RECEPTION IN HONOR OF CONGRESSMAN OBERSTAR

On January 24, 2011, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington organized a farwell event in honor of the former Congressman James Oberstar, marking his exit from the US Congress.

Ambassador Roman Kirn presented to Congressman Oberstar a letter of recognition from the Slovenian parliamentary Committee on foreign policy. Congressman Oberstar also received a Letter of appreciation from the Slovenian President, Speaker of the Parliament and Foreign Minister. The ambassador also expressed gratitude for the congressman’s years of support of and contribution to Slovenia’s international recognition, the strengthening of Slovenia-U.S. bilateral relations and care for the Slovenian community in the US. CongressmanOberstarwasfirst elected to theHouseof Representativesin1974fromMinnesota’seightdistrict.Herepresented his district, populated among others by numerous Slovenian descendants, until the mid-term elections of 2010.

FIRST PAGE STORY

Embassy of Slovenia2410 California Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20008, USAT: +1202 386 66 01www.washington.embassy.si

EMBASSY’SNEWSLETTER

January 28, 2011

•  reception in honor of congressman oberstar

•  talking tom takes over

•  elan won at boat show•  energy efficient 

competition•  interview with 

honorable august b. pust

•  jean monnet program•  award for best 

slovenian essay•  experience 

of slovenian independence

•  list to do

Ambassador Kirn and Congressman Oberstar.

January 28, 20112

He was one of the more powerfuldemocrats in the House, chairing theHouse Committee on Transportation andInfrastructure. Hiswholelife,heproudlydeclaredhisSlovenian roots and for that, among various other things, he was honored in 2005 with

the medal of The Golden Order, given by the President of Slovenia, Dr. Janez Drnovšek. Among the guests at the celebration were also Senator Amy Klobuchar and FAA administrator Randy Babbit.

Ambassador Kirn with Congressman Oberstar and Senator Klobuchar.

Ambassador Kirn with Oberstar’s family. From left side: Mr. Todd Tower, Mrs. Noelle Tower (Oberstar’s daughter), Ambassador Kirn, Congressman Oberstar and Mrs. Jeanne Oberstar (Oberstar’s wife).

Talking Tom Takes OverBuSINESS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, legos, andTransformersmayhavefilledchildhoodbedrooms in the past, but now Slovenian company Outfit7 is betting that the toy of choice for kids nowadays is a smartphone or the iPad. And it has 60 million downloads to prove it. Outfit7isaforward-lookingSloveniancompany, founded by Andrej Nabergoj, its present CEO, about a year ago and now employing 20 engineers from Slovenia. Outfit7isbehindaseriesof talkingcharacterapps that often populate the best seller list on both Android and iOS systems. Theirflagshipcharacterisaskinnygraycat called Talking Tom, who drinks milk, purrs if you rub him and sometimes threatens to

scratch your iPad screen with his sharp claws. Across its entire portfolio of characters, the company, it says, has more than 10 million monthly actives and their aim is to launch 18 more apps in the year 2012. Mr. Nabergoj said that Outfit7 isearning more than enough in revenues with 12 million downloads to support its team and that he is also on the lookout for high-quality apps that make the company’s child-friendly demographic to cross-promote through Outfit7’snetwork. That this Slovenian company can regularly produce titles that shoot to the top of Android and iOS charts is a remarkable sign of mobile phone developer community’s global footprint.

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Slovenian Elan sailing yacht was honored at the Duesseldorf Boat Show 2011.

The “Water Sports Oscar” winners for this year were chosen by representatives of 18 leading yachting and powerboat magazines in Europe. Widely known as a ski manufacturer, Elan has also earned acclaim in the nautical field,mostrecentlywithitsnewsailingyachtElan 350, the first 35 foot-long sailing boatwith twin helm design. Elan 350 was launched at last year’s InternauticaboatshowinPortorož,whereitranked third in the vote for the best boat of the show. Elan had previously received European Yacht of the Year awards: in 2006, for the Impression 344 and, in 2007, for the Elan 340.

Elan Won at Boat ShowBuSINESS

Energy Efficient CompetitionBuSINESS

In a bid topromote energy efficiencyand the use of renewable energy, Slovenian Ministry of Economy and business journal Finance opened a competition for the most energy-efficientcompaniesandprojects. The panel will give awards for the most energy-efficient small company, largecompany, and project, as well as the best project using renewables, at the April conference of energymanagersinPortorož. Small companies will be evaluated based on their energy management and investment, while large companies’ evaluation will also include the company’s energy management priorities. Projects will be evaluated based on innovativeness, energy efficiency andenvironmental impact, profitability, and

whether it is possible to repeat and monitor the effects of the project.

January 28, 20114

Honorable August B. PustINTERVIEW SERIES

August B. Pust was born on the 1938 in Ljubljana,Slovenia.HearrivedinNewYorkCity,USAasastudenton1957.Heismarriedto wife Gloria and has one daughter, Adriana.

Mr. Pust performed 30 years of public service for 4 mayors, 3 governors, and a presidentof theUSA.Hereceivedtopawardsand recognitions from both Slovenia and the USA, including the special proclamation “Zahvala”fromthefirstelectedgovernmentof SloveniainApril1992.Heisalsorecipientof the Distinguished Service Medal from the State of Ohio and of the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, as well as the Medal of Freedom from the Captive Nations and American Nationalities Movement. In 2008 he was named Slovenian Man of the Year.What are your memories of the year 1991? The three years 1990 - 1991 - 1992 will be forever engraved in my memory because of several events, which not only crowned my public service career, but also elevated my pride as a Slovenia-born American. The solidarity movement for freedom of the Captive Nations, including Slovenia, reached its momentum, after the arrival of refugees (displaced persons) following the Second World War. The City of Cleveland, Ohio, became a leader in the movement through civilian and governmental efforts. Programs and events endorsing the cause

have been supported by mayors of the City. The American Nationalities Movement, representing over 40 nationality groups, was the major organization which had great impact in the State of Ohio and the United States by spearheading human rights and liberties. Itwaswellrecognizedasaninfluentiallobbyin U.S. Congress and the White House. Ibecame an active member of its Executive Board already in 1976 during the American Bicentennial Celebration. Support for Slovenia’s independence in Ohio began with a variety of interrelated programs coordinated between the United Americans for Slovenia, the Slovenian-American Council, fraternal-benefitssocieties,andothermembersof thecommunity, the City of Cleveland, and the State of Ohio.

In what way were you involved, and what was your role? As Executive Assistant to the Mayor in charge of International Relations, I had the opportunity to travel to Central and Eastern Europe, including the Republic of Slovenia, on behalf of the International Sister Cities Programs and as an International Fellow supported by the United States Information Agency(USIA)andsignedthefirstProtocol

President of SloveniaMilanKučan presentsHonoraryOrder of Freedom Medal of Slovenia to Mr. Pust at the Officeof PresidentinLjubljana,onJune6,2002.

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of Intentwith theMayorof Ljubljana, JožeStrgar, in the summer of 1990. Efforts continued and intensified when I served intheGovernor’sOfficeforGovernorGeorgeV. Voinovich of the State of Ohio. With him, we were able to reach President George H. Bush and key cabinet positions. A widerange of programs and events coordinated and supported through the leadership of the Slovenian-American community, helped lead to the peaceful democratic changes in Slovenia and produced a historically triumphant goal: independence for Slovenia, and the United States’ official recognition of the Republicof Slovenia on the morning of April 7, 1992, immediately followed by the State of Ohio. Ohiobecame thefirstAmericanStateto officially congratulate and recognize theRepublic of Slovenia and, in subsequent years, became a major partner in multilateral relations and exchanges.

What was in your opinion the biggest achievement for Slovenia in these 20 years? Achieving peace is always a top priority. The credit for success of the recognition of and evolution of programs that elevated Slovenia into the mainstream of free nations goes to the great people of Slovenia, who had the vision of realizing a centuries-old goal of national independence. Our salute goes to those brave men and women who, when duty

called, took arms to defend the country. Slovenia’s other big achievements over the past 20 years: becoming a free and independent country, independent of its role in the former Yugoslavia, and focusing on its successful membership in the European Union, even taking its turn to serve as the seat of the presidency of the EU.HowdoyouseeSlovenia20yearsfromnow,and how does its independence affect you and your lifestyle? I am a big optimist and believe in the hard-working, well-educated Slovenian people and their future. The world needs to support small, unique, non-aggressive nations to host global events with a focus on ecology, preservation of traditions, a commitment to diversity and civility toward all, and with respect for neighboring countries.

And I myself,. I am continuing to serve as a volunteer in the Board of Trusties in the national Council for International Programs (CIPUSA), which is committed to a mission of encouraging international understanding through professional development and cross-cultural exchanges of young people. It is also important for all of us, especially for Slovenians living abroad, to preserve and record our history as eyewitnesses to events that have shaped new democracies and changed the world. We all should be very proud to be Slovenian.

Slovenian Consul General in Cleveland, Tone Gogala, with Ohio Director of Multicultural Affairs August Pust andSlovenianfriendsraisingtheSlovenianflagatOhioStateHouseinColumbus,June25,2001.

Proud Slovenians celebrating 10th Anniversary of Slovenian Independence by displaying the Slovenian flag,givingasagift toOhio; left toright:JoeValenčič,August Pust with his daughter Adriana, Tone Gogala, and Charles F. Ipavec with his son Charles T.

January 28, 20116

Jean Monnet Program

Eu NEWS

Higher education institutions from allcountries of the world are encouraged to apply for funding to support Jean Monnet projects such as the creation of teaching modules, Jean Monnet Chairs, Jean Monnet Centers of Excellence, and conference projects on the European Union. The long-standing program is designed to increase knowledge about European integration by promoting teaching, research and debate at higher education institutions

on the history, politics, economics and law of the European Union and on the EU’s external relations. The deadline for proposal submission is February 15, 2011.More info on: www. eurunion.org/emailcampaigns/2011/call_jean_monnet_action_ka1_2011_en.php_

Experience of Slovenian Independence

PERSoNal SToRy

Dear readers, this year we invite 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.

We will share some of the stories in our weekly Newsletter. We encourage you to send us your contributions to: vwa@gov.si, with the subject title:My experience of Slovenian independence.

Award for Best Slovenian Essay 2011aNNouNcEmENTS

The magazine Sodobnost is announcing the Best Slovenian Essay competition for the year 2011. Essays have to be sent in three copies by March 10, 2011 to: Sodobnost, Suhadolčanova64,1000,Ljubljana,Slovenia.All essays will be judged by a panel of three judges. In order for the essays to be eligible for the competition, certain conditions must be met: (a) essays themselves must be marked only with a code; (b) a separate envelope,marked with the identical code that appears on the essay, must be enclosed containing

your name, address, telephone number and email (email is optional); (c) essaysmust beof a general, i.e., literary nature; academicessays with references will not be eligible;(d) each author can compete with up to three essays,whichmust be sent separately;(e) members of the board of editors at the magazine Sodobnost are excluded from the competition; (f) essays must not be shorterthen 20,000 characters nor longer then 40,000 characters (including spaces). The Essays should be written in Slovenian language.

January 28, 20117

The weekly Embassy’s Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington., is available on: www.washington.embassy.si.

Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: vwa@gov.si, Editors: Maša Šiftar de Arzu, Neja Brglez

List To Do

lIST oF EVENTS

1. Science Lecture on Transatlantic Medical Research and Collaboration

EURAXESS Links USA, the Delegation of the European Union and Consulate General of Slovenia in Cleveland cordially invite you to an event dedicated to science lectures with a European perspective on transatlantic medical research and collaboration. Guests will be greeted byJurčekŽmauc,ConsulGeneralof theRepublicof SloveniainCleveland.Threeesteemedlecturers will follow with their presentations: Astrid-Christina Koch, Science Counselor with theDelegationof theEuropeanUnioninWashingtonD.C.;MariaSiemionow,M.D,Ph.D.,D.Sc.,Professorof SurgeryattheClevelandClinic;andDavidTurk,MD,AssistantClinicalProfessor at Case Western Reserve University. When: Thursday, February 3, 2011, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Where:LutheranHospital,1730West25thStreet,Cleveland,OH44113.RSVP by email to johanna.bajc@gov.si by Monday, January 31, 2011.Open to public at no charge.

3. Annual gathering of Slovenian skiers from USA and Canada

The Slovenian American Community in New York invites you to the Catskill Mountains for the eighteenth SlovenSki weekend.When: February 4, 5, 6, 2011Where: Windham Mountain in upstate New YorkMore info on:jfkamin@verizon.net 4. Welcome Home 2011

For the 20th Anniversary of Slovenia’s Independence various events will take place both in Sloveniaandaroundtheworld.Oneof thebiggesteventswillbetheWELCOMEHOMEevent, a Slovenian get-together, which will be held in Ljubljana.When: July 1, 2011Where: Ljubljana, Slovenia More info: www.slovenia.info/homecoming.

2. Cosi Fan TutteSlovenian opera soprano Sabina Cvilak will perform in Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte in Palm Beach Opera.When: Friday, February 25, 2011 at 7:30 PM Where: Palm Beach Opera, 415 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401More info: www.pbopera.org