NEWSLETTER February 8
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Embassy Exhibit Ljubljana – Workshop on and Showcase European Green Slovene to English at CUA Capital 2016 Literary Translation page 4 > page 5 > page 7 > NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 19, 2016, VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2 February 8 - National Day of Culture Every year on February 8, center. Two lifetime-achievement Slovenians celebrate Culture Day, Prešeren Prizes were presented to a public holiday dedicated to the composer Ivo Petrić and author Tone memory of France Prešeren (1800- Partljič, and six Prešeren-Fund Prizes 1849), who is considered the nation’s for achievements in the past two years greatest poet and is also the author of to composer and choir conductor Slovenian national anthem, Zdravljica Ambrož Čopi, director Janusz Kica, (A Toast). Numerous events were painter Aleksij Kobal, poet Cvetka held around the country on that day, Lipuš, sculptor Mojca Smerdu and including the Prešeren Prize awards actor, dancer and performer Katarina ceremony at the Cankarjev dom arts Stegnar. Monument dedicated to Prešeren in Ljubljana. The Embassy of Slovenia observed the holiday on Monday, February 8 by the opening of exhibition Eye. Thought. Hand. by Slovenian graphic designer Jože Domjan. The program was presented on the premises and in conjunction with the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S. Following welcoming remarks by E.U. Ambassador David O’Sullivan, Ambassador Dr. Cerar outlined the importance of culture to Slovenia’s national identity and This year’s recipients of Prešeren Prizes and Prešeren - Fund Prizes. distinctive contribution of poet France Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] washington.embassy.si facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA Remarks by Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar. Guests at the reception on the occasion of the Slovenian Culture Day. Prešeren to the formation of Slovenia the theater performance, but also give Prešeren Day at LIC Bar in New York as a nation, having lifted the Slovenian sense to the role and meaning of the City: the Jan Kus quartet, with guest language to the European level of poster as a communication medium. guitarist Gabriel Vicéns, performed literally expression and contributed to The exhibit Eye. Thought. Hand. gives for Slovenian guests who gathered to the first Slovenian political program an overview of the artist’s work from celebrate Slovenia’s national cultural in the first half of the 19th century. 1973 through 2013 and will be on holiday, among them the Ambassador In his remarks to around 200 guests view at the E.U. Delegation through of Slovenia to the U.N., Andrej he also stressed the importance of the end of April with public viewings Logar, and Honorary Consul, Erik culture for national unity, which was on March 2 and April 1, afternoon. Horvat. Igor Cesarec of Društvo v embodied when Slovenian opted for As a part of observing the Day tujini izobraženih Slovencev – VTIS, independence 25 years ago. of Culture, Mann Elementary School the Association of Slovenes Educated During the evening, a film of students — who participate in the Abroad, introduced the ambassador, the life and work of Jože Domjan was Embassy Adoption Program -- learned who welcomed the guests, whereas screened. One of the leading Slovenian about Slovenian national poet France actor Gaia Visnar read poems poster designers, he left an indelible Prešeren on Thursday, February 11, by Prešeren. Slovenian Cultural mark in the field of cultural posters. including the 7th stanza of Prešeren’s Holiday Programs were also held in Due to their persuasive conceptual poem A Toast, which is now Slovenia’s Indianapolis’s Slovenian National design, his theater posters not only national anthem. Home, sponsored by the Indianapolis- address the individual on the street On Monday, February 8, the Piran Sister Cities Committee, and and represent his/her first contact with Slovenian Union of America celebrated elsewhere in the U.S. Jože Domjan is one of the leading Slovenian poster designers. Opening of the exhibit Eye.Thought.Hand. on February 8. FEBRUARY 19, 2016, PAGE 2 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Slovenia Announces the Candidature of Danilo Türk for U.N. Secretary General On Monday, 8 February 2016, current work. Minister Erjavec expresses Andrej Logar, Slovenian Permanent his belief that Dr. Türk is a highly Representative to the United Nations qualified candidate for U.N. Secretary in New York, transmitted a letter General, who would importantly from Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karl and substantially contribute to the Erjavec, announcing the candidature organization’s activities at a time when of Dr. Danilo Türk, former President the international community faces of the Republic of Slovenia, for U.N. major challenges. Secretary General for the 2017-2021 Dr. Danilo Türk acted as the term with the United Nations to Slovenian permanent representative at Mogens Lykketoft, President of the the U.N. between 1992 and 2000 and U.N. General Assembly, and to Rafael as assistant secretary general to Kofi Darío Ramírez Carreño, President of the Anan between 2000 and 2005. He was U.N. Security Council and Permanent elected president of Slovenia in 2007, Dr. Danilo Türk Representative of Venezuela. Türk’s serving a five-year term. candidacy is the first official bid by a In accordance with Article 97 of the joint letter from the General Assembly Slovene for the top post at the U.N. U.N. Charter, the U.N. Secretary and Security Council Presidents inviting In the letter, Minister Erjavec General is appointed by the General member states to nominate their outlines the candidate’s decades-long Assembly upon the recommendation candidates. The new U.N. Secretary commitment to the work of the U.N., of the Security Council. The selection General is expected to be appointed his wide international experience and procedure for a new Secretary General by autumn; the new term begins on numerous incentives characteristic of his was launched on December 15 with a January 1, 2017. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Highland School Students Visit the Embassy A group of Highland School teacher Sarah Roach will take a study trip Zakrajšek, who gave a presentation of the Students aged 15 – 18 from Warrenton, to Ljubljana in mid-March. history of the country, its political system, VA, came to the Slovenian embassy on At the embassy, the group geographical features and interesting Friday, February 19 to learn more about was received by Cultural and Public tourist sites, and answered the students’ the country. The students and their Diplomacy Officer, Ms. Nuška questions at the end of the lecture. FEBRUARY 19, 2016, PAGE 3 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Embassy Exhibit at the Catholic University of America The Catholic University of than two dozen exhibitors participating in sites and educational opportunities as America (CUA) hosted on Thursday, the International Bazaar, giving the CUA well as distributed brochures about February 18 the fifth annual Embassy community an opportunity to learn more the country. The embassy staff also Exhibit event, which featured cultural about what Slovenia has to offer. offered to several hundred visitors a displays, performances, and a sampling At their booth, embassy taste of Slovenia’s traditional pastry of foods from around the world. The representatives shared information – potica, a sweet walnut roll-cake -- Slovenian Embassy was among more about Slovenia, promoted its tourism and Carniolian sausages. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Briefing for Kent State University Students before the Annual Model NATO Conference On Thursday, February 11, the February 11 – 14, 2016. They also stressed the region’s integration Embassy of Slovenia hosted a group of Vladimir Kolmanič, Deputy into the Euro-Atlantic organizations students and their mentor, Prof. Timothy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of and reconfirmed the Slovenian support Scarnecchia, from Kent State University, Slovenia, and Defense Attaché, Col. Ivan of them. They also discussed the role, Kent, Ohio. The group represented Mikuž, held a briefing for the students, structure and activities of NATO, as Slovenia at the 31th Annual Model presenting to them Slovenia’s political well as the military, political-security, and NATO Conference, which took place stance on several international issues. economic perspective. FEBRUARY 19, 2016, PAGE 4 TOURISM Ljubljana – European Green Capital 2016 On Tuesday, February 9 demonstrates great environmental “completely reshaped in accordance 2016, Ljubljana received the title of awareness, which has been recognized with a focus on sustainability.” European Green Capital from Bristol by the European Commission, which Within the Green Capital at a ceremony in Brussels. Slovenia’s decided to give it a green capital title in of Europe project, the City of capital will be an ambassador of June 2014 “for raising environmental Ljubljana has assigned a vital role to sustainable development this year, awareness among citizens, the web communication. Via the www. focusing on a green topic each month. ‘Vision 2025’ sustainable strategy, greenljubljana.com web site, the city The European Green Capital Award the implementation of a series of informs different target groups of its is an award bestowed on cities based green measures in the city in the ‘green’ achievements and activities on their environmental record. The last decade and an impressive public this year, when Ljubljana holds the award was launched in 2008 and the transport network.” In April 2015, prestigious title, and encourages them first award was given to Stockholm for the city also received the ‘Tourism to contribute to a greener future the year 2010. Ljubljana is the seventh for Tomorrow’ award from the World themselves. Through representative European city with the prestigious Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projects that have guided Ljubljana’s title, which it will hand over next year as the most sustainability-focused green story, it offers tips to individuals to Germany’s Essen. destination. The jury highlighted on how they can be more environment The capital of Slovenia that the image of Ljubljana had been friendly and lead an active lifestyle in the Green Yourself section.