Newsletter October 10, 2008 Page 1

The "Pittsburgh International children’s entertainers in more Current Events Festival of Firsts", organized by than 100 FREE performances all The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, around the city, taking place September 25 - November promotes the development of the October 9 - November 9, 2008. 10 - A River's Gifts: industrial city by offering a rich Mimes, storytellers, a virtual Archeological Excavation of cultural program featuring artists orchestra, bubble-blowers, and the Ljubljanica River in who are looking for new ways to puppeteers are just a few of the Photographs. Embassy of express themselves, explore new exciting acts scheduled to appear , Washington, DC. formats and develop their own during almost four weeks of vocabulary. wonderful artistic adventures – October 9 - November 9 no passport required! - Kids Euro Festival 2008: A celebration of European Arts Kids Euro Festival will feature and Culture for Kids! both in-school presentations and Washington, DC (various weekend events for the whole venues). See the article below family: performances, workshops or check the official website. etc.

Designed for children ages 6-12, * the festival will be one of the largest — if not the largest — Maribor Ballet Will Open Scene from Ballet Maribor Ballet's and most diverse in the country, International Festival in "Radio and Juliet" offered through the cooperation Pittsburgh of 27 EU embassies and more The program of the festival, than a dozen major cultural Ljubljana, October 9 - Ballet running from 10 to 25 October, institutions. company SNG Maribor will open includes several US and world an international festival in premieres and performances of Pittsburgh, PA, on Friday with artists from the UK, Spain, ballet "Radio and Juliet" by head Norway, the Netherlands and of Maribor Ballet Edward Clug. New York City.

The ballet featuring Tijuana After the US performance, Clug Krizman, Matjaz Marin, Tiberiu will visit Portugal, where the Marta, Gaj Zmavc and Christian Portuguese national ballet Guerematchi, will also be staged company Companhia Nacional de Mr. Roza on Saturday, the company said in Bailado will perform his a press release. choreography "Four Seasons" for Slovenia will be represented by the first time on 22 October at Mr. Andrej Rozman Roza and "Radio and Juliet" premiered in the Camoes theatre in Lisbon. Ms. Lila Prap. Mr. Rozman is a April 2005 and visited Belgium, poet, dramatist, and actor, who Montenegro, , Italy, Israel, often performs solo for children, Macedonia, Singapore, Serbia, Kids Euro Festival 2008 and also presents small-cast or the Netherlands, Portugal and solo performances for adults. He Croatia since. Europe comes to Washington this writes poetry, stories, and fall with an arts festival starring theatre plays for both children the most talented European and adults, and has translated

www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter October 10, 2008 Page 2

Shakespeare plays and Broadway are operating smoothly despite shows. At the festival, Mr. Roza The central bank will on Tuesday global financial turmoil. will solo dramatize an extremely release new gross domestic funny story "The Philosopher's product (GDP) growth and "All deposits and savings of Stone", excerpted from the book inflation forecasts for 2008 and private individuals are safe," it How Oscar Became a Detective. 2009. Kranjec indicated the new said, adding that the Bank of GDP growth forecast will be lower Slovenia will ensure the Ms. Prap (Lilijana Praprotnik than 4.2 percent forecast in April. necessary liquidity to the banks Zupančič) is an author of several with the instruments available picture books for children that within the European System of were translated into more than Central Banks (ESCB). 35 foreign languages. Ms. Prap will entertain the kids with her However, to reassure the book "Why?," which inspired the consumers, the Slovenian Japanese National TV to produce government decided to a series of animated cartoons. guarantee the bank deposits without limit (see the next article).

Slovenia to guarantee for Dr. Marko Kranjec, governor of the deposits without limit Bank of Slovenia Ljubljana, October 8 - Kranjec said financial crisis will Slovenia's Finance Minister make it more difficult for banks Andrej Bajuk said on Wednesday to give loans to companies the government will guarantee Ms. Lila Prap although they have no solvency for all private deposits in problems at present. Slovenian banks without limits. For more info please visit http://kidseurofestival.org/. "We have no indication so far "From today all deposits are that the financial system would guaranteed in full... This decree For appearance times and have liquidity or solvency is temporary as long as the reservations of the Slovenian problems," he said. situation will remain as it is," artists please CLICK HERE. Bajuk told reporters. He pointed out that the French EU presidency said today that the EU states will do everything to Slovenian banks have no retain stability of the financial liquidity problems system and added that "Slovenia will be no exception". Ljubljana, October 6 - The Bank of Slovenia sees a slow Kranjec said Slovenian banks down of the Slovenian economy "are significantly less as a consequence of the global endangered" compared to banks financial turmoil although in some other EU states because Dr. Andrej Bajuk, Slovenian Finance Slovenian banks so far have no the banking system in Slovenia is Minister liquidity problems, Governor less developed and did not Marko Kranjec said on Monday. operate as much with financial Slovenia guaranteed limit of derivates. 22,000 euros ($29,980) for all "The main effect of this crisis will private deposits in its banks until show [...] in lower economic The Bank of Slovenia said in a Tuesday when the European growth [in Slovenia]. We expect statement earlier on Monday that Union raised the minimum limit growth to slow down," Kranjec banks in the euro zone member to 50,000 euros. told TV Slovenia.

www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter October 10, 2008 Page 3

ESTA: Electronic System Once ESTA is mandatory, all Applications should be submitted for Travel Authorization nationals who plan to travel to no less than 72 hours prior to (republished article) the for temporary travel. The ESTA web-based business or pleasure will require system was made available for The U.S. Department of an approved ESTA prior to voluntary applications starting Homeland Security has boarding a carrier to travel by air Aug. 1, 2008. For further announced a new Electronic or sea to the U.S. under the Visa information regarding ESTA System for Travel Authorization Waiver Program. please visit the U.S. Customs (ESTA), a program that will be and Border Patrol website or U.S. utilized within the context of their To apply for authorization to Embassy in Ljubljana website. current Visa Waiver Program. travel to the United States under This will be important for any the Visa Wavier Program, Slovenian citizens planning a visit travelers will need to log on to to the U.S. after January 12, the ESTA website at 2009. https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete an online application.

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