adopt the would like to support one or Wednesday 2:00 p.m.– 4:00 both initiatives, either of which p.m.). You can also address any - Law on the changes of and needs the support of 5,000 questions through the same additions to the Law on the verified signatures within 60 e-mail contact. changes of and additions to days (collected from March More information the Act on Farmland and Forest 27 to May 25, 2015), please, and the support sheet form Fund of the Republic of Slovenia contact the embassy’s consular are available at: http:// (Predlog zakona o spremembah office for an appointment. washington.embassy.si/index. in dopolnitvah Zakona o skladu Authentication of a php?id=814&tx_ttnews%5Btt_ kmetijskih zemljišč in gozdov signature on the support sheet news%5D=24165&tx_ttnews% Republike Slovenije) and available on the link bellow 5BbackPid%5D=813&cHash=5 needs to be done in person at 0dbaedd014390d2cfafcb66e6f0 - Law on the changes of and the embassy. Please, request 2c18. additions to the Income tax law an appointment by electronic Please note that the information (Predlog zakona o spremembah in mail at [email protected]. Suggest is in Slovene. MARCH 27, 2015, PAGE 5 TOURISM Destrnik The municipality of Destrnik stretches over the sunny Slovenian Hills (Slovenske gorice) north of Ptuj and the shallow valleys carved out by the tributaries Distinctive panorama of Destrnik. of two rivers: Pesnica on one side and Rogoznica on the chapel of St, Urban, patron In 1776, a primary school other. It is enriched by pristine saint of viticulture, on a hill with was founded in Destrnik. In 1784, natural surroundings and other an elevation of 350 m (1145 a very active priest, excellent natural and cultural heritage ft.).