In This Issue Interview Series: J u r e Žmauc, Newly Appointed Inter view Series: Consul General of Jure Žmauc, Newly Appointed Consul Slovenia in Cleveland General of Slovenia Jure Žmauc, Slovenian Republic of Slovenia in in Cleveland Consul General, arrived to his Cleveland? What attracted you to this post in Cleveland in August. He post? Technolog y Sciences succedded Dr. Zvone Žigon, I am a career diplomat and Group Opens its whose term in Cleveland lasted with that comes the opportunity Branch in Slovenia four years. to serve in various cities around Where were you born? the world. My interest is serving in I was born in Maribor, places where a Slovenian community Slovene Press Ag ency Slovenia. My father comes from Ptuj. is present. As Consul General in Opens an »all in one« Web site on the My mother comes from Bistrica ob Austria, I had the experience of Financial Crisis Sotli. I am one of two children; all of working with a Slovenian minority us - my family, my parents, my brother group in a neighboring country. At and his family - live in Maribor. the Office for Slovenes Abroad, EU-US Launch Joint What is your professional my jurisdiction was over Slovenians Education Projects history? throughout Europe. Now, I will have to Advance Academic I have a technical degree in an opportunity to serve Slovenians Cooperation construction, and a law degree. I did living across the water, as we say. In legal work in Maribor and Austria, Cleveland, I will have an opportunity U.S. Open: and I was an assistant instructor at the to live and work with one of the Starting Over for Srebotnik University of Maribor Law School. largest Slovenian communities in the In 1997, I began working at the world. Office for Slovenes Abroad and, the What is the jurisdiction of the Tourist Season Second following year, I began my diplomatic Consulate General of the Republic of Best Since Independence career as a consul in Celovec, Austria, Slovenia in Cleveland. Tobias Putrih at working with the Slovenian minority The Consulate General of LENTSPACE community there. I eventually served the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland a four-year term as Consul General has a 10-state jurisdiction. These there and then returned to the Office are Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Sinfo, July - August 09 for Slovenes Abroad, where I spent Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Issue the last four years overseeing the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Sector for Cooperation with Slovenes Of course, the largest Slovenian Abroad. community is in Cleveland, which is How did you come to the why the office is located there. The position of Consul General of the Chicago area and parts of Western

Embassy’s Newsletter Page 1 September 4, 2009 Pennsylvania also have quite large Slovenian populations. While I was working as a consul, then as Consul What goals or special projects do you have in General in Klagenfurt Austria, I felt energized and mind as Consul General of Slovenia in Cleveland? inspired when I would work directly with the Slovenian My main goal is to help Slovenian-Americans minority group there. I enjoy learning about the diverse maintain their Slovenian culture, language and identity. destinies of Slovenians who left their homeland. There is I also plan to pay attention to third, fourth and fi fth a wide spectrum of reasons why Slovenians came to their generation Slovenian-Americans, because there is a settlements around the world, and those stories are rich special love of Slovenian heritage among them, too. and fascinating. My job is to build bridges between my homeland I think the most challenging part of my experience and my jurisdiction in the United States. One of my goals in Cleveland will be to explain to American people why is to invite Slovenian-Americans in scientifi c professions Slovenian-Americans love their homeland so much. The to bring their knowledge and talent to Slovenia to teach fact that fourth and fi fth generation Slovenian-Americans our young scientists. still respect their Slovenian culture is incredible. If I will succeed at that, then I will have represented my country well and done my job. Are there any particular connections between middle America and Slovenia that you want to especially point out? There is the obviously strong and large Slovenian community in the Cleveland area. There are also signifi cant communities in Pennsylvania, Lemont, IL, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Leadville and Pueblo, CO, and Minneapolis- St. Paul. There are many Slovenian settlements across the Midwest, and, therefore, there is much interest in and Jure Žmauc, Slovenian Consul General in Cleveland. love for Slovenia there. Photo, Hrvatin. Also, every year, more and more American tourists travel to Slovenia and it’s clear that Slovenia is becoming a Also, Slovenia is almost 19 years old and getting stronger more popular travel destination for the general American in many ways, but the world is in an economic and population. I intend to further promote American travel fi nancial crisis. I would like to invite American businesses to Slovenia. and economic professionals to regard Slovenia as a land Is anyone joining you in Cleveland? of promising business opportunities. The United States My wife, Janja, and our two children. When is friendly toward Slovenia and I would like to encourage they shortly arrive in Cleveland, the Slovenian-American more business bridges here. community will have four new members. Our family dog, What part of your work do you experience as the Moro, will also be joining us. most rewarding and challenging? Technology Sciences Group Opens its Branch in Slovenia Technology Sciences Group Inc. announced the opening of TSGE Slovenia, expanding its regulatory consulting services into Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. “As companies strive to develop a global presence, there is a growing demand for scientifi c and regulatory

Embassy’s Newsletter Page 2 September 4, 2009 consulting fi rms that can effectively bring and maintain expertise on a broad range of global environmental a product compliant with regulations to the international compliance issues, will be managed in Slovenia by Ms. market,” said Dr. Arthur Lawyer, Managing Director Bojana Zgonec, who has over ten years of experience in of TSGE. “With the opening of TSGE Slovenia, we regulatory affairs. TSGE Slovenia provides consulting can accommodate these needs by offering our services services in the areas of plant protection, biocides, animal to a broader market.” TSG, which is an international health, REACH, and associated chemical sectors. consulting fi rm that provides scientifi c and regulatory Slovene Press Agency Opens an »all in one« Web site on the Financial Crisis Slovenian Press Agency (STA), has unveiled a them – and to provide it quickly and thoroughly. The new Web site with up-to-date information on the present Web site offers a systematic overview of the already fi nancial crisis. The Web page, Krizno ogledalo (Crisis introduced measures and information regarding their mirror) is a joint effort of the Economic Chamber of implementation. Available are daily updates on the bank Slovenia, the Slovene Chamber of Commerce, several sector, entrepreneurs, social partners and individuals. government ministries, trade union organizations, the Krizno ogledalo also presents analyses of the Slovenian, entrepreneurs’ association, and several other institutions EU and world economies, which are accompanied by and organizations. different commentaries and critiques by economists, The goal of the new service is to provide social partners, and politicians. information on the different measures taken regarding Welcome to the Web site of Krizno ogledalo, www. the fi nancial crisis, and opinions about and reactions to kr-og.sta.si. The site is available also in English. EU-US Launch Joint Education Projects to Advance Academic Cooperation The European Commission and the U.S. in Europe and in North America develop, work closer Department of Education have jointly launched 25 new together and aim higher. Such long-term partnerships are education projects to advance transatlantic academic to the benefi t of advanced education on both sides of the cooperation. Part of the EU-US Atlantis program, the Atlantic.” projects involve 116 universities and training institutions and focus on creating innovative courses and degree structures, including transatlantic joint or double degrees. The European Commission has also launched eight new education projects with Canada. “Due to the lasting cooperation within the EU- US Atlantis and the EU-Canada programs we are inviting university professors, and particularly students, from our partners in North America to come to Europe to take part in joint study projects,” said Ján Figel, the European The European Commission and the U.S. Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Department of Education will each contribute 5.7 Youth. “By participating, students can work towards joint million euros to support the students in these two-way and double degrees, helping advanced education hubs transatlantic exchanges.

Embassy’s Newsletter Page 3 September 4, 2009 U.S. Open: Starting Over for Srebotnik Slovenia’s best woman tennis player, Katarina compentition on Tuesday. It was a bad day for Slovenians Srebotnik, returned to the U.S. Open this Tuesday. She all around, as Maša Zec Peškirič and Polona Hercog were was ranked as high as number 20 in the world in singles also routed out. Hercog lost to Christina McHale of the and number four in doubles, and had posted victories United States (3-6, 1-6) and Zec Peskiric was defeated by over Serena Williams at Roland Garros and Svetlana Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan (3-6, 3-6). Kuznetsova at the U.S. Open a year ago. But pain in her Nevertheless, Katarina Srebotnik, who is now Achilles tendon and a shoulder injury forced her off the ranked 56th in the world (before her injury she was 20th), Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for 10 months. It’s called the will not be leaving Flushing Meadows just yet, as she is luck of the draw, and for Srebotnik it was bad luck. Her first-round opponent was 13th-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia.

also competing in the doubles competition together with Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan. The two were successful in their first round. On Wednesday, Katarina and Chan Yung-Jan defeated Kristina Barrois of Germany and Tathiana Farbin of Italy (6-0, 7-5). Slovenia has no men’s representatives at the U.S. Katarina Srebotnik lost to Nadia Petrova Open as Blaž Kavčič, Grega Žemlja and Luka Gregorc in straight sets (6-3, 6-3) in the first round in the failed to qualify. Tourist Season Second Best Since Independence Ljubljana, 3 September (STA) - The Economy stays between January and July, with the exception of Bled Ministry is rather satisfied with this year’s tourist season, and Ljubljana, which were the most visited destinations as it has been the second best in Slovenia’s history, the during the presidency. head of the ministry’s Tourism Directorate, Marjan The number of overnight stays at Bled in July was, Hribar, said on Thursday. however, 18% higher than in the same month in 2008, The number of overnight stays in the first seven and results for August are just as promising. months dropped by 4% compared to last year, but Hribar According to Hribar, good results are the result of pointed out, that during that period last year, Slovenia effective promotion, which has been especially evident at hosted several events as part of its stint as EU president. home. Slovenian spas “are practically the strongest pillar” Almost all tourist destinations registered a rise in overnight of Slovenian tourism, Hribar said, noting they have

Embassy’s Newsletter Page 4 September 4, 2009 proven they can compete on the international market. Austrians (13%) and Germans (11%). Guests from Foreign currency inflow this year fell by 4% compared Croatia are fourth in the number of overnight stays. to last year. But, the number of overnight stays generated Other markets of the former Yugoslavia represent a by foreign tourists dropped by 9%, which shows that this massive potential, Hribar added, noting that the EU - and year foreign tourists in Slovenia are spending more than consequently also Slovenia - is abolishing visas for Serbia, last year. Macedonia and Montenegro on 1 January. Slovenia will be among first countries to launch a broad advertising campaign in these markets, Hribar said. He expects that they could make it to the top five markets for Slovenia. Hribar noted that the number of tourists from Germany and Austria had been falling for years. The ministry will thoroughly examine the issue in the following months, he said. “In these markets Slovenia has not been achieving good results for years, which indicates that something we are doing there is not right.” Slovenia is continuing investments in tourism infrastructure. The response to the latest tender for funding, as part of which Eur 23m will be distributed, Among foreign tourists, the greatest number of overnight exceeded all expectations, with 49 applicants asking for stays is still generated by Italians (19%), followed by Eur 247m, Hribar said.

Presented by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Tobias Putrih at LentSpace transforms an entire city block into a free outdoor cultural space open to the public. New York- LENTSPACE based Slovene artist Tobias Putrih will be featured in the opening exhibition Points and Lines. Opening: September 18, 2009 7:00 am to dusk LentSpace is located at the city block at Canal, Varick, Grand and Sullivan Streets in New York City. For more information on LentSpace and its inaugural exhibitions, please go to www.lmcc.net/lentspace.

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Embassy’s Newsletter Page 5 September 4, 2009