Newsletter April 11, 2008 Page 1 Current Events Slovenian Foreign Minister Mr. Frank Urbancic, a career to Visit the United States U.S. diplomat, was also among March 27 - May 17 - Herman the nominees, and was Potočnik Noordung Exhibit. April 11-14 - Minister of previously nominated to be U.S. Embassy of Slovenia. Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and Ambassador to the Republic of President of the EU General Cyprus. As his last name Upcoming Events Affairs and External Relations suggests, Mr. Urbancic is of Council Dr. Dimitrij Rupel will Slovenian descent and his family April 10 - 14 - Minister of travel to the United States, comes from Pivka. Finance Dr. Andrej Bajuk will where he will be visiting Boston, attend the Spring Meeting of New York and Washington, DC. World Bank and IMF in Washington, DC. In Boston, the Minister will visit Brandeis University, and in New April 14 - Minister of Foreign York, he will meet with UN Affairs of Slovenia Dr. Dimitrij Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Rupel will visit Washington, DC. In Washington, the Minister will meet with the U.S. Secretary of mid-April - Delegation of the State Condoleezza Rice and the Parliamentary Commission for National Security Advisor Mr. Yousif B. Ghafari (right) and Mr. Slovenes Abroad will arrive on a Stephen Hadley and address the Frank Urbancic, Jr. (left) several-day visit to Cleveland, Permanent Council of the Chicago, New York and Organization of American Washington, D.C. States. Address by Senator Barack Obama to Mr. Yousif Ghafari: April 14 at 4:30 p.m. - "Slovenia * * * and the Global Economy: Doing Slovenia has been on Business with the EU's Eastern U.S. Senate Hears the the cutting edge of Members." Presentation by Nominee for U.S. democratic change in Economic Counselor at the Emb. Ambassador to Slovenia Eastern Europe. Since of Slovenia Ms. Irena Lukač. its early success in gaining membership in NATO and the Room 210, Illini Union, 1401 W Washington, April 8 - U.S. European Union, it has been a Green St., University of Illinois, Senate Committee on Foreign model for progress in the Urbana-Champaign. Relations held a hearing for five Balkans. Despite its small size, nominees for U.S. Ambassadors. Slovenia currently leads the April 15 at 10:00 a.m. - "State Among them was also Mr. nations of the European Union of the European Union Address," Yousif B. Ghafari, who was while it occupies the EU's by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar. nominated by President George presidency. Its citizens are Beckman Institute Auditorium, Bush to be the next U.S. helping to set the agenda for an 405 N Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL. Ambassador to Slovenia. entire continent. Slovenians are focusing Europe's attention on Senator Barack Obama, the the unfinished business of chairman of the Senate bringing peace and prosperity to Subcommittee for Europe, the Balkans. The people and presided over the meeting. government of Slovenia will need the help of the United States and other partners as www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter April 11, 2008 Page 2 they consolidate their will provide a wealth of investment in the U.S. totaled a democratic gains, and seek to information for the research record $1.3 trillion in 2006. extend those gains throughout conducted at the European the region. Union Center of Excellence at "These strong economic ties are the University of Pittsburgh," reflected in the robust economic Mr. Ghafari, as an immigrant said Ambassador Bruton. relationship that we have with who has truly lived the American the state of Pennsylvania," said dream, you represent the Prior to the library's celebration, Ambassador Žbogar. "The EU is strength found in our country's Bruton and Žbogar delivered a the number one foreign investor diversity. Similar strength public address titled “The Future in Pennsylvania." should characterize life in the of European Union-U.S. Balkans - in some parts of the Economic and Political Before their visit to Pitt region including Slovenia, it Relations.” Ambassador Bruton University, the Ambassadors already does. I hope your story focused on the growing trade spent Tuesday afternoon at and your service will and economic relationship South Side Area School District, resonate with people between the EU and the United eating lunch with members of throughout the States, taking into consideration South Side’s World Affairs Club former Yugoslavia. developments in China and and Model European Union India, while Ambassador Žbogar program and later addressing discussed issues concerning the students during an assembly at political relationship between the high school. the European Union and the United States. While on stage, the two Ambassadors gave background on the European Union and answered questions from students ranging from the euro, Senator Barack Obama at the hearing the official currency of the European Union, to the impact of Kosovo’s recent declaration of * * * independence on the EU. Ambassadors Žbogar and * * * Bruton Visit Pennsylvania Step Closer to Establishing Pittsburgh, April 9 - Samuel Center for Slovene Studies Žbogar, Ambassador of Slovenia in the U.S. to the United States, and John Bruton, Ambassador of the Cleveland, April 10 - A letter European Commission to the of intent to establish a Center United States, visited the for Slovene Studies in the University of Pittsburgh to United States was signed by formally present the entire Ambassador Žbogar and Ambassador Cleveland State University, Bruton at the University of Pittsburgh European Union (EU) delegation Bowling Green, Kent, Lakeland library to Pitt's University Community College and Consul During their stay in Library System (ULS) in a by- General of Slovenia in Cleveland Pennsylvania, Ambassador invitation event. The library Dr. Zvone Žigon. The Center is Žbogar and Ambassador Bruton from the Delegation of the expected to open at the start of met with business leaders to European Commission to the the next academic year. highlight Pennsylvania's strong United States, in Washington, trade and investment ties with D.C., holds the most extensive Later that day, Ambassador the European Union. The EU is collection of public European Samuel Žbogar opened a two- by far the biggest investor in the Community/European Union day meeting of high-school United States. Europe's documents and publications in students, who participate in North America. "The collection United Nations clubs. At the www.washington.embassy.si Newsletter April 11, 2008 Page 3 opening, which was held at the and political raise of Slovenia is organizing its first Euro- Cleveland State University, since the independence and Mediterranean Summer School, Ambassador spoke to the highlighted the increasingly which will take place in Portorož, students about Slovenia's important role of Slovenia in Slovenia, starting in June and multilateral cooperation in international community. lasting through August 2008. international affairs. The program will offer ten The other participants at the courses in three different * * * event included the sessions (3-4 courses per representatives of: Czech session), all of which are How to do Business with Republic, Greece, Lithuania, accredited by Higher Education the New EU Poland, Slovakia and Romania. Partner Institutions. The organizers recorded 130 Cleveland, April 10 - attendees. EMUNI Summer School is a Consulate General of Slovenia in great opportunity to meet new Cleveland and North East Ohio * * * people interested in studying International Business Mediterranean issues, while at Association organized a business Euro-Mediterranean the same time experiencing the conference "How to do Business Summer School exciting Mediterranean with the New EU." At the atmosphere. For more conference, Ambassador Samuel The University Centre for Euro- information about the program Žbogar described the economic Mediterranean Studies (EMUNI) or how to apply, please visit: washington.embassy.si. The weekly e-Newsletter is produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington. The archive of the e-Newsletter is now available online. For subscription to the e-Newsletter please send an e-mail to: [email protected]. www.washington.embassy.si.