Colorado National Ambassador Kirn’s Slovenian Team Guard Commander Lecture on Third Visits Slovenia Cultural Diplomacy at RAAM page 2 > page 3 > page 6 > NEWSLETTER JUNE 29, 2012, VOLUME 8, NUMBER 26 Slovenia Celebrates National Day On Monday, June 25, Slovenia celebrated its National Day, marking June 25, 1991, when the Slovenian Assembly passed the Basic Constitutional Charter and the Declaration of Independence. President of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk addressing the main ceremony on Congress Square in Ljubljana. The documents were passed on the basis of a plebiscite held in December coalition. Three months later, Yugoslav People’s Army, which 1990, in which 88.2% of the DEMOS adopted a declaration marched into Slovenia in an electorate opted for a break with of Slovenia’s sovereignty, which attempt to secure Yugoslavia’s the Socialist Federal Republic of envisaged the adoption of a borders with Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia. Constitution within a year. Hungary. This was the outset of However, the fi rst major step Independence, however, a brief war for independence, toward independence was the was offi cially declared at a which ended on July 7, 1991, multi-party elections in April June 25, 1991, ceremony in the when Slovenia pledged in an 1990, which were won by a square in front of the parliament E.U.-brokered declaration to coalition of newly emerged building. Just hours later, the delay the implementation of its parties associated in the DEMOS new state was attacked by the independence for three months. Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOembassyUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si When the moratorium expired in October 1991, the Yugoslav troops left Slovenia and the country introduced its own currency. Slovenia became a full-fl edged UN member in May 1992 and joined the E.U. and NATO in 2004. On the occasion of Slovenian National Day, President Dr. Danilo Türk addressed the main ceremony that took place on Friday, June 22 on Congress Square in Ljubljana. President Türk stated that Slovenia is capable of intelligent and sober solutions to overcome the current economic, social and President of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk and Mrs. Türk, Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez political crisis, but fi nding sound Janša and Mrs. Janša, President of the Constitutional Court Dr. Ernest Petrič and the fi rst common solutions and a common Prime Minister of an independent Slovenia Lojze Peterle and Mrs. Peterle attending the ceremony on June 22, 2012. path forward for economic growth and development is possible only Slovenian traditional folk songs Slovenia has been an advocate of hand in hand with all Europeans and dances. democratic values and a promoter featuring solidarity, social cohesion The United States of freedom and human rights and giving opportunities to the congratulated Slovenia on its around the world, especially younger generation. National Day in a cable sent by in Kosovo and Afghanistan. In The artistic program of the U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary only two decades, Slovenia has the evening was performed by Rodham Clinton. Writing on behalf become a reliable partner in Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra of the U.S. President, Barack NATO and other international and numerous folk groups from Obama, Clinton wished Slovenia a organizations and a role model for across the country involving over continuation of peace, prosperity other countries that aspire to be 250 performers that presented and success. Clinton stressed that successful democracies. STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Colorado National Guard Commander Visits Slovenia Slovenia’s Defense Gen. Edwards also Minister Aleš Hojs met on traveled to the town of Pivka, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, with where one of the most important the Commander of the Colorado relics from the Slovenian war National Guard, Major General of independence, the fi rst Michael Edwards, who is visiting helicopter of the Slovenian Slovenia. Edwards, accompanied Territorial Defense (TO), was by the Chief of the Slovenian put on display. General Staff, Brigadier Dobran Božič, also stopped over at the Ljubljana barracks. During the visit to the barracks, Minister of Defense Aleš Hojs welcom Edwards inspected a memorial ing Major General Michael Edwards. room dedicated to Slovenia’s Slovenia has been building up a partner cooperation in international relationship and cooperation with Colo rado National Guard since 1993. missions abroad. JUNE 29, 2012, PAGE 2 AMBASSADOR’S AGENDA Ambassador Kirn Lectures at the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy, themed “A Global Dialogue about Cultural Diplomacy, National Security and Global Risks”, took place in Washington, DC, June 26th 28th, 2012, featuring lectures and discussions on international relations and cultural studies provided by a diverse group of renowned speakers from across the world As one of the keynote symposium speakers, the Ambassador of Slovenia, Roman Kirn, discussed the risk and challenges of a small country in a reshaped global world. stated that every fragmentation neighbor relations, regional Ambassador Kirn outlined brings a chance for new cooperation, and effective to the attentive audience integrations into entities that multilateralism. Slovenia’s history and its pathway enable national’s identity and Following the lecture, in the process to independence scope of opportunities to Ambassador Kirn participated as well as emphasized grow. Facing global challenges, in a Q&A session as well as met Slovenia’s aspirations for the endeavors of each independent with Mark C. Donfried, Director values of Western civilization, country in particulary small ones and Founder of the Institute for democratization, freemarket should start aiming at effi cient Cultural Diplomacy (ICD), based economy, and human rights. He domestic governance, good in Berlin, Germany. BUSINESS Promoting Foreign Direct Investment The Slovenian (STB) into a new agency. the implementing agencies Government approved the The decision was made of the JAPTI, TIA (Slovenian Act Amending the Promotion out of necessity to eliminate Technology Agency) and STB of Foreign Direct Investment the duplication of tasks and into a new agency is to improve and Internationalization of optimize the work of institutions the promotion of, and ensure Enterprises Act, which will by bringing together similar effective support and promotion combine the institutions activities, enabling greater of, technological development implementing the policies of the transparency and closer and innovation. For companies, Public Agency of the Republic of integration of work processes, this will mean that they will have Slovenia for Entrepreneurship which will also result in lower a single contact point at the and Foreign Investment (JAPTI), business costs. national level for enquiries and and the Slovenian Tourist Board The aim of combining information. JUNE 29, 2012, PAGE 3 CULTURE Slovenian Artist Questions Role of Art in New York In what is a reference to “Fountain” at the Exhibition of Martin Luther’s 500yearsold Independent Artists 95 years theses on the Church, Slovenian ago, Kočica has been trying to artist Jiri Kočica has posted fi x “my 95 Theses on Art” on 95 theses on art on the doors the doors of galleries that would of three New York galleries, allow this act of “artfaith.” questioning the role of modern Lesley Hellen Workspace art in light of political and social Gallery was the fi rst place where changes. the project “95 Theses on Art” The project is dedicated was introduced to the public on to requestioning the purpose June 6, 2012. The theses are of contemporary art in our currently posted also on the civilization that became part of doors of BOSI and MC, while the the philosophical discourse after artist would like to post them the invention of the readymade also on the doors of galleries (Duchamp, Danto) and after across the world and organize conceptualism. The artist’s idea panels on the questions raised is that the philosophical systems, by the theses. Kočica and his “95 Theses On Art” at Le which underlay contemporary Kočica was born in 1966 sley Heller Workspace Gallery. art, are not much different from in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. systems of beliefs and religious Apart from Slovenia, he has the University of Maribor. Over promises about ends and exhibited in Austria, the United the years, he has successfully meanings of life. States, Ireland and Bosnia intertwined his pedagogical Just as Martin Luther had Herzegovina. He currently works and artistic work in the form fi xed 95 theses on the doors of as professor of design and of workshops, exhibitions and the Wittenberg church almost decoration at the High School for articles on the theory of art, 500 years ago and Duchamp Interior Decoration in Ljubljana published in various books and wanted to place his urinal and as assistant professor at journals. CULTURE 20th Lent Festival Begins Slovenia’s largest open- across Maribor through July 7. Backstage), which is expected air festival, the Lent Festival, is The action on the main to be attended by some 40 marking its 20th anniversary this stage on the Drava river will open festival directors, as well as the year. Starting on Friday, June 29, with a concert by the Indexi band StandUpFest symposium for Lent will bring over 1,200 events with guests, and will also feature stand-up artists. to the city of Maribor, including performances by acclaimed According to programming concerts by American singer- Slovenian artists like Zoran Predin, head of the EPK project, Mitja songwriter Macy Gray, reggae Vlado Kreslin, and Magnifi co. Čander, Lent will be the peak of group Jamaican Legends and jazz The Folkart folklore festival Maribor’s cultural offering at the legends John Scofi eld, Erik Truffaz will feature groups from Peru, end of June, while it will attract and Dhafer Youssef.