Slovenian Minister of Finance Visits Washington. U.S. Attorney General in Slovenia EMBASSY NEWSLETTER

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1 EMBASSY NEWSLETTER FIRST PAGE STORY Slovenian Minister of Finance Visits Washington Minister of Finance visits Washington U.S. Attorney General in Slovenia Water Summit 2011 Ambassador kirn at Georgetown University Investment Opportunities in Slovenia Green Partnership Eu News Personal Story List To Do Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW Washington, D.C , USA T: Slovenian Minister of Finance, Dr. Franc Križanič, paid a working visit to Washington last week. On April 16, Dr. Križanič took part in the International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee sessions at the IMF and the World Bank session. On April 17, Minister Križanič had some bilateral discussions with business representatives, and with the representatives of the World Bank and the IMF, where they presented the current macroeconomic situation in Slovenia and talked about forms of future cooperation. U.S. Attorney General in Slovenia As part of efforts to enhance judicial cooperation in a bid to improve the fight against organized crime Justice Ministers from the Western Balkans previous week met at Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia. Eric H. Holder. The conference was part of the Slovenia-initiated Brdo Process for the Western Balkans, featuring ministers from the region as well as U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder. On that occasion Attorney General said that countries were already cooperating in the fight against organized crime and corruption and that US experts will continue to work together with experts from SE Europe. On the margins of this conference, Mr. Holder met with Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor.

2 International Water Summit 2011 POLITICS On April 15, the International Water Summit in Developing Countries took place, organized by Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. and Rotary Club of Paris, France. The event was attended by several NGOs working on water-related issues, diplomatic representatives of donor and recipient countries, Rotary club donators, and project partners. Slovenia was represented by Ambassador Roman Kirn, who moderated the working panel. Main points of the event were the critical issues concerning the access to clean water and minimal sanitary conditions, which is becoming an important cause of world migration. The question of access to clean drinking water is not only an important condition for social improvement, but also a key element for economic growth. POLITICS Ambassador Kirn at Georgetown University Announcement for Ambassador s Kirn talk. On April 18, Ambassador Roman Kirn was a guest speaker at McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Kirn presented the views of Slovenia, as a small and new member state, on the significance of the EU, its challenges, and outlook. He addressed the students taking a course on Doing Business in the European Union. Students were particularly interested in Slovenia s stance on further EU enlargement and challenges of the euro currency. 2

3 BuSINESS Investment Opportunities in Slovenia On April 20, Prime Minister Borut Pahor received a delegation of former politicians and diplomats from the United States. They came to discuss the situation in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Western Balkans. The delegation was most interested in investment opportunities in Slovenia, Central Europe, and the Western Balkans. Pahor presented advantages of the Slovenian market, opportunities for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia and the government s crisis and competitiveness measures. The American delegation, led by former Governor of New York George Pataki, included former U.S. ambassador to Slovenia Thomas Robertson, diplomat Herbert Walker and businessman Michael Neidorff. According to Prime Minister s office, the delegation came to Slovenia to get acquainted with the country and the region, and thus also held a short courtesy meeting with the prime minister. Green Partnership BuSINESS Representatives of eight Slovenian car industry companies established a partnership in which around 50 experts will look for solutions for green mobility and higher safety and comfort of passengers. The SiEVA partnership was established in Spodnja Idrija, Slovenia by representatives of Cimos, Hidria, Iskra Avtoelektrika, Iskra Mehanizmi, Kolektor Group, Mariborska livarna Maribor, Polycom and TPV. The partnership will associate knowhow, potential and infrastructure for developing new solutions in the field of advanced internal combustion engines, hybridization and electrification of vehicles, safety, and comfort and production excellence. Kolektor Group and Hidria both have companies based also in South Carolina. SiEVA members. 3

4 Additional Aid for Ivory Coast The European Commission doubled its humanitarian assistance for the victims of the Ivory Coast conflict to 60 million euros. The Ivory Coast is passing through a very difficult period, but now there is a chance to turn a new page, said EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina EU News Georgieva. The European Union (Commission and Member States) is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the victims of the Ivory Coast crisis, responding with 85 million euros so far. Experience of Slovenian Independence Dear readers: in previous Newsletters, we invited you to send us short (not more than 350 words) reminiscences about how you experienced, wherever you were, the Slovenian declaration of independence and the process of gaining Slovenian statehood. Personal story We still encourage you to send us your contributions to: vwa@gov.si, with the subject title My experience of Slovenian independence. Embassy of Slovenia wishes you Happy Holidays! 4

5 List To Do list OF EVENTS 1. Slovenia in US Photographer and film producer Alenka Slavinec s exhibition SLOVENIA IN US is a story of love, peace and courage, the main characters of which are world the renowned Lipizzaner horses, who are deeply interlinked with Slovenian identity and cultural heritage. Each of the 20 exhibited photos represents one year of Slovenian existence as an independent country, from its declaration of independence in 1991 to the present. When: Ongoing- June 10, 2011 Where: Embassy of Slovenia, 2410 California St., NW, Washington, DC More info: (202) Taste of Slovenia: A Real Food Tour Food Tour hosted by Sylvia P. Onušič, PhD, and Miha Rott, of Unique Slovenia. Participants will visit Istrian vineyards, alpine dairy farms, mountain pastures, cheese makers farmers markets, olive groves, biodynamic and alpine apiaries, sea-salt pans, sea-bass farm, and smoked-meet producers; learn about traditional methods of production; and participate in tastings of traditional products. When: June 5-12, 8 days, 7 nights Where: Slovenia More info: or: www. foodtourslovenia.wordpress.com 3. Welcome Home 2011 For the 20th Anniversary of Slovenia s Independence, various events will take place both in Slovenia and around the world. One of the biggest events will be the WELCOME HOME event, a Slovenian get-together, which will be held in Ljubljana. When: July 1, 2011 Where: Ljubljana, Slovenia More info: The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington., is available on: Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: vwa@gov.si, Editors: Maša Šiftar de Arzu, Neja Brglez 5