ISSN 1854-0805 (business culture environment politics sports) 02 February 09 The Art as the Other Place of the Society This year’s Prešeren Award winners: ACtress ŠtefkA DROLC AND PAINTER ZMAGO JERAJ contents Veronika Stabej Dear readers, We can easily say that February is a special month in Slovenia, time of the year when we try to put even more specific focus on culture in the broadest sense of the word. On February 8 we are celebrating a cultural national day, in name dedicated to our great poet France Prešeren, when we present awards for lifetime achievements and outstanding achievements on the fields of arts and culture in the past year. So in this issue the key word is culture. We are featuring two outstanding artists, recipients of this year‘s lifetime Prešeren awards, actress Štefka Drolc and painter Zmago Jeraj; presenting a different angle on the life of the poet France Prešeren. We are also celebrating 100th anniversary of outstanding painter Zoran Mušič, who has probably reached the biggest recognition outside Slovenia’s borders. In Focus Stojan Pelko is reflecting on the Art as the second 6-9 In focus 30-32 Our excellence end of society, two ambassadors of culture are presenting their The Art as the Other Place of the Society Kempinski Palace Portorož views on everyday issues. Prime Minister Borut Pahor in his first interview in Sinfo 10-11 In focus 14-17 Interview 35-37 Slovenian delights reflects on major issues and challenges facing Slovenia, with This year’s Prešeren Award winners: Prime Minister Borut Pahor Ptuj and its surroundings, diversity of tastes and experiences focus on international relations of our country. actress Štefka Drolc and painter Zmago Jeraj In the presentation of the natural and more specifically also culinary beauties and delights we are presenting Ptuj and its surroundings with great variety of taste and experiences. Taste Slovenia! This might be a good opening for the presentation of our country not only on culinary field, but also with cultural delights next month in Berlin, where Slovenia will be prominently featured with a Gala evening. One of the great Slovenian artists, Zoran Predin will be there with his musicians. Winter sports are indispensable part of our lives and we are immensely proud of the results of Tina Maze. Another well important international event is Vitranc World Cup that takes place at the end of February in beautiful ski resort Kranjska Gora. Sinfo – Slovenian information Editorial: Government Commnunication Office, Director: Veronika Stabej, Gregorčičeva 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Government Communication Office:www.slovenia.si tel. +386 (0) 1 478 2630, fax + 386 (0) 1 251 2312, www.ukom.gov.si Government Communication Office:www.ukom.gov.si Editor-in-Chief: Vesna Žarkovič, [email protected] Government Institutions: www.gov.si Editorial Board: Albert Kos, Mateja Malnar Štembal, Valerija Mencej, Jože Osterman, Polona Prešeren, Slovenian Tourist Board: www.slovenia.info Andreja Šonc Simčič, Branko Vidrih Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.gzs.si Photo Editor: Maja Slavec Slovenian Chamber of Craft: www.ozs.si Production: Nuit d.o.o., Translation: PSD d.o.o., Printed by: Mond Grafika Public Agency of the RS for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments: www.japti.si Number of copies: 4600 Ljubljana Stock Exchange: www.ljse.si Available also at: www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publication/sinfo Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia:www.stat.si Cover photo: Maja Slavec State Portal of the Republic of Slovenia: http://e-uprava.gov.si m o n t h l y r e v i e w Mateja Malnar Štembal beginning of the month the National Assembly finally ratified Croatia still on the agenda the accession protocol of Croatia to NATO by a two-thirds osec /Bobo/ K majority. However, ratification by Slovenia has not become The European Commission has become more actively involved final, since in the middle of the month, the Institute 25 June Prime Minister Borut Pahor ristina K in efforts to solve the border issue between Slovenia and Croatia and the non-parliamentary Party of the Slovenian Nation filed by making a proposal on forming a special Council mediation an initiative to call a subsequent legislative referendum on the in Great Britain and France photo: group. In the middle of the month, the Slovenian Minister of ratification of Croatia’s accession to NATO, supported by 5363 Overcoming the financial and economic crisis was also among Foreign Affairs, Samuel Žbogar, among other things indicated signatures. the topics during the Prime Minister’s visits to London and that Slovenia would withdraw its objections if Zagreb accepted In order to avoid a referendum, of which even the initiative Paris in the first days of February. British Prime Minister mediation, but Zagreb is not keen on that, and is persisting in of signature collection would threaten the target date of 23 Gordon Brown and the Slovenian Prime Minister agreed that the International Court of Justice at The Hague. March by which time NATO members should have deposited the crisis was global and that it should also be resolved in such a In the previous month, both countries continued to seek their ratification documents to enable Albania and Croatia manner, but that it has not affected economic relations between support among political partners in dialogue in Europe, and to participate as full members at the NATO meeting at the the countries and, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, they the announced meeting of Prime Ministers Pahor and Sanader beginning of April, the National Assembly at an extraordinary estimated that the entire EU, and within it the Eurogroup, should have taken place - the nature of which is supposed to session adopted a ‘resolution on non-recognition of Croatian should resolve the crisis together and should in particular keep be more informative - and a solution to the dispute among the regulations which violate the territorial integrity of Slovenia’, in mind their responsibility to their citizens. countries is not to be expected yet. which would protect Slovenian interests on the accession of In Paris, the Slovenian Prime Minister also visited the Senior representatives of both countries agreed at least on one Croatia to NATO and which could dissuade applicants from headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation fact - that the problems are being resolved by so-called ‘silent petitioning for a referendum on this issue. and Development (OECD) and met the General Secretary, diplomacy’. One of the two groups calling for a referendum, the non- Angel Gurria. They mainly discussed Slovenian inclusion in this Passions were high again over the accession of Croatia parliamentary party, has already announced it would continue Organisation and agreed that Slovenia could become a member British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Slovenian to NATO - after the discussion had been put off, at the to collect the 40,000 signatures required to force a referendum. Prime Minister agreed that the crisis was global. of this elite club already in 2010. Urgent session of parliament, aimed at adopting a special resolution lavec on Croatia and averting a referendum on its NATO accession. S . French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Slovenian PM estimated that the M entire EU, and within it the Eurogroup, should resolve the crisis together. photo: photo: osec /Bobo/ K ristina K photo: photo: The second package of measures to mitigate the financial and A second package of measures economic crisis was prepared on the basis of comparative experience with programmes to counter the crisis in other EU After the Slovenian Government adopted the first package of Member States, in particular in Slovenia’s biggest foreign trade measures to mitigate the consequences of the financial and partners. The measures follow the recommendations of the economic crisis in November and December 2008, a second European Commission to restore the economy, and relate to followed in mid-February which is even more extensive. the financing and liquidity of enterprises, the labour market, While the first package focused primarily on increasing liquidity life-long learning and social protection, infrastructure, energy, the in the bank system, reducing the use of public finance, and environment - for sustainable development and improved use of preserving jobs by providing additional incentives to the cohesion resources. economy, the second is mainly development-oriented, but directs A component of the second package contains amendments to a considerable proportion of the resources into promoting the the budget for 2009 and cost- cutting by the Government by credit activity of banks and consequently improving the liquidity means of reducing expenditure on salaries, organisational and of enterprises, as the credit activity of banks is still low due to staff measures, measures for reducing the costs of material and continued uncertainty in European markets. technical conditions for state and public administration and savings measures proposed to other players. 4 5 Stojan Pelko Actors Jernej Šugman and Janez Škof of the politics. The providing of cultural forms is not involved, and the bureaucratic approval of the forms even less – it is all The Art as the Other about diffusing the possibilities of creating, and access to top creations. Place of the Society In the present reactions to this year’s celebration of Prešeren’s In one of her first public appearances, the new American Day, we could very concretely feel that this debate is far from Secretary of State, the former first lady of the White House being abstract and distant; instead, it is being fought again here and the Senator for New York, Hillary Clinton, as part of and now, with each event and its interpretation. Slovenia loves the “tough-minded, intelligent diplomacy” has also included to be proud that has in site, and instead of ordinary soldiers, set cultural diplomacy.