Newsletter August 22, 2008 Page 1

Current Events Dear colleagues and friends, elaborating on strengthening bilateral ties, including when June 25 - August 31 - After four successful and most preparing the visit of Slovenian "Two Capital Cities: Ljubljana- enjoyable years I am today Prime Minister to the White Washington." An exhibit of leaving Washington and the House and American President to contrasting photos from Ljubljana United States and returning to Slovenia. and Washington. Embassy of Slovenia. Pending the arrival of Slovenia. my successor, Ms Miriam T. Senators and Congressman of Možgan, Deputy Chief of Mission Slovenian decent who are proud Upcoming Events will act as Charge d'Affaires a.i. of their origin and are doing their share in strengthening our September 13 - Annual Looking at what I have learned relations. performance of the Slovenian folk and how I have grown as a dancing group, Folklorna skupina person these years and looking Ambassadors and diplomats who Kres. 7:00 pm at the Slovenian at what we have achieved extended their friendship and National Home, 6417 Saint Clair together, I 'm leaving satisfied were so patient and supportive Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103. and happy. during our EU Presidency and including those from smaller September 25 - November 10 Slovenia is today an ally and a countries that we worked - A River's Gifts: Archeological partner working closely with the together on poetry events. Excavation of the Ljubljanica US and contributing its share to River in Photographs solving problems in international Colleagues from think tanks with relations. Due to its activities whom we organized numerous internationally, Slovenia today is discussions and round tables more present here in Washington ranging from Balkans to energy and in the US. to space travel. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar Bids Farwell I am leaving this country also People from the Slovenian with a heavy heart. We diplomats community that not only Washington, August 22 - know that a day comes when we received me all over the US with Ambassador Samuel Žbogar will have to move (again). And yet, Slovenian warmth and open bid farewell on Friday, August 22, in four years one puts down hands (and potica), but also when he will finish his four-year roots, establishes friendships, contributed most passionately to mandate as Ambassador of has a favorite store and a our fundraising project for Slovenia to the United States. restaurant, a hairdresser, a victims of landmines. weekend gateway and a running trail. I will miss all that. American and Slovenian business people with whom we tried to tie But it is so much more than that. the knots from investments, to In four years there were so many trade, to tourism. And especially people that entered my life and the nice people from the National this is what I will miss most: Geographic Society whom we can be proud to have for our Friends from the Administration friends. with whom we worked closely during the OSCE Chairmanship Honorary Consuls who provide Samuel Žbogar and the EU Presidency. We were their service for Slovenia in their Washington, August 22, 2008

www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter August 22, 2008 Page 2 home states and put together great programs during my visits there.

Journalists who helped us put Slovenia more on the map of Washington and the US.

All those friends that contributed for the mine victims gave me motivation for my races and cheered for my successes. Planting the traditional Slovenian And all the patient people from Linden tree in front of the new architecture and construction embassy building. companies who guided us through the renovation of the embassy, a star project of my term. US President George Bush thanked Ambassador Žbogar for his dedication And of course my professional to strengthening partnerships between and loyal team at the Embassy our countries. with whom we lived our big lives as a small family.

And all those people from all Fundraising Marathons- walks of life from all over the US Ambassador Žbogar has raised a total with whom have crossed our of $71,418.00 USD, thus providing eight paths, learned about each others landmine survivors from Bosnia and stories and wishes in life and Herzegovina with the rehabilitation treatment they need in Slovenia. promised to keep in touch. The Slovenian Ambassador welcomed Thank you all for entering my life numerous distinguished guests at the and for making our stay in the Embassy during the EU Presidency, US a great and most memorable including Secretary Rice and Secretary experience. I hope and believe Gutierrez. that we can keep all these friendships for wherever we will end up.

I am honored to be able to serve in such a great country. I have Ambassador Žbogar´s first marathon in learned a lot during these years. Cleveland, Ohio I tried to observe and learn and I May 2007 hope I am taking some of that home with me. Mr. Ambassador, Thank you for all your hard Hope to see you all (not at the work and dedication to Slovenia "The Slovenian ambassador is among same time though) soon in and the Slovenian community in Ljubljana, in Slovenia. the younger breed of diplomats who know that sometimes the best way to the U.S. We wish you the best of promote their causes is to get out of luck in all that you strive to Until than best regards, Washington and engage average Yours, Americans." accomplish in the future. Washigton Times on April 2007 Srečno! Samuel Žbogar

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BEIJING GAMES: Slovenia "I'm over the moon. I performed Strikes Gold with Hammer as I had hoped in the final Throw regatta - I did not make a mistake. Everything went Slovenia's Primoz Kozmus picked according to plan," said the up Slovenia's first Olympic gold native of the coastal town of medal in the men's track and Izola. field competition this past Sunday. Kozmus won the The second place was enough to hammer final in after allow the 32-year-old to move up to second overall, improving on throwing a season's best of Slovenian shooter Rajmond Debevec 82.02m to claim the gold. took third place in the rifle three- his third-place finish in Kozmus jumped into the lead position competition at the Beijing and giving Slovenia its fifth with his second round throw of Olympics. medal of the Beijing Olympics, 82.02m and consolidated his lead the country's biggest medal tally with four throws just over the his final shot, after the leader at any Olympics. 80m mark. Vadim Devyatovskiy until then, Matthew Emmons of from took the silver with the US, shot only 4.4 to drop a throw of 81.61m, while his co- down the ladder. patriot took bronze The 45-year-old Slovenian came with 81.51m. into the final with a lead, but two 7-point shots meant he slipped out of the medal hunt. A final shot of 10.8 however was enough to catapult him into third place. Slovenia's Vasilij Žbogar wins silver "In shooting you need to control in the laser class at the Beijing every muscle but I was unable to Games. relax my body and my hands were shaking. It's all in the head. The country of two million has so In I felt invincible but far won one gold, two silver and here it was completely different", two bronze medals in Beijing, Debevec said. while its previous best was four medals (two silver and two Primoz Kozmus won the gold medal. bronze) in Athens. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images) BEIJING GAMES: Žbogar Sails to Silver BEIJING GAMES: Slovenia BEIJING GAMES: Debevec Beijing, August 19 - Slovenian Hammers Armenia in Takes Bronze in Three- yachter Vasilij Žbogar took Medals Per Capita Position second place in the final regatta of the laser class at the Beijing Beijing, August 17th - On Beijing, August 17 - Slovenian Olympics to take second place Sunday night in Beijing, Primoz shooter Rajmond Debevec won overall in the competition. Paul Kozmus won the Olympic gold the bronze in Sunday's rifle Goodison of Great Britain won medal in the , and three-position competition at the the gold. in doing so lifted Slovenia to No. Beijing Olympics. The winner was 1 in Olympic rankings in Medals Qui Jian of , while silver Žbogar finished the competition Per Capita. As highlighted in the went to Yuri Sukhurokov of with a combined score of 71 LA Times, Kozmus' gold medal Ukraine. points, eight behind Goodison, on Sunday gave Slovenia four who had a virtually indisputable medals* for 2,007,711 people, or In a dramatic finish, Debevec lead coming into the final race. one for every 501,927 managed to squeeze a spot Italy's Diego Romero was third Slovenians. Those four medals among the top three leaders with with 75 points. have occurred one each in Judo,

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Swimming, Shooting, and now Aug. 1, 2008. For further Copies of the magazine are Field. information regarding ESTA available at the Embassy of please visit the U.S. Customs and Slovenia. Kozmus' gold medal dislodges Border Patrol website at the country of Armenia from the http://www.cbp.gov/esta/. Kres to Hold Annual No.1 spot. Armenia has held the Performance No.1 spot in Medals Per Capita Slovenia is making for five Olympic days, winning ˝Diplomatic Connections˝ Cleveland, September 13 — five medals from a country of The Slovenian folk dancing 2,968,586 people. The country of Slovenia as well group, Folklorna skupina Kres as the U.S. Embassy of Slovenia proudly presents its annual *On August 19, Vasilij Žbogar's was recently highlighted in the performance which will be held silver medal further strengthened summer edition of Diplomatic on Saturday, September 13, Slovenia's No. 1 position in Connections magazine. 2008 at 7:00 p.m at the Olympic rankings in Medals Per Slovenian National Home (6417 Capita. Slovenia now has 5 Diplomatic Connections is a Saint Clair Avenue • Cleveland, medals. quarterly business summary that Ohio 44103). Consisting of 135 spotlights Foreign Embassies in dancers ranging in age from ESTA: Electronic System the United States. In the kindergarten to college-aged, the for Travel Authorization articles, a brief history of group promises to thrill Slovenia is discussed as well as audiences with contagiously The U.S. Department of multiple recognitions of energetic Slovenian polkas, lively Homeland Security has Slovenia's accomplishments as a skits and song, as well as announced a new Electronic country especially during its term traditional dances originating System for Travel Authorization as President of the European from the various regions of (ESTA), a program that will be Union in the first half of 2008. beautiful Slovenia. utilized within the context of their There are also a number of current Visa Waiver Program. pictures of the Embassy during Dance is a crucial part of any This will be important for any different events held throughout culture. The members of Kres Slovenian citizens planning a visit the summer. Finally, the are dedicated to sharing the joy to the U.S. after January 12, magazine highlights the of song and dance and educating 2009. embassy's very own Andrej the public on age old, ethnic Berginc, Second Secretary; in an traditions from Slovenia. From Once ESTA is mandatory, all article he wrote entitled ˝Friendly exquisite and colorful traditional nationals who plan to travel to Spies˝. costuming, to historically the United States for temporary researched choreography and business or pleasure will require stylized dances, performances an approved ESTA prior to appeal to audiences of all ages boarding a carrier to travel by air and backgrounds. or sea to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. Folklorna skupina Kres extends a most sincere invitation to attend To apply for authorization to the September 13 performance travel to the United States under which will be followed by dancing the Visa Wavier Program, with food and drink available travelers will need to log on to throughout the evening. Tickets the ESTA website at are $15.00 for all adult tickets https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and and table seats, and $5.00 for all complete an online application. child balcony and child floor seating. Tickets are on sale now! Applications should be submitted The cover of the magazine - Call Sonia Kolaric to reserve your Ambassador Samuel Žbogar and no less than 72 hours prior to tickets or table at travel. The ESTA web-based Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice together with other EU Ambassadors (440)-256-1546. system was made available for at the Embassy of Slovenia voluntary applications starting

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The Slovenian National Home is Paul Rozman, Vice President, Video advertisement for the located at 6417 Saint Clair Public Relations Director performance: Avenue • Cleveland, Ohio 44103. Folklorna skupina Kres http://www.youtube.com/watch? 216.382.1491 v=_jdus20a5TI Direct All Inquiries to: [email protected]

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