NEWSLETTERJUNE 1, 2012, VOLUME 8, NUMBER 22

Prizes for the Best Theses About Slovenians Abroadpage 3 >

Eurovisionwith EUNICpage 3 & 4 >

Kopitar Scoresin SCFinalspage 4 >

Embassy of Slovenia2410 California Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20008, USAT: +1 202 386 66 01E: vwa@gov.siwashington.embassy.si

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Wine Tasting at Slovenian Consulate in Knoxville On Sunday, May 20, 2012, the Slovenian Consulate in Knoxville, Tennessee, hosted a tasting of 15 different Slovenian wines for a group of 120 invited guests. Wines for the event were purchased from New York distributors or contributed by producers in the Brda/Vipava region of Slovenia. The orange wines from the Simbiosa wine group attracted special attention, and

many guests expressed to the attending local wine merchants the desire to have access to Slovene wines in the U.S. In addition to developing a taste for the wines of Slovenia, one of the aims of this wine event was to attract the interest of Tennessee state importers and distributors. That goal was achieved,

with appointments made for discussions within the next 2-3 weeks. A highlight of the event was the presence of Slovene Wine Queen, Lea Mlečnik, of the Vipava valley wine district. Finger food for the event was prepared by Maja Djorcev and fellow University of Tennessee graduate and law students.

Honorary Consul Lydia Mihelic Pulsipher, Maja Djorcev, Wine Queen Lea Mlečnik, Conrad Goodwin.

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 2

Since 2002, the UN has commemorated May 29 as International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. On this day in 1948, the Security Council established the fi rst UN peacekeeping operation, the UN Truce Supervision Organization, with a view to supervising the Arab-Israeli confl ict in the Middle East. The operation is still underway, with regular participation by members of the Slovenian Armed Forces in the role of military observers since 1998. Slovenia is active in ensuring international peace and security; in the twenty years since gainig its independence, over 5,000 Slovenians have taken part in peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN, which is a substantial contribution considering the size of the country. At a recent session, the Slovenian Government adopted a decision on deploying a military observer to the UNSMIS mission in Syria. This decision complies with Slovenia’s foreign policy priorities in

the area of human rights, especially now when Syrian civilians are facing severe human rights violations and systematic attacks by government forces. Slovenia advocates a peaceful solution of the situation in Syria through dialogue between the government and the opposition, both respecting Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan. Every year on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the Slovenian

Foreign Ministry pays its respects to over 120,000 active peacekeepers from 116 countries, involved in seventeen missions on four continents, mostly in Africa. This year’s day is dedicated to the importance of global partnership, which involves the UN, host countries, regional organizations and other partners of the UN. The annual budget for UN peacekeeping operations amounts to US$7.5 billion.

May 29 - International Day of UN Peacekeepers

COMMEMORATION

Slovenian soldiers in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon receiving UN Medals. (Source: Slovenian Ministry of Defense)

Tasting of the Simbiosa wines from the Vipava valley.The Batic, Santomas, and Quattro Mani table. Wine presenters on the left, tasters on the right.

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 3

Prizes for the Best Theses About “Slovenians Living Abroad” EVENTS

The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts hosted on May 22, 2012, an event at which the winners of prizes of the “Tenth prize competition for graduate, master’s and doctoral theses on topics about ’Slovenians living abroad’ and ’Slovenians living in exile, awarded by the Government Office for Slovenians Living Abroad, were announced. The awards were given to the winners by Ljudmila Novak, Minister for Slovenians abroad. The ceremony was also attended by the President of the National Assembly’s Commission for Relations with Slovenes Abroad, Franc Pukšič, and Dr. Sarah Žitnik, Vice President of the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). Minister Novak congratulated the winners and encouraged them to continue in their academic life to build public awareness of the life of Slovenians living abroad. She also stressed that such work is very important in maintaining ties among the Slovenians all over the world and the country of Slovenia. The official introduction was followed by the awards ceremony. First prize in the category Slovenians living abroad was awarded to Devan Jagodic for his doctoral thesis entitled “Cross-border residential mobility in

the context of the European Union: the case of the Slovenian-Italian border”. Second best in the same category was Milan Obida for his work “Ethnicity and minority discourse in the case of a solidarity movement: Austrian Carinthian Slovenes in the 70s of the last century”; and third prize went to Nikoletta Vajda Nagy for her thesis “Acceptance of the Slovenian minority in the Raba region”. A special prize for doctoral dissertation was given to Barbara Riman for her work “Slovenians in Gorski Kotar, Istria and Dalmatia from 1919 until 1991” Recommendation for publication was given to Mirjam Danilović’s thesis entitled “The language ability of college

students for economic professions in Carinthia”. First prize in the category Slovenians living in exile was not given out. Second prize was awarded to Miha Zobec for his thesis entitled “Being Argentine and live at home”; third prize was then given to Mateja Juričan for her work “Images of German concentration camps in selected parts of Slovenian and world literature,” and to Sanja Orlač for her work “U- foreigner topos of difference.” The board of examiners consisted of Dr. Breda Mulec, Dr. Jernej Zupančič, Dr. Milan Bufon, Dr. Zvone Žigon, Dr. Jernej Mlekuž, and Dr. Igor Maver.

Prize winners with Minister Ljudmila Novak.

Eurovision 2012 Song Contest Party with EUNIC CULTURE

The members and associates of the EUNIC Washington DC Cluster organized a live broadcast of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest from Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, May 26, afternoon.

The event was hosted by the Embassy of Austria. HD live transmission on big screen was provided in partnership with the Eurovision worldwide broadcast services, as twenty-six countries took part in the fi nale in

Azerbaijan’s spectacular Crystal Hall, in front of a live audience of some 20,000. The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among the 44 active member countries of the

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 4

European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Eurovision has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running and most-watched television programs in the world: audience fi gures have been estimated at nearly 600 million people internationally. For over half a century, the Eurovision Song Contest has

reached far beyond culture, ethnicity, or nationality to bring people together through popular music. Up to 125 million typically watch the annual contest on television around the world. After two semi-fi nals, the winner for this year’s competition, Loreen, triumphed for Sweden with her club track Euphoria. The former Swedish Idol contestant

led from early on in the voting at Baku, challenged only by Russia’s Buranovo Grannies Buranovskiye Babushki, Serbia, and host Azerbaijan. Loreen racked up a massive 372 points. Each country awards points to 10 competitors based on judges’ scores and a public vote, with 12 points being the maximum awarded.

The screening was the fi rst offi cial screening of the EBU in the U.S. A few hundred poeple gathered at the Embassy of Austria.

Kopitar’s Scores in the Stanley Cup fi nals SPORTS

On Wednesday, May 30 night, Los Angeles Kings center Anže Kopitar scored his game-winning goal in overtime, beating the New Jersey Devils 2:1 in the opening game of the Stanley Cup fi nals. Kopitar is the fi rst Slovenian to play in the NHL scoring the overtime win on the sport’s biggest stage and against a future Hall of Fame goalie, Kopitar gave the Kings, through their last season, their ninth consecutive road victory in these playoffs and 11th straight postseason win away from Staples Center. As Kopitar has repeatedly shown in his career, there’s nothing predictable about his game. The goal was the seventh

when he was 16. As a wide-eyed 17-year-old, he was the highest-ranked European player at the 2005 NHL draft, where he was taken -- 11th overall -- by the Kings. He joined

L.A. a year later, scoring two goals in his NHL debut against the Anaheim Ducks. He made his fi rst All-Star team the following season as the youngest player to appear in the game.

of these playoffs for the two-time All Star and the ninth postseason marker of his career. The now 24-year-old made a name for himself as a talented youth player in Slovenia, then decided it was time to face stiffer competition and moved to Sweden

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 5

Slovenia’s kayaker Nejc Žnidarčič convincingly won the K-1 sprint event of the Canoeing ICF Wildwater World Cup in Serbia’s Kraljevo on Sunday, May 27, 2012, beating Richard Hala of the Czech Republic. Another Czech, Karel Slepica, followed in the third place. In Duisburg, Germany, Slovenia’s Lovro Leban and Rok Kuk took the bronze in the 500-meter race at the Canoe Sprint World Cup; also, on Sunday, however, the two fi nished the 1000-meter event on the fourth place. Leban and Kuk were only about a half second behind the winners, Vadzim Mahneu and Raman Piatrushenka of

Belarus. The second place went to Germany’s Andreas Ihle and Martin Hollstein.

Žnidarčič Wins World Cup Event SPORTS

Nejc Žnidarčič.

‘Independence’ Computer Server Put on Display CULTURE

The National Museum of Contemporary History opened on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, an exhibition dedicated to history of computer communication. Entitled GOTO 1982, the exhibition includes Stenar, a computer server that played a part in Slovenia’s independence and was also used by the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) to disseminate news abroad.Stenar, named after a 2501-meter peak in the Julian Alps, was the main hub of Slovenian academic and research communications for over six years. It handled all e-mail for education, research, culture, and public information, hosting up to 11,000 users and a fi le server open to the public, according to the Academic and Research

Network (Arnes). “Its role during the time of Slovenia’s independence struggle must not be overlooked,” Arnes said in a press release.“With its help, researchers, university professors and students could e-mail their co-workers and colleagues abroad about the events in Slovenia

and the reasons behind the situation.” Individuals were even invited to become ‘citizen journalists’ for numerous foreign newspapers and radio stations, while the Slovenian Press Agency used Stenar’s capabilities to send news into the world. (STA)

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 6

Jurij Simčič was born in Ljubljana, spent his childhood and teenage years in Tolmin, and graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana. After graduation, he got a research position at the J.Štefan Institute’s Department for low and medium energy physics and became a graduate student at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana. After obtaining his doctorate degree, he was accepted as a NASA postdoctoral fellow at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. In 2008, after serving as a postdoctoral fellow for a year

and a half, he was offered a permanent position at JPL as a staff physicist and became the head of Highly Charged Ion facility within Atomic and Molecular Physics group at JPL. His area of research is laboratory astrophysics and involves studying of collisions of highly charged ions with electrons and neutral atoms or molecules and performing experimental measurements of probabilities for such collisions to occur in solar or stellar plasmas or in the upper parts of planetary atmospheres,

where ions of solar wind are interacting with gas and create beautiful artwork in the sky commonly known as auroras.

Slovenian Simčič at JPL

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The World Energy Forum 2012 will be held on October 22-24, 2012, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. This will be the fi rst time that this High-Level International Energy Conference will be held outside the United Nations headquarters. The Forum provides a unique opportunity for exchange of ideas on global energy issues from policy,

technology, and business perspectives. Leaders from the United Nations member states, international organizations, and corporations will seek tangible progress towards safer and more sustainable energy accessible to all. Since the year 2012 has been declared by the United Nations as the “International Year of Sustainability for All,” World Energy Forum would like to invite university students from around the world to participate in the 2012 International Energy Essay Contest to share their views on how this can be achieved. This contest is

open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students with an interest in the area of sustainable energy. The winners of the essay contest will receive a number of prizes, including the opportunity to discuss their approaches to solving the world’s energy problems at this year’s high level conference in Dubai. For information regarding the contest including essay guidelines, rules and prizes, as well as information about World Energy Forum 2012, please visit www.worldenergyforum2012.org.

World Energy Forum 2012 Essay Contest

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 7

Rogaška Slatina, a small hamlet and a municipality in the northeast of Slovenia, is known for its health-resort tourism, spa, and crystal glass. For centuries, the curative mineral water, rich in magnesium, the picturesque countryside and other local attractions have attracted visitors to the area. The area of Rogaška Slatina was known already to Celts and Romans, which has been proven by the excavations and the Roman road, which led past Lemberg and Rogatec from Celeia (nowadays Celje) to Petovium (Ptuj). The unique composition of the natural mineral water, branded as Donat Mg, is still today the main reason for Rogaška Slatina being a popular European health spa resort, specializing in healing and easing chronicle gastrointestinal, metabolic, management and psychosomatic diseases for centuries. The healing powers of water were known, even before being fi rst mentioned in writing

in 1572, by many locals and also travelers, who spread the news about the magical healing powers of the water throughout Štajerska and farther on. Today it is said by many that the springs were discovered by Croatian ban Peter Zrinjski, one of the most powerful landowners in Europe at the time. In 1665, he was supposedly hunting in the area of Rogaška Slatina. He suffered from kidney failure and local farmers told him to drink from the spring in the forest, near the church of the Holy Cross. Zrinjski’s health miraculously improved, and along with it brought fame to the so called holy-cross mineral water. The other legend of the Rogaška springs, meanwhile, says that Apollo, the healing and sun god, stopped the winged horse Pegasus as he was about to fl y to Mount Parnassus: “Don’t fl y to the sinful Parnassus! There is nothing but lies and vanity there. Here is the source of health and true divine power. Instead of Hippocrene, drink Roitschocrene,

the Rogaška spring in front of you!” The year 1803 is known as the year of the establishment of the spa resort, although in that year, it could only receive around 20 to 25 guests. During the golden age that followed, many of the European ruling families visited, such as Habsburg, Bonaparte, Bourbon, Obrenović, and Karađorđević, members of high nobility like Windischgraetz and Liechtenstein. The outstanding urban design of the health spa complex in Rogaška Slatina, made as early as the fi rst half of the 19th century, is today known as the richest fi gurative classicistic monument in Slovenia. Today, Rogaška Slatina is an attractive destination for people looking to improve their health with the natural mineral water Donat Mg; it also provides plenty of opportunities for relaxing and enjoying beautiful nature and rich cultural life. The spa resort Rogaška Slatina’s indoor

Rogaška Slatina TOURISM

An old poscard with the image of Rogaška Slatina.

Rogaška spa complex originates in 19. cen-tury.

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 8

The Slovenian Heritage Center at the SNPJ Recreation Center in Lawrence County, PA, will host an “Appreciation Dance” on Saturday, June 9, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The dance will feature two popular area polka bands, the Eddie Rodick and Joey Tomsick Orchestras. Joey Tomsick and his band were awarded “Musician of the Year” and “Band of the Year” by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in 2011. The SNPJ (Slovene National Benefi t Society) was formed in 1904 by new Slovenian-Americans to provide affordable life insurance, promote fraternalism and preserve the Slovenian culture, while for nearly 40 years the Slovenian Heritage Center has been developing a world-class museum in Western Pennsylvania. Museum displays of folk attire, handcrafts, art, national heroes, books and

more were donated by hundreds of descendants of Slovenian immigrants and assembled by teams of volunteers. Some displays feature items brought to America from Slovenia; others feature relics of early Slovenian-American communities. Visitors from across the United States, Canada and beyond have traveled to the museum since its opening in 1976. The June 9 dance is the Heritage Center’s way of saying thank you to donors, volunteers and supporters for making the museum such a success. Be sure to “visit Slovenia without passports” as the air-conditioned Slovenian Heritage Center will be open with no admission charge from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Children are also very welcome to dance, play in the grassy fi elds surrounding the dance shelter, or enjoy the nearby playground. The SNPJ Recreation Center is located one mile east of the Ohio/Pennsylvania border

on PA Route 108, or seven miles west (on PA 108) of the Mount Jackson Exit (#17) of Interstate 376. The dance will be held in the upper pavilion and picnic grove, rain or shine. Ample free, convenient parking is available. The SNPJ Slovenian Heritage Center is open Saturdays during the summer from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. To preview the Slovenian Heritage Center displays, visit them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SNPJHeritageCenter. Call the SNPJ Recreation Center at 724-336-5180 for directions or more information.

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and outdoor pools, whirlpools, and saunas offer a wide range of health and medical wellness programs, which provide for health and well-being. Along with all this, Rogaška Slatina offers also attractive challenges of gaming and congress tourism. Moreover, the rich legacy of Rogaška glasswork is known for its amazing quality of cut and engraved products made of lead crystal by hand by glass masters. In the glass factory Rogaška, the knowledge comes from almost 350 years of tradition. Today, it is one of the biggest European glass producers, exporting also to the U.S.

“Visit Slovenia” on June 9

JUNE 1, 2012, PAGE 9

The weekly Embassy 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,

Editor: Nuška Zakrajšek

EuroAsia ShortsNine Countries. Five Nights. One Medium.EuroAsia Shorts proudly presents an annual week of short fi lms from Europe, Asia, and the United States. The theme for EuroAsia Shorts 2012 is multiculturalism and diversity. When: June 4-8, 2012 at 6:30 pm. Doors will open at 6:00 pm.Where: Embassies and cultural centers throughout Washington DC.RSVP: euroasiashorts.com (select a date, then click on “RSVP NOW!” button)

Consular Hours in San FranciscoThe consular offi cer from the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, DC will be holding consular hours and providing consular services (authentications, certifi cations, etc.) Due to regulations and technical limitations the following services will NOT be provided during the consular hours in San Francisco: - applications for ordinary passports for Slovenian citizens of 12 years of age and above, - applications for visas and residence permits. When: June 8, 2012, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm Where: Honorary Consulate of Slovenia in San Francisco, 354 Pine Street, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 For more info: send an e-mail to the embassy at vwa@gov.si

Start your Independence Day holiday week with the Polka Mass at SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio, Sunday, July 1, 2012, promptly at 1:00 p.m. America’s polka padre, Father Frank Perkovich, arrives from Minnesota to lead the service, accompanied by the Eddie Vallus Orchestra. Dinner and dancing follow. You can also meet brewer and vintner Ed Trebets and learn the fi ne points of selecting beers and wines.

This is Father Perkovich’s fi rst Polka Mass appearance in the Cleveland area this year, as Eddie Vallus and his orchestra make a special trip from the Youngstown area to entertain with vocalist John Ross. Dinners, refreshments and sandwiches are served after the Mass. Admission to the dance is only $6.00; for children and teens the entrance is free. Call Sophie Matuch, (440) 951-6906, for all the details. SNPJ Farm

is on Heath Road in Kirtland, Ohio, off Chardon Road (Route 6), three miles east of Route 306 and six miles west of State Route 44. (Joe Valencic)

Bring the Polka Mass to SNPJ Farm on July 1

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Lučka Koščak’s Angels Exhibition“The sculpture of Lučka Koščak is defi nitely something special inside the Slovenian Art space (and in general), because we can’t defi ne it within the context of either traditional or even less of modernistic or postmodernistic sculpture… The peace that the sculptures express is not meant to be for them, but for us. The calmness that they shine with is not the calmness of timelessness, but the calmness of this very moment that we live in…” (Mojca Grmek, art critic) Where: Embassy of Slovenia, 2410 California Street, NW, Washington, DCWhen: Ongoing - June 16, 2012