NEWSLETTER Ambassador Dr. Cerar Speaks at the Summit on Cross
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Embassy Slovenian Sister Cities: Adoption Delegation Piran and Program at Americanallia Indianapolis page 2 > page 3 > page 4 > NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 8, 2013, VOLUME 9, NUMBER 40 Ambassador Dr. Cerar Speaks at the Summit on Cross Continental Ambassador Dr. Cerar speaking at the event that was organized by Institute Cooperation for Cultural diplomacy from Berlin. The Washington, Božo Cerar, who spoke on the will not find better global partners DC, Summit on Cross challenges and opportunities and should, therefore, nurture the Continental Cooperation countries face in a new reality mutual trust. The bond between on the subject of »Future of transatlantic relations. the U.S. and Europe should be Prospects in International In his speech, Dr. Cerar reaffirmed and our relationship and Intercultural Relations stressed the vital importance of the rebalanced by remaining allies on Enhancing Cross & Trans transatlantic cooperation for both of choice, who continue to invest Continental Cooperation«, sides of the Atlantic. He outlined in the partnership, each bearing organized by The Institute that, at this particular moment, a fair share of burden and for Cultural Diplomacy, was there is a unique opportunity to responsibility. held November 4 to 7 and set new global standards with a His lecture was followed featured several distinguished favorable resolution of the trade by a short Q&A period, which speakers. Among them was the and investment negotiations. In encouraged a vivid discussion with Ambassador of Slovenia, Dr. his opinion, the E.U. and the U.S. the participants of the summit. 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 EMBASSY ADOPTION PROGRAM Visit of the Janney Elementary School As part of the Embassy Adoption Program, this year, the Embassy of Slovenia “adopted” a school class from the Janney Elementary School in Northwest Washington, DC. The program, offered by DC Public Schools in conjunction with the Washington Performing Arts Society, every year pairs embassies with fifth- and sixth-grade classes throughout the DC Public School (DCPS) system already since 1974. The program is designed to combine embassy officials, teachers, and students from Presenting Slovenia. participating schools in order to expand the students’ knowledge understanding of their nation’s Slovenia made their first visit to of different countries worldwide. culture. In the school year a fifth-grade class at the Janney Based on an individualized 2013/2014, the Embassy of Elementary School, where they year-long curriculum, teachers Slovenia is participating in the were warmly welcomed by both work with their students to help program already for the fifth staff and students. them learn about their adoptive year. To open the first day country, and representatives On Wednesday, of the year-long program, a from each embassy provide November 6, 2013, Nuška short movie about Slovenia monthly cultural visits to Zakrajšek, public diplomacy was shown, during which the their adopted classes, giving and cultural affairs officer, and students could refresh their the students a personalized Tina Rušt from the Embassy of recollection of what their teacher, Ms. Laure Hunter, had already taught them. Throughout the presentation, the children were highly interactive and inquisitive of Slovenian geography and history, which made the lesson even more dynamic. In the upcoming school year, the students will, in several sessions from November through May, learn more about the Slovenian government, arts, food and traditions. They will also visit the embassy premises and, at the end of the school year, present to the Slovenian Ambassador Throughout the presentation, the children were highly interactive and inquisitive of and diplomats at a special event Slovenian geography and history. what they have learned. NOVEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 2 BUSINESS Slovenian Delegation at Americanallia 2013 A delegation of 12 Slovenian businesses, organized by the public agency SPIRIT Slovenia, attended the international trade forum Americanallia 2013, held from October 29 through November 3 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Slovenian companies held some 100 meetings with counterparts from other attending countries. One of the highlights of the three-day forum was the conference focused on business opportunities in Slovenia, held on the first day. It featured the companies participating in the delegation, Slovenian business delegation at the event. the Economic Counselor at the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington Gorazd Renčelj as well as Mr Alejandro Diaz, former Mexican Ambassador to Slovenia. Ambassador Diaz presented Slovenia as a highly developed economy with plenty of opportunities, especially in wood, food and energy industries as well as in logistics and transport. Americanallia 2013, first forum of this kind in Latin America, was attended by more than 200 companies, representing 13 countries, the majority of which came from Mexico. The event was enhanced by an exhibit and multiple social and protocolary events and backed up by more than 20 years of events in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. B2B meetings at Americanallia 2013 (Photo credit: www.izvoznookno.si ) NOVEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 3 SISTER CITIES Piran and Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana… landlocked city in American Midwest, known for automotive and industrial history. Piran, Slovenia... coastal city in Slovenia, known for cultural heritage and as center of Slovenian tourism. Seemingly not much in common? The Indianapolis & Piran Sister City relationship was officially established on September 2, 2001, at the Indy Slovene Fest. Since 2001, visits have been made from each city to the other city to further the relationship. The primary purposes of the cooperation were to promote IUPUI-Primorska videoconference. (Photo credit: J. Laposa) cultural and educational exchanges between Indianapolis and Piran. Library for the books and materials Purdue University Indianapolis From an early project that included from the eight (8) Sister Cities of (IUPUI); and Jane Gehlhausen e-mail exchanges between Indianapolis. from the City of Indianapolis. The elementary school students in To strengthen the delegation was welcomed in Piran both cities, the program expanded cooperation between the by Mayor Peter Bossman and the to Skype videoconferences and two cities, a delegation from staff of the Municipality of Piran. other projects, such as exchange Indianapolis made an official visit Throughout the visit, meetings of books between the Piran and to Piran in late September 2013. were conducted with University Indianapolis libraries, which The group included Kathy and of Primorska tourism faculty and resulted in the Indianapolis-Piran Jason Howe and Josef Laposa administration. The IUPUI hosted Sister City Committee’s (IPSCC) of the IPSCC; Amanda Cecil and in early 2013 a research visit by suggestion for an “Indianapolis Susan Alvarez of the tourism Miha Lesjak, doctoral student and Sister City” section in the Central faculty of Indiana University- Primorska faculty member, and videoconference courses between faculty and staff of IUPUI and Primorska are included in their respective semester schedules every year. The two-way exchange is indicative of the importance of tourism in the economic life of Indianapolis and Piran, and the relationship enhanced by the direct contact has strengthened the desire to work on mutually beneficial projects. For further information, please feel free to contact Josef Delegation in Piran. (Photo credit: www.indy.gov) Laposa, IPSCC: 77sotina@gmail. com NOVEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 4 TOURISM The Solčavsko Region The mountain-encircled Solčavsko is located at the upper course of the Savinja river, which in the distant past cut a narrow gorge through the rocky massive of the Kamniško–Savinjske Alps. The sunny slopes above Robanov Kot. (Photo: http://www.solcavsko.info/) the Solčava district saw first settlements over a millennium needles, arrow-points and a Kot as well as the famous Logar ago, but people used to seek bone flute of the prehistoric valley. shelter there before that. A man. More recent findings pose The village of Solčava small part of the mysteries of its the question whether Potočka is the center of Solčavsko, underground caves has already zijalka was a hunters’ post or squeezed among the steep been explored. The most famous perhaps a temple of the Cro- slopes along the river. Once a among them is the Potočka Magnon hunters of the time. gathering point for the locals, zijalka cave in Olševa, where Nowadays, Solčavsko with only a handful of houses, it 30 thousand–years-old remains includes the small village of is nowadays the municipal and of humans have been found. Solčava, the Podolševa hamlet tourist center of the area. On The most valuable finds include and three wonderful Alpine a hillock above the village, lies stone and bone tools, lances, valleys: Robanov and Matkov the Gothic church of St. Mary- of-the-Snows, whose greatest attraction is a 13th century statue of Mary with Jesus. On the next hill grows the famous Solčava yew tree, which has kept a vigilant eye over the village for over 700 years. In the peaceful Robanov Kot, which is closed to traffic from the Roban farm onward, well-managed tourist farms await visitors in the valley, where they can enjoy a walk past the splendid Roban meadow to Kot with an Alpine dairy-farm at the end of the valley. Logarska Valley (Photo: http://www.solcavsko.info/) The Logar valley lies in the middle and is the longest and NOVEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 5 People in Solčavsko have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. Many customs, traditions and beliefs from the past can still be found in the everyday life of the hospitable locals. There are several sustainable development projects going on in Solčavsko, promoting the development of felt products made of wool of the Jezersko-Solčava sheep breed, the development of wooden products made of the Solčava mountain wood, the development of new tradition- Solčavsko in the winter (Photo: http://www.solcavsko.info/).