Brdo–

politicsenvironment
culturebusinesssports
11
November 2007
Presidential elections:
Lojze Peterle and Danilo Türk
make it into the second round
The
storm caused more than
200 million euros worth of damage
Brdo
–
soon to become the European hub
ISSN 1854-0805
sinfo oktober 07
QuotesoftheMonth
Climate changes are
the greatest challenge for our generation
Janez Janša
rything to start the reconstruction as soon as possible, but
first, access to the hospital has to be arranged, because so
far only climbers have been able to reach it and photograph
the conditions there.
/Prime Minister/:
New York, 25 September
Only by working together can we put an end to climate
change before it puts an end to mankind. Technology has
caused most of these changes, and technology is also the
solution. The recent storm that hit Slovenia shows that no
part of the planet is safe from the negative consequences
of climate change; which in turn shows that no one can be
exempt from our joint mission. The tasks of the joint mission
should be distributed fairly.
Juri Kavčič
/Mayor of Cerkno/:
Hospital is gone
The Franja Partisan
Cerkno, 19 September
Great solidarity
coming from everywhere has given the
people new hope and faith in life
Mihael Prevc
/Mayor of Železniki/:
Železniki, 21 September
In the past twenty years, we have already witnessed three
catastrophic floods, and some members of our community
have lost everything for the third time. Following this last
flood, they despaired and wondered if it was sensible to continue living in Železniki. It was precisely the great solidarity coming from everywhere that has given the people new
hope and faith in life.
The Franja Partisan Hospital is practically gone. Only two of
the thirteen barracks are still standing in position; some have
been moved by the water, but the ones at the top of the
gorge have simply disappeared. The situation is alarming.
The two barracks still in position are badly damaged. The
greatest damage is the loss of the inventory of museum artefacts that were exhibited in the barracks, as they were all
originals.
/Culture Minister/: The
condition
of Franja Hospital is even worse than we
anticipated
Vasko Simoniti
Cerkno, 19 September
The resulting condition is even worse than we had anticipated. I think the Government acted wisely when it decided
to completely reconstruct Franja Hospital. We will do eve-
Janša: Modernising the Slovenian
railway network is one of Slovenia’s main
challenges
Janez
Koper, 4 October
The national problem of modernising the Slovenian railway
network is one of the country’s and its taxpayers’ main challenges, and from the financial point of view, our greatest
challenge in the coming decade. At the same time, this is
also an obligation and a duty to accept our share in the modernisation of key European corridors.
Janša on the new EU Treaty: We
an optimistic move
are about to make
Ljubljana, 12 October
Prime Minister Janez Janša: With the new EU Treaty, the EU
has ‘taken a step forward’, while Slovenia finds it important
that the draft treaty retains most of the text from the unsuccessful Constitutional Treaty, i.e. the provisions that are
‘indispensable to Slovenia’. Among them are those providing for institutional balance, an improved institutional framework, more effective decision-making, increased powers for
the European Parliament, the legality of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, a clearer separation of national and European competences, and respect for cultures and linguistic
diversity.
sinfo oktober 07
Editorial: Government Communication Office, Director: Anže Logar, MA, Gregorčičeva 25, 1000 Ljubljana, tel. +386 (0) 1 478 2605, fax +386 (0) 1 251 2312, www.ukom.gov.si
Editor-in-Chief: Vesna Žarkovič, [email protected], Editor: Jože Osterman, MA, [email protected], Editorial board: Polona Prešeren, MA, Albert Kos, Ramón Miklus, Andrej Savelli.
Production editing: Nataša Simsič, Translation: U.T.A. Miha Žličar s.p., Printed by: Tiskarna Pleško d.o.o., Number of copies printed: 3.500
Available also at: http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publications/sinfo
Vesna Žarkovič
AN EXPRESSION OF SOLIDARITY
AND INTERDEPENDENCE
8-15 WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Slovenia’s Presidential election
THE 13TH SLOVENIAN SCIENCE FESTIVAL
BORIS PAHOR RECEIVES TOP FRENCH HONOUR
Exhibition in Brussels
T
he storm which claimed six lives and caused more
than 200 million euros worth of damage was one of
the biggest ever in this country. The tempest which
raged across Slovenia left behind destruction, but it also
proved that human goodness is limitless. Everyone tried
to do what they could: some donated money or clothes,
others promoted charities, some did charity work, while
others housed those whose homes had been destroyed.
So many eager volunteers came to Železniki that they ran
out of shovels. As if the mud left behind by the local 'deluge'
had created a miracle, which made modern people,
trapped in everyday banalities, realise the meaning of life.
This was also made possible by excellent support from the
Government.
16-19 INTERVIEW
SONJA ŠMUC
The unofficial results of the election on Sunday 21
October show that Slovenian citizens will have to go to
the polls again. The candidates in the second round on
11 November are Lojze Peterle and Danilo Türk.
23-26 COVER STORY
BRDO - soon to become the European hub
30-31 IN FOCUS
In the first half of next year, when Slovenia presides over
the EU, the new President will be spending a lot of time
at Brdo, an idyllic estate almost in the middle of Europe.
Many people say that this new European hub is the most
beautiful part of Slovenia. Even though it will only open
officially at the end of November, we offer a sneak preview
in this issue. The estate also begins a new chapter in
the history of public architecture in Slovenia, as not many
such projects have been realised since 1991.
SLOVENIA STRUCK BY A SEVERE NATURAL DISASTER
At the traditional autumn meeting of the Managers'
Association of Slovenia on 11 October in Ljubljana, senior
managers met the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez
Janša. They agreed that the "complete picture" of the
Slovenian economy was good and that it needed to
remain sustainable. Find out more about the situation in
the interview with the managing director of the Managers'
Association of Slovenia, Sonja Šmuc.
30-31 MADE IN SLOVENIA
Litostroj - a Brand of International Renown
40-44 THIS IS SLOVENIA
Kostanjevica na Krki
Cow Ball at Bohinj
the Cviček Trails
Tolminska korita
Government Communication Office: www.ukom.gov.si
Government Institutions: www.gov.si
Slovenian Tourist Board: www.slovenia.info
Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.gzs.si
Slovenian Chamber of Craft: www.ozs.si
Public Agency of the RS for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments: www.japti.si
Ljubljana Stock Exchange: www.ljse.si
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia: www.stat.si
State Portal of the Republic of Slovenia: http://e-uprava.gov.si
45 SPORT
The Presidency Runs the Marathon
Cover photo: Primož Lavre
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Monthly Report
Ramón Miklus
The Presidency Core Working Group, headed by the PM Janez Janša. Photo: STA Archives
The Core Working Group discusses
the Presidency programme
Visiting Slovenia as an emissary of the British Foreign Office
and the UK Trade and Investment, Prince Andrew held
talks with Foreign Minister Rupel, and he took part in a
UK-sponsored conference that was part of an educational
The Core Working Group for the EU Presidency headed
by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez
Janša, met on 17 September to discuss preparations for
the EU Presidency in the first half of 2008. The members
approved the progress report on preparations between July
and September and the operational work programme of
subgroups for the final quarter of 2007. The meeting focused
on the Presidency programme. The Core Working Group
discussed specific priorities from the key four areas of the
18-month trio programme: the future of the Union, the Lisbon
Strategy, strengthening the area of freedom, security and
justice, and enhancing the EU’s external role. The finalising
of priorities will take place at the beginning of November.
The Core Working Group supported a decrease in the
number of sub-ministerial events and approved the final
selection of informal events which are financed by the
presiding country, reducing them to 134 informal events, 122
of which are to be held in Slovenia while the remaining 12 will
be held in other member states.
Prince Andrew Lauds Slovenia's
Achievements
The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, praised Slovenia's
achievements since it gained independence in 1991 as he
met top Slovenian officials on Tuesday 18 September, during
his official visit to Slovenia. Convinced that this trend would
continue, Prince Andrew said in talks with PM Janez Janša
that the United Kingdom was willing to share examples of
best practice, for example in public-private partnership.
Prince Andrew wished Slovenia a lot of success during its
Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2008 and pledged
the UK's support for Slovenian efforts.
sinfo november 07
Prince Andrew (left), held talks with PM Janša as part of his two
days official visit to Slovenia. Photo: STA Archives
programme on energy for SE Europe. The year-long
educational programme was initiated by the British Embassy
in Ljubljana, based on an energy community agreement
signed in October 2005 by countries in the region.
Monthly Report
Government Adopts Relief Measures,
Declares Friday Day of Mourning
right way, which many other countries have acknowledged,"
said the Prime Minister.
In the aftermath of 18 September floodings, that claimed six
lives and caused vast devastation in many parts of Slovenia,
the government adopted relief measures and decided to
declare a national day of mourning for the victims. The relief
measures were to be presented by PM Janez Janša during
a visit to Letus, a small village in mid-northeast, where six
people died in floods. The European Commission said
that Slovenia could get funds from the EU Solidarity Fund,
including for the WW II Franja partisan hospital, which
has been devastated by the flood. President José Manuel
Barroso expressed the Commission's solidarity with the
families of the victims as well those who lost their homes
in the disaster. Barroso will also address a letter to Prime
Minister Janša over options for the EU's assistance.
The Slovenian Red Cross has already allocated EUR 230,000
from its solidarity fund for the families hit by the flooding
in Škofja Loka, Tolmin, Radovljica, Idrija, Slovenska Bistrica,
Laško, Žalec, Mozirje and Sevnica.
The Catholic charity Caritas allocated EUR 8,500 and sent a
lorry and two vans to the hardest-hit village of Železniki. Both
charities have also launched campaigns to raise funds for
the people affected by the flooding.
EIB Supports More Efficient and
Sustainable Energy Use
The European Investment Bank (EIB) endorsed an increase
of funds for projects aimed at more efficient and sustainable
energy use. EIB chair Philippe Maystadt said at European
Investment Bank annual Forum, held in Ljubljana from 27
to 28 September, that the EIB would redraft the policy on
regulation of transport. Maystadt also announced at the
forum dubbed "Investing in Energy - Mastering Climate
Change" that "European Post 2012 Carbon Fund" would be
established, designed for trading with CO2 coupons after
the Kyoto protocol expires.
The fund will also support environmentally-friendly projects,
such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, forestry and
greenhouse gas related measures between 2013 and 2022.
The EIB increased funds for clean energy with less CO2
emissions by almost EUR 450m. According to Maystadt, this
complements the funds that the EIB has already allocated
for initiatives aimed at cutting the climate change impact
which are part of EU's new action plan for energy policy.The
EIB is planning on allocating at least EUR 800m of loans
yearly for renewable energy projects. The bank has loaned
over EUR 6bn for energy projects since the beginning of
2006. Some EUR 456m were allocated for renewable energy
projects in 2006, and EUR 901m in 2007.
The participants in the forum also signed today five loan
agreements for projects aimed at increasing energy supply
and encouraging renewable energy and energy efficiency,
three of which were signed by Slovenia.
PM: No one is Exempt From the
Struggle Against the Negative
Consequences of Climate Change
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša,
at UN Headquarters attended on 24 September a high-level
event on climate change called The Future in our Hands:
Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change,
convened by the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. Slovenia's
participation at this session is all the more important in the
light of the country's forthcoming EU Presidency, when
climate change is expected to top agendas both in the EU
and globally.
The Slovenian PM and the President of East Timor and
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, José Manuel Ramos-Horta, cochaired the morning session on the role of technology in
tackling climate change. "Technology has caused most of
these changes and technology is also the solution," said PM
Janez Janša, stressing the need for a worldwide exchange
of technological advancement, innovation and patents.
In the afternoon session, which focused on adapting to
climate change, the Slovenian PM Janez Janša took to
the podium on behalf of the European Union and Slovenia.
He stressed that the tasks of the joint mission should be
distributed fairly.
"Those who have contributed more to the climate change
have a better opportunity to take part in the struggle against
the negative consequences. Without the collaboration of the
most developed countries, we cannot expect any significant
progress in real time." The introductory remarks of the
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, show that this view is shared
by the majority. "I hope that the conference will allow for the
construction of an efficient 'post-Kyoto' framework, with a
new global approach to these commitments. In March, the
European Union took certain commitments and showed the
Janša Identifies Presidency Priorities
in UN Speech
Prime Minister Janez Janša highlighted Slovenia's priorities
for its term as EU president in the first half of 2008 in his
address to the UN General Assembly late on Thursday 28
September in New York, pinpointing combat against climate
change, advocacy of human rights, progress in the Western
Balkans, UN reform and intercultural dialogue.
Janša said an important part of the ongoing 62nd UN
General Assembly session would coincide with a period
when Slovenia takes on a greater international responsibility.
"We will do everything in our power to use this chance to the
benefit of not only Europe, but the international community
as a whole," Janša pledged in his first ever address to the
UN General Assembly. According to him, the UN will be "at
the centre of Slovenia's efforts" during its EU Presidency.
"This organisation continues to represent humanity in the
best possible way." Janša welcomed progress in the UN
reform and said Slovenia would "continue to strive for a more
responsive, effective and representative World Organisation".
Touching on the UN's role in maintaining peace and stability,
Janša said more than 10% of Slovenian Armed Forces
were deployed in its missions abroad. The PM also urged
seeking such solutions for the Western Balkans that would
sinfo november 07
Monthly Report
The PM relies on Ms Kucler Dolinar's knowledge of the
organisation and workings of EU institutions, Slovenia's goals,
and common European priorities. "Her knowledge of the
work and organisation of public administration is definitely
one of the candidate's advantages, which will help her to
take over the management of various projects run under
the Ministry, and above all successfully conclude those laid
down in this Government's programme for this term," said
PM Janša presented the EU presidency priorities in his address to
the UN General Assembly. Photo: STA Archives
not waste the progress made so far, after the international
community had invested substantial, human, financial and
other resources in the region in the last 15 years.
Touching on intercultural dialogue, Janša referred in particular
to Slovenia's focus on the Mediterranean area. "I hope for
an early launch of the Euro-Mediterranean University, which
is Slovenia's concrete contribution to raising the awareness
about the need for peaceful coexistence among various
cultures and mindsets."
Mojca Kucler Dolinar is the new Minister of Higher Education,
Science and Technology. Photo: STA Archives
Parliament Appoints Kucler Dolinar
Higher Education Minister
the PM. Kucler Dolinar holds a bachelor's degree in law. A
member of the Ljubljana City Council, she has been an MP
since 2004 and chairs the parliament's Domestic Policy,
Public Administration and Justice Committee.
At 1 October regular
session the National Assembly
approved Ms Mojca Kucler Dolinar as the new Minister of
Higher Education, Science and Technology. Kucler Dolinar,
the third woman and at 35 the youngest member of the 18member cabinet, succeeds Jure Župan. He stepped down
at the end of August along with the health and transport
ministers, Andrej Bručan and Janez Božič; their successors
were named three weeks ago.
According to the PM Janez Janša, Ms Kucler Dolinar would
have to negotiate a wide range of tasks very soon. In three
months, Slovenia will take over the Presidency of the EU, and
the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
will be responsible for managing and monitoring dossiers
that fall under the competence of four EU Commissioners.
sinfo november 07
Maribor Hospital Opens EUR 15m
Investment
Maribor University Hospital opened on 1 October a 10,500 sq
meter facility hosting departments of ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery and otorhinolaryngology. The facility costs
around EUR 8m, while the new equipment is worth EUR 7m,
hospital director Gregor Pivec told the press. The newly-built
department of eye diseases offers 40 hospital beds, while
the other two provide 50 beds each. In addition to modern
Monthly Report
EU and Western Balkan Allied Against
Crime
The 7th regional ministerial conference on illegal migration,
organised crime, corruption and terrorism started on
Thursday 4 October at Brdo pri Kranju, focusing on migration
flow management in SE Europe. Justice and interior affairs
ministers of the EU Troika and Western Balkan countries
agreed at ministerial conference that cross-border crime
can only be tackled in cooperation. "We are ready to work
closely with countries of the EU and Western Balkans,"
Portuguese Interior Minister Rui Pereira told the press.
Interior Minister Dragutin Mate meanwhile expressed content
that the cooperation with Western Balkans is already bearing
fruit. "I was pleasantly surprised to see the commitment of
the countries of Western Balkans to undergo reforms and
adopt examples of good practices into their governments,"
he explained. Based on current results, we can expect a
great deal of success at fighting different types of crime on
the so-called "Balkan route", Mate said.
European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security
Franco Frattini was optimistic as well, stressing that the EU
and Western Balkan countries share a common interest in
cooperation.
This will contribute to better security for everyone, and a
freer flow of people and goods he said. One step towards
achieving this is the new visa strategy, Frattini said. After the
expansion of bloc's Schengen passport-free zone to nine
new countries, scheduled for the end of the year, citizens
of Western Balkan countries will be able to obtain visa for
24 EU members through a simplified procedure, European
Commissioner explained.
Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič visited the new facilities of the
Maribor University Hospital. Photo: STA Archives
outpatient clinics, operating rooms and an emergency ward,
the new facilities house a research centre, a cytogenetics
lab, a library and a chapel.
According to Gregor Pivec and Health Minister Zofija Mazej
Kukovič, the facilities offer high accommodation standards
as well as a high-degree of transfer of modern diagnostic
and therapeutic methods to hospital's everyday work.
However, both departments are understaffed and are facing
long queues, said Pivec, while Mazej Kukovič pointed to
the general lack of doctors in Slovenia and stressed the
important service of the Maribor Faculty of Medicine.
Interior Minister Dragutin Mate (right) with the European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini. Photo: STA Archives
sinfo november 07
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Slovenia’s Presidential election
will be decided in a second round
run-off between Peterle and Türk
Source: STA
The unofficial results of the election on Sunday 21 October
show that Slovenian citizens will have to go to the polls
again. The candidates in the second round on 11 November
are Lojze Peterle and Danilo Türk. The number of ballots
counted so far is 978,130. Election commissions have yet to
count ballots from nursing homes and prisons, while on 29
October postal votes from abroad will be added.
The turnout in the first round of the 2002 election was 72%;
and 65% in the second round between Janez Drnovšek and
Barbara Brezigar.
Lojze Peterle and Danilo Türk, the candidates most likely
to contest the second round according to early results,
symbolically shook hands in the presence of the media and
their supporters in the election press centre in Ljubljana.
The winner of the first round, with 28.5% of votes, is Lojze
Peterle, followed by Danilo Türk (24.54%) and Mitja Gaspari
(24.16%). The leader of the SNS, Zmago Jelinčič, came fourth
with 19.29%, followed by Darko Krajnc (2.16%), Elena Pečarič
(0.87%), and Monika Piberl (0.47%). The turnout was 57%, with
5,033 void ballots.
Mr Peterle, who arrived at the press centre with his wife and
children, does not expect the second round to be marked
by ‘strict polarisation’. “I am glad that we won in the first
round,” said Mr Peterle, thanking everyone who supported
him. Although he expects a more intense second round, he
is determined to negotiate it with optimism. He believes that
he has everything it takes to continue the election battle, to
which he added, “Lojze Peterle is the right candidate for the
President of the Republic.”
Official results are expected by 29 October, after which the
second round will be called on 11 November. The candidates
for the second round will have less time for the campaign,
which will be subject to the same rules as the first one.
sinfo november 07
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Presidential Candidates in Brief
Lojze Peterle
Zmago Jelinčič
was the first Slovenian prime
minister after the country held the
first multi-party elections in April
1990. A year before, he was among
the founders of the Slovenian
Christian
Democrats
(SKD).
After the SKD merged with the
People's Party (SLS) in April 2000,
a move that he supported, he soon
founded a new party over a split in the merged SKD-SLS.
New Slovenia (NSi) emerged in August 2000, ever since led
by Andrej Bajuk. In 2000, Peterle became foreign minister in
the six-month Andrej Bajuk Government, and was elected to
European Parliament (EPP) in June 2004. He was born on 5
July 1948 in the region of Dolenjsko (SE). He has two BAs one in geography and history and another in economics. He
is running as independent with the support of the coalition
Slovenian Democrats (SDS), People's Party (SLS), and New
Slovenia (NSi).
is the leader of the opposition Slovenian
National Party (SNS), which he founded in
March 1991 and has headed it ever since.
He took the party to parliament in the 1992
election, when it won 12 seats. The party
was successful also in the subsequent
elections in 1996, 2000 and 2004, however
always remaining in the opposition. In his
free time, Jelinčič enjoys numismatics,
scuba diving, flying and collecting arms. He
is also chair of the Aeronautical Association of Slovenia. He was born
on 7 January 1948 in Maribor and studied pharmacy at the Faculty for
Pharmacy in Ljubljana. Jelinčič is known for his controversial public
appearances sometimes verging on hate speech. He is running as
the candidate of his Slovenian National Party (SNS).
Darko Kranjc
has been the president of the nonparliamentary Slovenian Youth Party (SMS)
since 2004. He started his political career
as a student deputy in the assembly of
the Student Organisation of the University
of Ljubljana. Later he was elected the first
president of the Slovenian Student Union. In
the 2004 election, he stood for MP on the list
of his party, while in 2006, he ran for mayor of
Šentilj, a municipality near the second-largest
Slovenian city of Maribor, where he was born on 9 May 1975. He has a
bachelor's degree in social work and is currently finishing his master's
degree in sociology at the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences. He is
running with the support of the SMS and 3,000 signatures of voters.
Has has also been endorsed by the European Green Party.
Danilo Türk,
a professor of international law
at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law,
is known as the ex-ambassador
at the UN and an aide to UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan.
He became a diplomat at the
UN, the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe
and the CoE after Slovenia's
independence in 1991. Upon
returning from the UN, Türk, who earned a Ph.D. in international
relations in 1982, took up the post of chair of international
relations at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law in 2005.
Türk, born on 19 February 1952 in Maribor, is running as
an independent with the support of the opposition Social
Democrats (SD), the newly-established Zares party, and
the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS). The SD endorsed
him after its leader Borut Pahor decided not to join the
presidential race, but try to secure his party a victory in the
next general election.
Elena Pečarič
is a founding member and the president
of the Youth Handicapped Deprivileged
association (YHD). For several years she
has been organising various cultural
events, education activities and trainings
on independent life for the disabled and on
the theory of handicap. She has taken part
in campaigns that encourage solidarity and
cooperation, always trying to get a better
place for the disabled and other marginal
groups in the society. Pečarič was born on 6 October 1971 in Ljubljana,
and has a degree in philosophy and sociology of culture from the
Ljubljana Faculty of Arts. She is running with the support of the nonparliamentary Acacias and three members of parliament.
Mitja Gaspari
is the most well-known among
the Slovenian public as an
ex-central bank governor; he
headed the Bank of Slovenia
for one six-year term between
April 2001 and end-March 2007.
He did bid for another term,
but failed to win parliamentary
majority in a controversy between
coalition and opposition parties.
In 1989, he finished a master's
degree in economics in Belgrade, Serbia, and worked as
senior economist at the World Bank in 1991 and 1992. Upon
returning to Slovenia in June 1992, he became finance
minister in the LDS Janez Drnovšek government. He won a
seat in parliament in the 2000 election, but left the post in
April 2001 for that of central bank governor. During his term
in office, Slovenia joined the eurozone. Gaspari was born on
26 November 1951 in Ljubljana. He joined the presidential
race as an independent candidate with the support of the
opposition Liberal Democrats (LDS).
Monika Piberl
is a co-founder and president of the
non-parliamentary Voice of Women,
the only women's party in Slovenia. The
party was established before the 2000
general election in a bid to promote
rights of women, present their initiatives
and proposals and point out that women
do not feature significantly in social and
political life. Piberl, who entered politics
in 1992, is a member of the city council of
Maribor, the city in which she was born on
4 January 1950. She is running for president with the support of her
party and 3,000 voter signatures.
sinfo november 07
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Slovenian Science Festival by the Slovenian Science Foundation explored ways of improving life through science. Photo: STA Archives
The 13th Slovenian
Science
Festival
We seek to establish harmony between people and science
and research as potentially influential activities on the other.
People encounter science everywhere; they use its findings
and achievements. It is nearly impossible to live without
being aware of the significance of science. It is true, however,
that people who realise this are those who have obtained
certain knowledge, have confidence in that knowledge, and
are proud of it. Their pride extends to researchers, who find
solutions to problems in their work, particularly problems
relevant for their home country.
Andraž Poeschl, photo: STA Archives
B
Slovenia’s efforts to bring science closer to people
– namely, its promotion and popularisation – are not only
in accordance with EU efforts, but are also incorporated
in them. The Slovenian Science Festival was a part of the
European Science Festival WONDERS for the second time
this year. SSF’s participation in the European projects called
Science in Society has a similar aim. Both their choice
and the name speak volumes – only a few years ago, the
European Commission ran such a programme under the
name Science and Society.
We need to point out that by linking science and society we
are not associating two separate entities. Science is within
society; it is its inseparable component and attribute.”
etween 18 and 20 September Cankarjev dom
in Ljubljana hosted the 13th annual Slovenian
Science Festival organised by the Slovenian
Science Foundation (SSF). The theme of this
year’s three-day event was “Fun with Science
for all Ages”. In recent years, the director of SSF, Dr Edvard
Kobal, and his colleagues have been striving to make
science breach the bastions of research and specialised
departments of faculties and institutions, and enter the
everyday discussions of a wider population in Slovenia. Dr
Kobal explained his view on the intertwining of science and
everyday life:
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10
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Dr Žiga Turk, the Slovenian Minister without portfolio
responsible for growth and the honorary sponsor of
the festival, wrote a piece in the festival programme
brochure on the role and importance of the science
festival for Slovenia. He believes that science could
establish itself among all generations as a way of
thinking, and that such a festival can highlight
other advantages of science, and " answers the
challenges it poses to a restless, inquisitive
mind. Slovenia needs scientists, engineers
and other creative people who intrepidly
seek innovations and think outside the box.
The aim of this festival is to encourage
visitors to take such a path.”
Only time can tell how many visitors to this
year’s event were actually excited about
science. We can assume, though, that
all the people who came to Cankarjev
dom find science at least somewhat
interesting. However, it would be
difficult to contest the programme
itself. Bringing together interesting
topics and lecturers for all ages is an arduous
task. The younger visitors enjoyed workshops like
Fun with Science and Kids for Kids. The latter also featured
projects, such as Research on the Best Future Transport Fuel
(Nove Jarše Primary School, Ljubljana), Milk as a Chemical
Substance (Matija Valjavec Primary School, Preddvor), and
Mobile Phones and Youth (Vižmarje Brod Primary School).
The everyday events were Tomaž Ogrin’s Experiment Room,
astronomy workshop with Marijan Prosen (author of several
books on the subject) chat rooms with different scientists,
and a show by science promoters from Denmark.
young
p e o p l e
to study natural
science
subjects.”
Secondary
school
visitors
attended lectures on career opportunities
and got the first-hand information on what
it takes – besides talent, of course – to become a
top athlete (from swimmer Peter Mankoč), a top scientist
(from Dr Damijan Miklavčič from the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering) and others. They could also participate in the
Young Researchers Symposium, covering difficult topics
such as Knowledge of Autism Among Slovenian Secondary
School Students (Gimnazija Vič, Ljubljana),
The Effect of Light Pollution on Plants and Animals (Prva
gimnazija Maribor), and Employment Possibilities in Slovenia
and the EU (Srednja šola Črnomelj). Participants also
discussed alternative energy resources, which is a very
popular topic: Is Energy Production Using Wood Biomass
Economically Justifiable? (Gimnazija Ormož) and Biodiesel
(Srednja ekonomska šola, Ljubljana).
Edvard Kobal said: “Tomaž Ogrin from the Jožef Štefan
Institute was awarded the title ‘Star of the Slovenian Science
Festival’. For three days in a row Ogrin and his group of
young researchers performed a so-called ‘chemistry theatre’
in Štih Hall. These chemistry and physics experiments were
intended especially for pupils and teachers and usually
cannot be performed in schools for various reasons. I can
say this event was a nice independent contribution to better
understanding natural sciences and an encouragement for
Older visitors could happily acknowledge the increased
interest of youngsters in scientific subjects, and could rest
assured by the fact that the world lies on the youngsters'
shoulders. They were equally pleasantly surprised by
the announcement of the 70th anniversary of the Proteus
popular science magazine, familiar from the school days of
numerous inquisitive generations. They also upgraded their
knowledge by visiting the chat rooms or attending lectures
such as Adolescent and close relationships, which never fail
to arouse interest.
Since the messengers of science are first and foremost
people – scientists themselves – the organisers naturally
dedicate each festival to a world-famous personality. This
13th annual festival celebrates the life and work of the
Swedish natural scientist and physician Carl von Linné. This
year we are celebrating the 300th anniversary of his birth.
11
sinfo november 07
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Boris Pahor
Receives Top French Honour
Photo: STA Archives
W
riter Boris Pahor, a member of the Slovenian
minority in Italy, has received many awards,
including the distinguished Prešeren Award,
and is often mentioned as a candidate for
the Nobel Prize for Literature. At the end of
September the French Ambassador to Slovenia, Chantal de
Bourmont, presented the writer with yet another award, the
Legion of Honour, which is the highest French state order.
The French Embassy said that by bestowing the award on
the writer, France wants to honour Boris Pahor as “a polyglot
and active member of the Slovenian minority in Trieste, who
is also a passionate advocate of European cultural and
linguistic diversity”.
his French language skills. The French language, as he likes
to stress, saved his life on more than one occasion.
The citation of the award states that France wishes to
honour this polyglot and active member of the Slovenian
minority in Trieste because he is a passionate advocate of
European and linguistic diversity. Pahor received the Order
of Arts and Literature from the French Minister of Culture in
2006. He is perceived as a great campaigner for the rights
of people living in neighbouring countries, and his best
known title around the world is the novel Pilgrim among
the Shadows. The Slovenian public were first introduced
to Pahor through an interview with writer Edvard Kocbek
(Edvard Kocbek, Pričevalec našega časa ('A Witness of Our
Time', Trieste, 1975) in which Kocbek talked about the postwar massacres of members of the so-called Home Guard.
As a result, Pahor was prohibited from entering Slovenia for
many years. Before this interview, Pahor’s booklet Odisej ob
jamboru ('Odissey along the Mast') (Trieste, 1969, 1971), which
features a polemic with Edvard Kardelj about the rights of the
Slovenian people to their own state, self-determination and
independence from Yugoslavia, met with a wide response.
Amongst his most important books are Mesto v zalivu (‘A City
in the Bay'), Onkraj pekla so ljudje ('In the Inferno There Are
People'), Pilgrim among the Shadows, V labirintu (‘Inside the
Labyrynth') and Dihanje morja ('The Breathing of the Sea').
In his literary works, Pahor (1913) most often deals with the
ethnic destiny of Slovenians living in neighbouring countries,
but his body of work is also characterized by his personal
experience of Italian fascism and World War II. When
presented with the award, Pahor said that he had always
maintained friendly cultural ties with Paris, especially with
Esprit magazine. He said, “I am happy to receive this award,
because at a prominent level it symbolically brings together
the French and Slovenian push for freedom in the postwar period of the twentieth century”. The Legion of Honour
was signed by former French President Jacques Chirac,
who wanted to honour the Slovenian writer, who is also a
great Francophone and Francophile. Pahor's books, which
also document his painful experience of life in France, are
amongst the most frequently translated Slovenian literary
works in France. During World War II Pahor was exiled to
France by the occupying forces. There he befriended a
French deportee, which gave him the opportunity to improve
sinfo november 07
Boris Pahor's literary effort transcends writing itself, because
it really represents a great act of ethics. It is for this reason
that the French have been among the biggest supporters
of Pahor's many recommendations for the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
12
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
The Dutch royal couple, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima,
meet the President Janez Drnovšek. Photo: STA Archives
The Dutch royal couple, Prince Willem-Alexander
and Princess Máxima, together with the Director
of IDEC Bled School of Management Danica Purg,
and MBA students. Photo: STA Archives
Dutch Heir to the Throne:
The Visit to Slovenia
Will Not Be the Last
country. He said that the two countries connect on various
levels, from education to music, and that they take part in
several cultural exchanges.
Bilateral Focus – Deepening Bilateral Relations
between the Two Countries
The distinguished guests were received by the President of
the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Drnovšek, at Brdo pri Kranju.
The visit continued in the National Assembly in Ljubljana,
where the Prince and his wife met the President of the
National Assembly, France Cukjati. In the afternoon, they went
to Bled, where they visited Bled Castle and the Bled School of
Management. In the evening, they attended a dinner party at
Brdo pri Kranju hosted by the President.
Ramón Miklus
A
t a press conference with Slovenian journalists
which marked the end of his three day official
visit, the Dutch heir apparent to the throne Prince
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, said that while
this was his first visit to Slovenia, it was definitely not
his last. He added that the visit had been very special for him
and his wife, Princess Máxima, as they had had the chance
to discuss the future of Europe with the students of Bled
School of Management and the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana.
The Prince also said that the young people of Slovenia share
their views and challenges with Dutch students.
On the second day of their visit, the Prince and the Princess
began in the Dolenjska region, where they first visited Novo
mesto town hall, followed by the Trimo company in the
town of Trebnje. Around midday they were received by the
Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dimitrij Rupel, and his
wife Marjetica at Mokrice Castle. In the afternoon, they visited
the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, where they were greeted by
the deputy dean, Danilo Türk. The royal couple then attended
the opening of the Bilateral Focus, which through various
cultural and business events has reflected deep bilateral
relations between Slovenia and the Netherlands for seven
consecutive years. The event was held in the evening at
Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, where the guests were addressed
by the Dutch Ambassador to Slovenia, Mr John C.M. Groffen,
The distinguished guests were also given a first edition of a
Slovenian-Dutch dictionary.
EU Presidency – A Big Challenge for Anyone
Prince Willem-Alexander said that during his visit to Slovenia
he wished to find out more about this newly joined member of
the European Union which is about to take over the presidency
next year. The Prince said that this was a big challenge for
anyone and added: “It is a great opportunity to show the world
what you represent and stand for”. Princess Máxima added
that as a new member, Slovenia can bring new inspiration and
ideas to the European Union.
Within the compass of the Bilateral Focus being held in
Ljubljana in October, a conference on industrial design and
foreign investments will be held. A business visit by Slovenian
companies to the Netherlands is also planned.
Princess Máxima said that the visit had given her the opportunity
to learn about the similarities and differences between the
two countries. She was surprised by the extent of knowledge
that the Slovenian people have about the Netherlands and
its institutions. On the issue of how much the Dutch people
know about Slovenia, the Prince said that many of them travel
to Slovenia, which is a well-known tourist destination. He
also said that the visit would contribute to awareness of the
Among the Benelux countries, the Netherlands is the
most important Slovenian trading partner and the trade in
goods between the two countries is on the increase. Since
2005, Slovenia has traded €772 million in goods with the
Netherlands, which is 8.4 percent increase over 2004, while
the Netherlands is among the ten biggest investors in the
Slovenian economy.
13
sinfo november 07
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
From Brussels:
Žerjav Opens A Piece of Creative
Excellence Exhibition in Brussels
Photo: Bojan Brecelj
T
he Minister of Transport
Radovan
Žerjav
opened
a photographic exhibition
entitled A Piece of Creative
Excellence by photographer
Bojan Brecelj on 8 October in the
building housing the Permanent
Representation of the Republic of
Slovenia to the European Union in
Brussels. The exhibition features
photographs of 'moments in the lives
of sailing boats', with an emphasis on
the creation of the 'super yacht' by the
Seaway company, which Žerjav called
“the world's leading nautical company”.
Brecelj wished to present Slovenia to
foreigners in a slightly different way
through its creative people.
sinfo november 07
14
WHAT MAKES THE NEWS
Brecelj said that he had done photographic reports on
Slovenia intended for foreign media in the past, but this time
he wanted to present the country in a different light through
creative individuals, of whom, he said, there were many
not featured in this exhibition. Seaway, which is featured in
the photographs, has designed and developed over two
hundred sailing boats and motor yachts in the twenty-five
years of its operation. Some 42,000 vessels have been made
from the company's designs by forty shipbuilders in twenty
countries. In his address to all the guests who attended
the opening of the exhibition, among whom were primarily
transport attachés from EU member states, the Minister said
that Seaway sailing boats had been awarded the title of the
Sailing Boat of the Year twenty-six times around the world.
He added that Slovenia is also a coastal country, proud
of its coast, ports and marinas. “Slovenes are big fans of
boats, with many people putting a sailing boat, motor boat
or a yacht at the top of the most desired objects. But we're
not just consumers, we are also creators of vessels with a
longstanding tradition,” said Žerjav.
Žerjav said that Bojan Brecelj “breathes sailing” and that “a
sailing boat for him is not just another object, but a being which
enables him to move and survive in the world of the Greek
god of the sea, Poseidon. As a documentary photographer,
Brecelj is interested in the themes of formation, creation and
innovation,” said the Minister.
The exhibition will be open until the end of November. At the
beginning of December it will be replaced by the presentation
of the visual identity for the Slovenian Presidency of the EU,
which begins 1 January 2008.
The Presentation of Slovenia in Brussels through Its Aromas and Flavours
said that Slovenia would make a great contribution to
the Salon of Culinary Books held in the land of beer and
chocolate, with a selection of food and drink unique to a
land “where the Alps meet the Mediterranean”. He also said
that Slovenia had been very popular with Belgium tourists
and that Slovenian gastronomy and viticulture were one
of the seven pillars in the marketing of Slovenian tourism.
Tourists who decide to visit Slovenia for the aforementioned
reasons are “good guests, who love culture and nature, and
do not mind spending money,” he added.
Guests had the opportunity to try the 1999 Koper Malvasia,
2005 Pinot Noir Quercus from the Goriška brda wine cellar,
Karst ham with melon, Tolmin cheese and a traditional
Slovenian dessert called potica.
The Cookbook Fair will be held from 16 to 18 November in
Brussels. Slovenia's presentation, which will be featured in
a venue of 250m², is organised by the Slovenian Tourist
Board representative office for Benelux and the Ministry of
Agriculture. Klečnik also said that the event
would see the official presentation of
Slovenia's new slogan 'I Feel
Slovenia'.
T
he Head of the Slovenian Tourist Board in Brussels,
Rok Klančnik, said that in the middle of November
Slovenia will introduce itself with the best it has to
offer in the field of gastronomy at the prestigious
Salon du Livre Gourmand ('Cookbook Fair') in
Brussels. Apart from cookbooks, Slovenia, as the guest
of honour and the only chosen tourist destination, will
also present its tourist offer, wine and other drinks
and food delicacies. It will also organise a number of
accompanying events.
Slovenia and its business relations with Belgium were
presented to journalists working in the field of tourism
and gastronomy by the Slovenian Ambassador to
Belgium, Borut Trekman. He said that Slovenia
would not only surprise by being well-prepared for
its Presidency of the EU in January 2008, but also
as being a land of sophisticated aromas and flavours.
Philippe Close, the Brussels Regional Minister of Tourism,
15
sinfo november 07
INTERVIEW
Sonja Šmuc,
Managing Director of Managers’ Association of Slovenia
The Elite Are Those Who Contribute Substantially to the Development of Society
Miša Čermak
Photo: Mateja Jordovič Potočnik
sinfo november 07
Sonja Šmuc, recognisable managing director of the Managers’ Association
of Slovenia , is only thirty-six years old, yet she has already acquired vast
knowledge, both in Slovenia and abroad, and is known for her sound approach
to the importance of harmony in life, and wisdom of decision-making. “The
Managers’ Association of Slovenia has four goals: to support the advancement of
Slovenian management as a profession (i.e., business excellence), to strengthen
respect for the managerial profession (also by protecting managerial interests),
to co-create conditions for successful work (also by lobbying) and to provide a
space for socialising, networking and the flow of social capital – at meetings,
conferences and in-house events of the Managers’ Association of Slovenia
where managers meet, discuss common problems and do business.”
16
interview
Y
ou have been managing director of the
Association for over two years now and it seems
that, after finishing your studies (you studied at
the Stanford University in California and at the
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Administration), co-authoring a book with Zlatko Muršec
and working as editor and journalist for Manager magazine,
your career has taken off very quickly. What makes you
right for this job?
“A mother’s ‘feeling of guilt’ is always
present, but it would probably be there
also if I had a job with an eight-hour
working day."
employees, those producing most knowledge, to take part
in this. It is precisely knowledge that has, for quite some
time, been acknowledged as the fourth production factor,
in addition to land, capital and labour. But, except in the
form of payment, it still does not participate in the ownership
share. As companies develop, they will have to recognise
knowledge as a more important element of producing
added value. Not all owners are the same: the founders are
responsible for all that is good or bad in a company, whereas
someone who buys the shares on the stock market today
and sells them tomorrow is in no relation to the company,
which is why it is unfair to employees that individuals who
only speculate with property have the power to influence
what happens to the company.
The Association’s President, Franjo Bobinac, is the big reason
for me accepting this position, because working with the
most prominent and successful people in Slovenia is always
a challenge. After graduating in economics and during my
studies, I devoted much time to business journalism: I was
always interested in learning about new subject matter,
discovering how people succeed in business, what they
need for the economy to thrive – if the economy thrives, so
does society. The gist of everything is the realisation that
a company’s functioning depends on people, mainly those
at the top. These are the people that give the company its
rhythm and spirit, thus creating the atmosphere, culture
and values of the company. This is why I started to explore
management, which led me to becoming the editor of
particular sections of Gospodarski vestnik and editor-inchief of Manager. The Association makes it possible for me
to follow management even more. In very personal contacts
with respected and learned people in Slovenia, you can see
where we are. These people are the head of economy and
the way we all live depends on them: the more open their
mind and the greater their awareness of their own social
role, the more widespread is the success of us all.
Has your education abroad influenced your knowledge and
broadmindedness; what has this knowledge given you and
why didn’t you stay abroad?
Every experience abroad is very welcome. It has made me
richer, because I realised that challenges abroad are very
similar to the ones at home. This realisation has kept me in
Slovenia: when I proved to myself that I could be successful
and accepted in the most renowned international team – at
the time, more on the student level – I no longer felt the need
to prove myself. My husband, then still my boyfriend, had the
lion’s share of this decision. Also, foreign countries do not
appeal to me, because of the extremely long working day,
which makes starting a family impossible. So more than not
working abroad, I regret not having studied abroad more.
Part of the image of a successful manager is probably
connected to ethics and morals, solid human values that
are often lacking.
Ethics and morals are definitely fundamental, which is
why companies promote and emphasise them. There are
exceptions in Slovenia, too, but not as great as elsewhere:
the proof is the development of Slovenian society and the
values we have been accepting. Certainly, these values
change: the time and place we work in allows for only a
very narrow space for success, while with the globalisation
race, more selfishness, competitiveness and stratification
has entered Slovenia: it is natural that the successful are
rewarded more, but our environment has difficulty accepting
this.
You have an excellent insight into the economic currents in
Slovenia: where are we heading, how are we progressing,
what wind is in our sails?
When I look back, I can see that the economy knows how to
catch the wind. If you ask managers where we are heading,
they are always pessimistic: it is probably their role always
to be dissatisfied, because it is only in this way that they
change things. I think that a certain amount of dissatisfaction
is sound, as it makes businesses expect a more favourable
macroeconomic environment and legislation that does not
hinder companies, but provides them with opportunities.
All key Slovenian companies operate abroad. If they face
obstacles already at home, this pulls the rug from under
their feet. But I think we are doing relatively well, although
the latest data on economic growth are becoming a burden,
because most of the growth does not originate in branches
that promise long-term stability. The effects of high economic
growth have already been reflected in demands for higher
salaries, and increased inflation; in terms of the economy,
both reduce our competitiveness. If the excellent degree
of economic growth originated mainly in export activity,
preferably of high-tech companies, that would be great.
But, as it is, the growth in large part has been created by
borrowing.
Do you think that in some decades they can become
balanced and that the way of stability, harmony in success
based on knowledge, expansion and humaneness is
possible? That this is the necessary way?
Probably. If we look at the development of capitalism, it has
become much more humane in certain parts of the West
than it was decades ago. In Slovenia, some companies have
preserved even too strong a social note, which hinders
their development, whereas those at the other extreme
have adopted a full-blooded turbo- capitalist spirit. But the
majority is nevertheless sound, with workers’ rights still being
highly respected. But it is probably true that new obligations
and new rights are emerging. I myself believe that, in a few
generations, we will not discuss splitting profits only with
owners, but that it will be natural for the most productive
17
sinfo november 07
interview
“For a woman who is a manager, things
function when the family functions:
when you have strong support from
your partner and relatives. We make
compromises: sometimes you are not
with your family when you should be and
sometimes it is the other way round.”
is true that the new EU members in which the system had
completely collapsed, causing many tragedies, had the
opportunity to set up the system anew. This is good and bad
at the same time. In Slovenia, on the other hand, the system
did not collapse, so there was no need or opportunity for
more radical cuts. It sometimes seems to me that we are
going through the boiled frog syndrome. You know, if you
put a frog in cold water and heat the water, the frog will enjoy
it for a while, but when it realises that the water has become
too hot, it is already half-cooked and cannot jump out – if
you threw it into boiling water, it would jump out immediately.
This is perhaps the feeling managers are trying to put across
to the public: that everything is not as great as it looks, that
we are boiling and we need change to turn down the flame.
But it is also the case that Slovenia has always managed
quite well so far.
Who controls our economy?
After the transition stage, we are entering a stage of
privatisation, and somewhere the cards are shuffled anew; a
few strong pillars are emerging whose nature and ownership
two years from now, let alone five, is not clear yet. Slovenia
has no aristocracy, but a wealthier class is forming that
perhaps represents the germ of a national aristocracy: many
disapprove of this because it is destroying social equality.
But there are always all three classes present in a society:
upper, middle and lower. Personally, I’d rather see a Slovenian
upper class strengthening than a foreign one.
What do Slovenian managers expect from Slovenia’s EU
Presidency?
The answer is very simple: they expect top-level economic
diplomacy. Not political, but economic! Of course, the EU is
a political project, but it was created for economic reasons.
We see that great powers can intertwine one with the other:
following the visits of high representatives to a certain
country, something happens also in the business field. We
want and expect the same of the Slovenian Government:
that it acts prudently and with the economy in mind. We often
hear from our managers how ministers also helped them
solve international problems – these are good examples
of the government having played its role excellently. After
all, the government exists so that the whole country runs as
a well-tuned machine. To work well, the country requires a
strong economy. When all these dots connect, we all profit
from it.
Is this strong upper class slowly taking the reigns of the
Slovenian economy?
This impression is sometimes overrated and, at other times,
underrated. Big business deals are made by agreement,
usually between big players. These matters are of interest
to the media and the public, which is why sometimes
fantastic connections are conjured up. On the other hand, of
course, there is important business being done without the
uninformed learning anything about it.
Are we self-critical enough; do business representatives
have a realistic enough perception of themselves?
But do we have a strong, healthy economy and strong,
healthy managers?
We get the first feedback from talking to foreigners. They are
much more impressed with our successes than we are; we
do not find them special. On the other hand, foreigners, too,
have observed that we are sometimes overly self-confident
and even satisfied with ourselves, which is why we insist on
status quo. But as the saying goes, the more we want things
to remain the same, the more they have to change.
On first thought, the answer is yes. Our history, the exceptional
change that happened back in 1991, has already shown that
Slovenia had a completely different approach to managing
its business, economic and other policies than countries in
a similar position – we thus managed to avoid quite a few
things and overtook quite a few countries in the EU. But it
sinfo november 07
18
interview
Are you a good manager?
these shoes. Many have been burnt along with their company
because they overrated themselves. Good managers have to
be paid well because they always have plenty of offers. At the
end of the day, they can establish their own companies, they
can go abroad, or they can work for a foreign company: if the
companies want to keep them, they have to pay them.
I am learning. If I observe others, I find they are much better
than me. A good manager is often shown by the people he
or she works with. If a person’s eyes light up when they are
talking about their boss or the person they are cooperating
with, that is already a sign that the team is good. But, of course,
the figures also tell their side of the story.
The number of members of The Managers’ Association of
Slovenia has increased substantially in recent years – it has
risen from approximately two hundred to a thousand.
What makes a good manager?
A good manager is a person who can lead others: it is not
necessary that they are charismatic in the sense of the media
spotlight. What is very important is how well they can listen
to people, work with them, adapt to various situations, and
how quickly they can make a decision. Describing a good
manager is like describing a good painting. A certain painting
is good because it is technically extraordinarily perfected,
another perhaps because its colourfulness elicits an emotional
reaction, the third has an original composition…Every good
manager is a collection of his or her good characteristics,
which are unique. It is interesting that the same does not
hold for bad managers: they have several characteristics in
common. But, still, what we observe in people who achieve
great results is that they lead the company towards the set
goal very well. They know what they want (vision) and how
they can achieve it (strategy), they can pass this onto others
(communication) and persuade them that it is worth striving
for this goal (motivation). And they then make sure that all the
employees actually make an effort.
Currently, there are 1049 members. The aim of the Association,
founded in 1989, is to support Slovenian management,
advancing its excellence. Our task is also raising respect for
the profession: on the one side, there is the visible glamour,
and on the other side – no, it is not misery, but there is a
dark side to the job. Interestingly, this dark side motivates
many managers, for they are people who find problems
challenging.
Democracy to a certain extent, and then autocracy?
Are managers part of society’s elite?
Most good managers act so that they are democratic during
the time of decision-making and, after the decision has been
taken, a time of dictatorship ensues. I think this is also the way
I work: I can quickly change my stand based on the arguments
of others, but once the decision has been made, when we go
beyond the point of no return, there is only time for action.
They are. Because they are among the most broad-minded
people, who spend much time abroad, bring home new
knowledge and take Slovenian knowledge abroad. For me,
the elite are those people who contribute substantially to the
development of society: I believe that managers drive the
economic motor and the economic motor drives the economy
of society.
Are the awards you confer also part of this?
Concrete forms of stimulation have concrete effects: awards
and acknowledgements given to those who deserve to serve
as role models to others have a motivating effect and serve
as learning examples. The thanks go to all the recipients of
the awards for the manager of the year, business-woman
friendly company, young manager of the year, Artemis, and
the life achievement award in the field of management – they
have all done very much for the Slovenian scene.
Quite a demanding path for one person.
“We publish two magazines and both have
a positive mission. MQ is a specialised
magazine through which we pass on good
business and management practices
to our members and inform them of the
Association’s activities. The other magazine,
Prepletanje, is published once a year. This
year, its second edition is to be published.
Its goal is to inspire, with good practices,
success stories and ambitious ideas,
anyone who cares deeply about Slovenia’s
development. This is why we invited
representatives of the three fundamental
pillars of society: politics, economy and
culture/civil society to cooperate in the
making of the magazine, since we believe
that the economy cannot develop faster
than other parts of society and vice
versa: neither culture nor politics can be
advanced if they do not have support from
an advanced economy.”
The experience you gain from being number one is a sense
of responsibility. Every manager bears this and the risks
accompanying almost every decision. But it is also true
that, with good decisions, the greater part of the spotlight
and praise falls on the number one person in the company,
although they are not responsible for everything.
Which is manifested also in high salaries that are often
subject to criticism – also from the public. Are they brought
about by responsibility, perhaps even the awareness that
a manager’s employment is unstable, that bad results can
quickly cost them their job?
Until a few decades ago management did not exist even
as an academic subject: it is a science that has developed
gradually. People have always believed that anyone can
be a manager: what is visible is only the glamour of the
profession – good cars, high salaries, high society; but this
tip of the iceberg conceals a sea of responsibility, worries
and problems. Managers in branches not doing well talk
of sleepless nights when they worried about whether there
would be enough money to pay the workers; and decisions on
investing millions into production are also very burdensome,
for one never knows whether sales will follow capacity…In the
first place, a manager is responsible for the work of people
– outside and inside the company – and coordinating all this
demands great skill. There are not many people who can fill
19
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BUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESS
PETRA SOVDAT,
Business Daily Finance
350 to 450 euros. Experts estimate that
some four or five candidates, which
do not have a serious intention of
buying a share in Telekom, bid much
lower. In addition, well-informed circles
claim that bidders are neither overly
enthusiastic about cross-ownership,
with the exception of Skipti, nor about
purchasing shares in two rounds.
We found out only recently that the
selection is even narrower, as finance
minister Andrej Bajuk opposes crossownership, while our sources claim that
Matjaž Janša, a member of the Sale
Committee, is rather dissatisfied with
the German bid. He is said to object
to the fact that they submitted their
bid through Croatian and Hungarian
companies.
Photo: STA Archives
Twelve bidders for Telekom
Twelve bidders have submitted nonbinding bids to purchase a 49.13% share
in Telekom Slovenije (listed under TLSG),
with only three backing out – Telecom
Egypt, Skywheeler and, surprisingly,
the Russian Sistema. Unofficially,
prices offered per share range from
350 to 450 euros, while official figures
are expected to be released at the
beginning of December.
narrowed down the selection by the end
of the month, and announced the buyer
by the end of this year. The Ministry
has not disclosed the official figures;
however, unofficial sources claim that
prices offered per share range from
On 10 October, Petrol (PETG, CEO
Marko Kryžanowski), Slovenia's largest
oil and energy company, announced a
bid to buy shares in Istrabenz Holding
Photo: STA Archives
The Committee for the Management
and Supervision of the Sale of an
Equity Participation of the Republic
of Slovenia in Telekom Slovenije d.d.
of the Ministry of the Economy has
received twelve non-binding bids from
the following companies: UK-based
Apax (owns a stake in Israeli Telecom
and is linked with Permira Equity Firm),
Babcock & Brown (owner of the only
Irish telecommunications operator),
Bain Capital & Axos Capital (GermanyUK corporation) in collaboration with
BT Global Services, CEP III/Carlyle,
Engrotuš, Hrvatski Telekom, Macquarie
Bank, Magyar Telekom, Oger Telecom
(United Arab Emirates), UK-based
Providence Equity (owns one of the
Danish telcos), SAC PCG LLP (USA),
and Skipti from Iceland.
According to the Ministry of the
Economy, the Committee will have
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Petrol offering Istrabenz only EUR100
per share
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BUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESSBUSINESS
Company (ITBG, CEO Igor Bavčar).
Petrol is offering EUR100 per share,
but has not yet set the successful bid
threshold.
an annual high of EUR143.93 at the
beginning of October, yielding a return
of 196.24%.
Mediating in the transaction is the
Perspektiva brokerage firm, owned by
Darij Južina. Južina is also one of the
biggest owners of Petrol (companies
associated with him share some
9% of the company), and has also
participated in negotiations to establish
a consortium for the takeover of Petrol
in which Istrabenz would also take part.
The offered price was much lower than
the market price – the day before it
was announced, the average price of
an Istrabenz share on the Ljubljana
Stock Exchange was EUR135.6.
Petrol goes shopping in Albania
Politics in the background?
KAD and SOD, owners of a 28.5% share
in Istrabenz, are unofficially alleged to
have responded to the takeover bid.
Also unofficially, Istrabenz management
(CEO Igor Bavčar) is said to control
through peer companies well over a
half of the company's capital, while the
free float has been estimated by the
management at 10%.
Consequently, rumours have surfaced
in well-informed circles of the thwarting
of a planned management buyout
at Istrabenz. Enjoying the support
of PM Janez Janša (Bavčar and
Janša have been good friends since
before independence), Istrabenz had
intended (in a consortium with a few
other companies and Darij Južina)
to take over Petrol. In recent months,
Istrabenz has increased its stake in
Petrol to nearly 15%. Later, speculation
arose that this was a case of muddying
the waters, which would result in an
even cheaper MBO. If Istrabenz were to
acquire 50% of Petrol, Petrol's shares in
Istrabenz would become its own shares,
and Bavčar would not be required to
buy them. Both the management and
the supervisory board of Petrol claim
that the takeover has no political
background.
This week, Petrol is to enter qualifiers
to purchase the 60MW Ashta hydro
power plant. Both the management
and supervisory boards claim to have
– in addition to the Istrabenz takeover
– several other strings to their bow to
carry out their strategy.
Petrol had to submit an application for
a public-private partnership in the plant
on the Drim River near the border with
Montenegro by 19 October. The plant
produces 98% of all the electricity in
Albania. CEO Kryžanowski, however,
refused to disclose the other strings
that would make Petrol a major energy
player in the region, and 'not just in the
liquid fuels market'. "I find teaming up
with Istrabenz the fastest and the most
elegant solution," he stated.
Telekom in Albania, too
In mid-October, Telekom Slovenije
signed an agreement to purchase
a 75% share in AOL SP (Albanian
Online Service Provider), a private
Albanian company in Tirana. Telekom
management have said that this enables
the Slovenian company access to the
Albanian telecommunications market,
which has great unrealised potential
and is only beginning to develop.
Having increased its presence in the
region (Kosovo, Macedonia, and now
Albania) Telekom will be able to function
more efficiently in these three markets.
The management believes that the
purchase is all the more significant
in terms of the development of the
Albanian e-communications market,
which is in its early days, but given
current global trends, is bound to grow
rapidly. Telekom's main assets here are
know-how, experience, technology and
high-quality services.
Istrabenz shares record 196.24% profit
in 2007
MBO of Merkur
At the beginning of 2007, one Istrabenz
share was worth EUR45.78 on the
Ljubljana Stock Exchange, which was
also the annual low. The share reached
By the end of the year, managers, the
first in line being Bine Kordež (through
the Merfin company), will have become
the only real owners of Merkur (MER).
At the beginning of October, Merfin
21
announced a takeover, offering EUR405
per one Merkur share. Also interested
in the takeover are members of the
takeover consortium – Sava, Banka
Koper, Zagreb-based Euro-Veneto, and
Interfin naložbe – which are there to
provide funding for the buyout. Merfin
currently owns over 49% of Merkur, while
the other members of the consortium
share a 29% stake.
"To secure a loan to buy the rest of
Merkur's shares, Merfin pledged shares
to several banks. Maturities vary, but
our plan is surely not to repay the loan
completely. We do not intend to repay
it directly from cash flow or dividends.
In this way, we will not exhaust the
company," said Merkur's CEO, Bine
Kordež, adding that the company's
business policy would remain the
same. As he said in July, Merkur
plans to invest EUR500 million in new
sales centres by 2012. Next year is to
witness a construction boom, with new
centres being built in Škofja Loka, Nova
Gorica, Murska Sobota, Koper, Maribor,
Ljubljana, Zadar, Zagreb, Varaždin, Split,
Slovonski Brod, Rijeka, Beograd, and
Sarajevo. By 2012, the company plans
to be present in every town in Croatia
with over 50,000 inhabitants, and take
more than 10% of market share in two
to three years. In Serbia, the company
is planning to build centres in Novi Sad,
Čačak, Niš, Kragujevac and every other
town with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first
centre will be opened in Sarajevo,
followed by Banja Luka in 2009, and
Tuzla and Mostar some time later.
Merfin's management consists of 69
members; no new posts are to open in
the near future. "Some four thousand
employees and their family members
own Merkur shares. I expect that they
will respond, as we will offer them priority
shares amounting to approximately 10%
of the company's capital," says Kordež.
Gorenje's new plant to produce
armoured vehicles
Gorenje (GRVG) CEO, Franjo Bobinac,
said in his inaugural speech that in
the new machine manufacturing plant
in Šoštanj, the Velenje-based home
appliance manufacturer is planning
to collaborate with Finnish Patria in
the production of parts for armoured
fighting vehicles (AFVs) used by the
Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF). Gorenje,
which is to start AFV production in
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Gorenje’s new plant. Photo: STA Archives
November, has generated over EUR1.2
billion in revenue, with home appliances
accounting for 80% of all sales. Next
year, the SAF is getting 13 AFVs, while
the contract stipulates the supply of
135. The new plant (the investment in
9,000m2 facilities is valued at EUR7m)
will employ 126 staff, with the number
expected to rise to 200 in a year's
time. The employees working on the
new project are currently undergoing
training in Finland due to be completed
at the end of October. Gorenje's CEO
has announced that the SAF will receive
the first AFVs produced in the Šoštanj
facility in 2008, adding that Gorenje
expects to be entrusted with additional
tasks in Croatia, where Patria have also
managed to secure an AFV contract.
already announced a priority listing in
September 2008.
KB1909 has also announced their
intention to take part in raising capital
for the Mladina publishing house, which
issues the Mladina weekly and Monitor IT
monthly. Talks between managements
are expected to conclude at the time
of Mladina's shareholders' meeting in
November.
The first foreign issue on the LJSE
On 10 October the bonds of the Goriziabased KB1909 holding company were
listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange
under KBG1. The company is the first
foreign issuer at the LJSE. The first
issue comprises 10,000 bonds, with a
nominal value of EUR1,000 per share
or the total nominal value of EUR10
million. The holding from Gorizia has
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Photo: STA Archives
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COVERSTORY
B rdo
soon to become
the European hub
It is no surprise that the natural beauty of this location did not
escape European nobility, who used Slovenian residences
as vacation retreats from the 15th century onwards. It was
Maximilian I of Habsburg who first gave rise to Brdo by allowing
the building of a dam on the Vršek stream. Thus the three
ponds were formed. A medieval castle was already standing
at that time; it was rebuilt for the last time in the 20th century
and has remained mainly untouched ever since. The then
Jože Osterman, photo: Primož Lavre
T
he extensive programme of Slovenia's EU
Presidency, which starts on the New Year's Day
2008 and ends six months later, leaves nothing to
speculation: the focal point is going to be Brdo,
an idyllic estate on a plain near the River Sava,
shielded by the Karavanke Mountain Range in the North,
and the Julian Alps with Slovenia's highest peak to the
East. Many people will agree that this is the most beautiful
part of Slovenia: no more than 20 kilometres away from the
magnificent town of Bled, with its lake, castle and idyllic little
island, and a mere 60 kilometres from the Kranjska Gora
ski resort. Twenty kilometres in the opposite direction, due
south-east, lies Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana
Airport is also incredibly close, just 5 kilometres away. Brdo
is essentially a large park and is among the locations that
get the most sun. The slogan: On the Sunny Side of the Alps,
once used in Slovenian tourist promotion, truly sums up the
essence of Brdo.
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COVERSTORY
The same goes for several species of bird, marshland plant
and frog. Nature lovers visiting Brdo during Slovenia’s EU
Presidency will surely be enchanted by the forests covering
70% of the estate and providing shelter to plant and animal
species seldom encountered anywhere else. Stags, fallow
deer and mouflons are a common site. Brdo is also a safe
haven for some of the smallest forest dwellers, such as two
species of ant that can hardly be found anywhere else in
Europe. The castle grounds carefully groomed over the
centuries by dedicated gardeners also merit mention. They
lend a home to over 45 exotic species of tree, and are a site
where one can find the typical Slovenian beehive. Beekeeping
is one of the most venerable Slovenian traditions, and one
of the best known residents of Slovenian beehives is the
Carniolan bee, which is native to Slovenia. It is particularly
favoured among beekeepers for being gentle, producing
high quality honey, and being resistant to a number of
diseases bees are generally prone to.
relatively small estate of 66ha was bought by the House of
Karađorđević, the last Yugoslav royal family. After World War
II, it expanded to nine times its original size to 500ha, which
is its present area. This enlargement was largely due to the
fact that this was President Tito’s favourite vacation resort.
Slovenia did not fail to recognise the estate’s natural beauty
and its extremely practical geographical position. The new
country has used Brdo Castle to host the most important
state protocol events. The most renowned guests to add
to the Castle’s repute were presidents Bush and Putin, who
held their first meeting here in 2001. Could it have been the
mild Brdo climate that helped bring about the improvement
in Russian–American immediately after the summit? And it
must be said that it lasted for quite a long time…
Today, Brdo is one of 286 areas that form the Slovenian Natura
2000 network, which is aimed at preserving biodiversity and
natural habitats of endangered plants and animals.
In the last hundred years, Brdo has not undergone any
significant changes in terms of reconstruction. Because of
this, it has retained its pristine nature, which could easily
have been spoiled by over-ambitious alterations. The idyllic
estate only changed slightly when several new ponds and
maintenance buildings were constructed. However, many
maintenance buildings that once lay scattered around the
estate were torn down, as they did not really serve their
purpose. Afterwards, a new congress centre was constructed,
which does not infringe on the virgin nature, but coexists in
harmony with the environment.
Owing to the remarkable care Brdo
received centuries ago, and the wider
surroundings have been receiving ever
since World War II, the site has become
a splendid nature reserve, a true small
scale sub-Alpine world in its own right:
11 ponds are home to over 23 species
of snail, clam and several species of
dragonfly that have not been so lucky
as to survive elsewhere.
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When I asked architects Bevk and Perovič – possibly two of
the top five Slovenian architects today – about the underlying
concept guiding their creativity in designing the Congress
Centre, I was astonished by their answers which expressed
a remarkable loving inspiration they drew from the space
they were entrusted to design. The architects stressed that
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COVERSTORY
designing the Centre was a great opportunity, particularly
given the fact that projects of this kind in Slovenia are
incredibly rare. There are, of course, other congress centres,
but most of them are included in hotels and are as such
subject to their layout. The same is true for the majority of
centres in tourist towns, such as Bled and Portorož, and in
various health resorts and the like. Some are even subject
to the requirements of the cultural centre that hosts them,
which is particularly the case with the most prestigious of
Slovenian congress centres, Cankarjev dom. In this respect,
Brdo is unique.
The architects did not shy away
from the task. They chose not
to mimic or emulate the existing
architecture, but rather designed a
building that communicates freely
with the remarkable surroundings
– specifically, the park, forest and
waters – and creates a harmony of
both built and natural environments.
Memories of OSCE Councils, when large portions of city
centres had to be closed down for security purposes, which
caused a great many problems and headaches, as well as
other important events resulting in the same kind of traffic
regime, spurred the idea that a location near the capital
must be found where all these problems can be avoided,
The architects Vasa J. Perovič and Matija Bevk: Designing the Centre was a great opportunity, particularly given the fact that projects of
this kind in Slovenia are incredibly rare.
where participants can fill their lungs with fresh air and not
feel confined, and where security would be both effective
and discrete. Both its location and its beautiful natural
surroundings make Brdo an ideal location for such a centre.
The two architects are convinced that the Presidency would
be up against a serious challenge, were it not for the Brdo
Congress Centre.
The Congress Centre is an independent
object, big enough to not only cover
the needs of the EU Presidency, but
also to become a prominent venue of
various demanding meetings, which
to date have been seen in Slovenia as
something of a logistics nightmare.
Naturally, constructing a new building in and adding new
features to a delicate environment such as Brdo, does not
come without challenges, and entails utmost respect and
consideration for the existing surroundings.
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COVERSTORY
They say that although this makes the edifice itself less
interesting, it makes it more open towards its surroundings.
By purging the (dis)order of maintenance buildings which
used to be in its place, the centre instates a new, clear link
with the environment, and appreciates its value. It is discretely
yet resolutely connected with the neighbouring building, the
Zoisova pristava, by an open platform announcing a new
kind of relationship with the environment.
Congress Centre is the great conference hall that can hold
up to 400 people. All other rooms are built around it and
are in a sense subordinate to it. Nevertheless, say the two
architects, the hall itself is mostly transparent, since visitors
should not feel they are in an enclosed space, separated
from others and from their environment. For this reason,
the hall offers views of the ambience: the park, fishponds,
and the surrounding mountains. The materials used are also
natural: mainly wood, and a fair amount of glass and stone;
however, every effort was made to instil the hall with a feeling
of warmth and amiability. The classic materials last longer
and are not subject to changes in fashion. Even after the
Presidency, the Congress Centre will be the setting for many
meetings and a variety of people. There is no doubt that this
building has opened a new chapter in public architecture
– a chapter, that only began in Slovenia in 1991, and has
since not seen many buildings of this kind.
The new centre has three floors and a surface area of 9,000
square metres. The basement comprises mainly maintenance
space, while the first floor houses various offices for
administrators, conference organisers and journalists. The
most important is the ground floor, as this is where visitors
enter the grand reception, the space dedicated to making
the most pleasurable first impression, which includes a day
bar and has easy access to meeting rooms. The heart of the
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INFOCUS
SLOVENIA STRUCK
SLOVENIA
STRUCK
BY A SEVERE NATURAL
BY
A
SEVERE
NATURAL
DISASTER
DISASTER
Vesna Žarkovič, Photo: STA
T
he Government took the
first relief measures, and
declared Friday 21 September
a National Day of Mourning in
remembrance of those who
lost their lives in the storm. The Prime
Minister, Janez Janša, expressed the
hope that 21 September would not
be just a day of mourning, but a day
of solidarity, stressing that Slovenia's
neighbours and other countries had
already offered their assistance.
On 18 September, Slovenia – most notably, the Gorenjska region
and areas around Celje and Gorica – was struck by a severe natural
disaster. Heavy rains caused rivers and streams to burst their banks
and flood roads and buildings, carrying away cars, and cutting off
some areas for several hours. This is the worst disaster in the region
in living memory. The floods ruined the homes of hundreds of people,
and damaged their cars and other property. According to the first
estimates, the damage has been assessed at EUR200 million, which
is over 0.3% of GDP. In Železniki alone, the damage to transport
infrastructure, water supply network, homes and public buildings has
been assessed at EUR58 million. There are no estimates yet of the
damage to the power supply and telecommunications networks, and
the loss of income in companies affected by the severe weather.
to assess the damage and submit
reports to the state commission. The
Ministry of the Environment and Spatial
Planning was instructed to draw up a
programme for eliminating the effects
of damage caused by the storm in
the shortest time possible, and a
Insurance claims
totalling EUR20 million
The Government immediately
approves a relief programme
The Government responded promptly
to the disaster. According to the PM,
the damage was too extensive to be
covered by funds allocated under the
Removal of Consequences of Natural
Disasters Act, so Article 11 of the act,
which stipulates additional measures,
needed to be implemented. The
PM appealed to all local authorities
has sought assistance for repairing
flood damage. In accordance with EU
legislation, the Ministry of the Economy
is to draw up a programme for the
distribution of aid among companies
affected by the severe weather. Mr
Janša explained that under EU law,
grants of up to EUR200,000 may
be provided to companies once in
three years without the Commission's
approval. The PM added that the
provisional programme of aid, which
would be regularly updated until a
final damage assessment is made. All
Ministries were instructed to re-allocate
budgetary items and to assist people
affected by the storm.
The PM said that, in accordance with
the EU Treaty, the Government would
submit to the EC a list of companies
affected by the storm. This is the first
time since joining the EU that Slovenia
27
PM Janša visits the town of Železniki after
the devastating storm.
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INFOCUS
Government would apply for financial assistance from the
European Union Solidarity Fund. Slovenia is eligible for
the aid, as the damage exceeds 0.6% of GNI. Slovenia's
neighbours and other countries have already offered
assistance.
and/or intermediate goods, etc). This aid will be provided in
the form of grants. All companies and sole traders whose
businesses were affected by the severe weather will be
called to submit an application to the Slovenian Enterprise
Fund in Maribor. In this way, we seek to help companies, so
that the recent storm would not be adversely affected," said
economy minister Andrej Vizjak.
Support for companies
The Government has also approved an amendment to the
Programme of Measures to Promote Entrepreneurship and
Competitiveness for the Period 2007-2013. A new measure
has been added which stipulates the provision of assistance
to companies and sole traders who suffer damage in natural
Some 200 companies were affected by
the storm. This aid may cover 100% of
the damage, but the amount granted to
an individual business entity may not
exceed EUR 200,000.
disasters. The estimated amount of funds earmarked
for companies and sole traders is EUR20 million. While
the Removal of Consequences of Natural Disasters Act
provides for the compensation of costs of restoration, repair
and/or construction of buildings, the new measures also
stipulate compensations of costs of restoration, repair and/
or purchase of equipment, loss of income, and other costs
relevant to the company's operations (destroyed inventory
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28
INFOCUS
Ivana Leskovec: The restoration of Franja
Partisan Hospital will take time
Only one tenth of approximately 800 museum pieces have
been recovered from the ruins of Franja Partisan Hospital –
a monument to humanity – which was completely destroyed
in the storm. "The work is proceeding extremely slowly. The
water has carried away almost all of the wooden cabins,
while according to engineers' estimates, it deposited around
1,000 cubic metres of sand, rocks, dirt and tree branches.
It will take a lot of time to clean everything up," said the
Director of Idrija Municipal Museum, Ivana Leskovec.
Many of the access routes to the hospital were washed away,
and out of eight-hundred documented artefacts, fewer than
one hundred have survived, most of them damaged. The
hospital now literally lies strewn across the valley.
Exceptional Solidarity
Slovenia has shown a great level of solidarity in eliminating
the effects of damage after the storm. Civil Protection,
both voluntary and professional fire fighters associations,
and the military and police, responded immediately. In
addition, three crews from the Ministry of Defence with
two helicopters went into action and provided assistance
in and around the town of Železniki. Rescuers provided
construction machinery for removing debris, water tanks for
fresh water, fuel, and equipment for decontamination.
At the time of writing, the Slovenian Red Cross has raised
EUR637,079, and will allocate an additional EUR230,000
from the solidarity fund for individuals and families affected
by the severe weather. Nova Ljubljanska banka launched
an intranet fund-raising campaign and managed to raise
over EUR3,000 in the first 30 minutes. The campaign lasted
until 5 October. Following a proposal by the Ministry of
the Interior, the Government has decided to exempt from
administrative fees anyone who lost their personal or other
documents due to the severe weather and wishes to apply
for replacements.
Slovenia's largest insurance company Zavarovalnica Triglav,
has said that the damage was unprecedented. According
to provisional estimates, insurance claims will total nearly
EUR 20 million.
"This is the single largest instance of mass damage in the
history of the Triglav Insurance Company," said CEO Andrej
Kocič, adding, "We are expecting some 5,000 claims."
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Litostroj
a Brand of International Renown
Sandi Cizelj, photo: Litostroj Archives and STA
T
Research and Development
he Litostroj brand is known both in Slovenia and
internationally. Their turbines are installed in power
stations in fifty countries around the world. The
company’s marketing focuses on the domestic
market and the markets of Balkan countries, the
USA, Asia and Scandinavia. Electricity generation by water
turbines is very cost effective and environmentally friendly.
The Litostroj Company is no longer the giant it used to be and
does not stand out in terms of quantity, but rather quality: only
a handful of its competitors can match it.
Litostroj is one of the rare Slovenian companies marketing
a complete product – from installation to start-up. Research
and development are central to the company: the primary
focus is on turbine development. Research is either carried
out internally or in collaboration with external institutes and
the University of Ljubljana. Litostroj takes an active part in
international R&D projects. It is a member of EUREKA, with
which they participated on four projects and were recognised
as one of Slovenia’s best companies in terms of cooperation
with knowledge institutions and companies from around the
world in transferring knowledge and technology. It cooperates
with universities in Slovenia, Australia, UK and Germany, and
is one of the leading development companies in the field of
water hammers, as they have contributed to the publication of
more than ten notable articles.
At the beginning of September, the company celebrated its
60th anniversary. Apart from being of value to the economy,
Litostroj has been of great historical importance to the state,
as it is one of the key places associated with the history of
Slovenian democracy. Behind its factory walls, people were
pondering how to make the existing society into something
more modern: the 1987 strike in Litostroj is considered to be
the beginning of Slovenian democracy.
Projects
The history of Litostroj begins in 1947, when a company was
founded in the Upper Šiška district of Ljubljana under the
name Titovi zavodi Litostroj (‘Tito’s Institutes of Litostroj’). In the
sixty years since its creation, the company has manufactured
various products, but of greatest importance were water
turbines for power stations and various types of crane. It was
one of the biggest and most up-to-date industries of the entire
former Yugoslavia. In cooperation with the Zagreb-based
Rade Končar Company (a manufacturer of generators) and
Metalna from Maribor, they equipped many big hydroelectric
stations in the former Yugoslavia and around the world. All
Litostroj-made turbines fitted around the world can produce
over 10,000 megawatts of green electric power.
sinfo november 07
The company’s main concern is happy customers. And they
say that their clients are indeed happy. Their solutions can be
found around the world, all of their installed products combined
have thus far generated more than 1Gw of electric power in
fifty countries. At the time of writing, Litostroj has construction
sites in more than ten countries around the world. They take
part in energy and industry projects in Slovenia, Canada,
the USA, India, Iran, Egypt, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Montenegro, Iceland, Sweden, Austria, Costa
Rica, etc.
Currently, the biggest ongoing projects in terms of
development and manufacturing are the renovations of
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the hydroelectric stations at Zlatoličje (Slovenia; 2*75 MW),
Lešče (Croatia), Mostarsko Blato (Bosnia and Herzegovina),
Rapides des Coeurs (Canada), Vernon (the USA), Chute Allard
(Canada), Peruča (Croatia), Sveta Petka (Macedonia)...
Recently, the Bhavani I project was completed in India (one
of the world’s largest tubular turbines); the projects won this
year include Bhavani II and III in India, and Krško and Moste
in Slovenia. It is planned that by the end of 2007, they will also
have acquired the renovation projects for the Dubrava stations
in Croatia, the Bone Creek and Lower Clowhom stations, as
well as four projects for Ontario Power Generation, Canada.
devised. This phase includes the work of experts in structural
engineering, dynamics, metallurgy, and industrial design;
also essential are constructors, technologists, inspectors,
measurers and planners, whose job it is to work as a team
which will ensure that the turbine is as well made as possible,
which translates into more than 90% hydropower transformed
into electricity under optimal conditions. Expert experience
and high standards of education contribute to this goal.
The water turbine is indeed a top Slovenian product, the
result of expert know-how, research, construction, technology,
and manufacturing. The Litostroj brand is one of the leading
international brands in this sector. The manufacturing of water
turbines, which are typically customised, links the work of
industrial engineers with the work of scientists at universities
and institutes. It requires constant development in all areas.
The installation of a water turbine is usually a major intervention
in the environment, especially given the construction work
required.
Slovenian-Made Water Turbines Remain Top-Quality
The development of a water turbine is a complex procedure
which combines virtually all areas of natural and technical
sciences. The key issue is to understand the behaviour of a rigid
object in moving water, so that their interaction produces the
optimal performance of the intended end function. Most often,
the task consists of finding a suitable form for the rigid object in
water (turbine blades) to allow for the best transformation ratio of
the water’s potential and kinetic energy into mechanical action.
Mechanical action is then relatively easily, yet efficiently – with
the use of a generator – transformed into electricity, which is the
desired result. In the initial phase, mathematicians, physicists
and computer programmers do the work, using mathematical
and physical models through the use of numerical methods in
order to be able to predict theoretically the optimal hydraulic
characteristics of a turbine for a given height difference and
water flow rate. Since commercial turbines are usually relatively
large, the energy-producing characteristics of a certain type
of turbine are first tested and proven using simplified and
proportionally smaller-scale models. Once these models have
proven the desired characteristics, then begins the phase in
which the mechanical concept of the turbine as machine is
Litostroj place great emphasis on employees: they provide
continuous training and by stimulating innovation, they
raise employees’ awareness of their inclusion in projects. In
association with the University of Ljubljana and other universities
around the world, the company organises regular meetings with
students, who are given the opportunity to personally assist in
the building process, thus gaining concrete knowledge based
on experience.
Today, Litostroj E.I. is a leading company in the ‘Energetics
Pillar’, part of the Cimos Group. The situation in the energy
market further encourages them to do research work and
undertake projects which will contribute to an increase in the
use of green energies and the better ecological security of the
whole planet.
The water turbine is a top Slovenian product.
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Maribor is to become the European Capital of Culture 2012.
Jože Osterman, photo: STA
Slovenian Pop Song
Contest 2007
This year, the Slovenian Pop Song
Contest celebrated its 45th edition in
the elite Gallus Hall in Cankarjev dom
in Ljubljana. Accompanied by a large
festival orchestra under the baton of
three conductors, Rok Golob, Lojze
Kranjčan and Patrik Greblo, fourteen
performers competed for four awards.
The award for best lyrics went to
Damjana Kenda Hussu, for best debut to
Iva Stanič, and for best performer to the
veteran singer Alenka Godec and her
performance of a song appropriately
entitled Better than Before (Boljša kot
prej). This year’s Pop Song of the Year
went to Naravne sile, performed by
Damjana Golavšek, composed by Karel
Novak-Čarli, with lyrics by Damjana
Kenda Hussu and an arrangement by
composer Janez Gregorc, for which he
also took best arrangement award.
Music September this year in
its final edition – long live
the Maribor Festival
In its fourteenth edition, the established
music festival Music September, which
for more than a decade has been one
of the best cultural events in Maribor,
offered the audience six concert
programmes at ten concerts, a Bach
concert for young people and its own
concert production, all this performed
by renowned names. At the same
time, they announced that next year
this festival would be replaced by a
new, much broader concept called
Maribor Festival, whose programme will
feature three concerts a day and larger
orchestras. The activities will gradually
intensify until 2012, when Maribor is
to become the European Capital of
Culture 2012. The festival will have a
distinguished new director: Richard
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Tognetti, the famous Australian violinist
and artistic director and leader of the
Australian Chamber Orchestra.
But let us return to this year’s
programme. The opening concert was
performed in the Union Hall Maribor
by the Chamber Orchestra of the
Slovene Philharmonic with the star of
this year’s festival Richard Galliano on
the accordion, who performed with his
own orchestra the next day. The people
of Maribor could also see an opera
diva, one of the best world mezzosopranos, Angelika Kirschlager, the
Belgium orchestra Il Fondamento, and
Slovenian artists - flautist Boštjan Belič,
harpist Mojca Zlobko Vajgl and Boštjan
Gombač who, together with three
other musicians, presented their music
project Do You Like Bach?, adapted to
younger audience.
Three successful Slovenian
appearances in the USA
and influential film movements in the
1960s, which is why, at his presentation,
Godina could host such renowned
directors as Miloš Forman, Buck Henry
and Paul Morrisey. With great respect,
they remembered the great creative
achievements of directors Želimir Žilnik,
Dušan Makavejev, Aleksandar Petrović,
Živojin Pavlović and, of course, Karpo
Godina.
At the Washington National Opera, the
young Slovenian soprano from Maribor
Sabina Cvilak earned standing ovations
for her performance as Mimi in La
Bohème. She was invited to participate
by the director of the opera house, the
famous Placido Domingo, who chose
for this role two promising talents,
Cvilak and the Italian Adriana Damato.
Cvilak is otherwise a member of the
Vienna State Opera.
In September, the third solo exhibition
by a younger Slovenian artist, Tobias
Putrih (born in 1972) entitled Repertoire
opened in New York’s Max Protetch
Gallery, which the artist again set
up as a quasi-scientific experiment.
Working with a couple (Jessica and
Stuart), Putrih developed ideas of ideal
dwelling, which resulted in Lego models,
site photographs and constructions to
which he added interviews with and
portraits of the couple. Putrih, who lives
in New York, represented Slovenia at
this year’s famous Venice Biennial.
At the beginning of September, New
York’s urban-arts centre BAM in Brooklyn
presented short films by Slovenian
director, and Prešeren Award winner,
Karpo Godina. His films were screened
as part of the Yugoslavian Black Wave
retrospective. The Yugoslavian Black
Wave was one of the most interesting
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Sabina Cvilak will perform the role of
Marguerite.
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up his studies. He became a forest
engineer, working in Istria and then in
Kostanjevica na Krki, where he tested
his ship propeller for the first time. He
later lived in Trieste, where he tested
his invention again and was granted a
patent in 1827. He died in Ljubljana. The
propeller is not his only invention, but it
is certainly his most important one.
Theatre at the
Festival Ex Ponto
Tomaž Pandur
Pandur directs in Madrid
After having successfully directed the
‘global’ theatre piece Tesla Electric
Company, the prominent director
Tomaž Pandur again set off for Madrid
where he won favour with the audience
with his new performance Barocco
based on a text by Darko Lukić inspired
by Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos
de Laclos and Quartet by Heiner
Mueller. Pandur used his usual team:
Livija Pandur as dramaturge, Nacho
Duato as choreographer, Angelina
Atlagić as costume designer; Numen
was responsible for set design, while
the music was the work of the now
already famous duo Silence, performed
by members of the Joven Orquesta
Sinfónica de la Comunidad de Madrid,
conducted by Jose Antonio Montano.
The performance is set in a bourgeois
salon before the French Revolution. Big
changes are approaching, everyone
is seeking refuge from the coming
cataclysm, the outer world is falling
apart and, under this pressure, silk, a
symbol of the past beauty of life, also
disintegrates.
commemorating the 150th anniversary
of the death of this man who spent most
of his life in Slovenia. At his memorial
in the old Navje Cemetery in Ljubljana,
representatives of the City of Ljubljana,
his birth town Chrudim, the Embassy of
the Czech Republic, and the Technical
Museum of Slovenia honoured his
memory. The Technical Museum
prepared an exhibition at one of their
locations in Bistra near Vrhnika, which
will be on display until 3 December.
Josef Ressel was born on 29 June 1793
in Chrudim in Eastern Bohemia; he
attended lectures on natural sciences,
mechanics, hydraulics and civil
architecture in Vienna, but had to give
The fourteenth edition of the theatre
festival Ex Ponto focused on the topic
Theatre and Politics. In this context, it
particularly examined issue of humans
and communities, such as the family, in
the new transition countries. This topic
is popular not only in Slovenia and
the former Yugoslavia, but also in the
Baltic countries, Hungary, Slovakia and
elsewhere. The festival opened with the
performance Tito - Certain Diagrams
of Desire written by Slobodan Šnajder
and directed by Dean Damjanovski,
which faced an interesting fate from
the outset: despite being banned
in Macedonia, it was performed
in Bitola, forcing the Macedonian
Culture Minister to resign under public
pressure. In addition, the festival offered
three premiers: a Slovenian-CroatianPolish co-production based on Life
in the Shadow of a Banana Plant by
Croatian writer Ivan Vidič, directed by
Lithuanian director Cezaris Graužinis;
the performance At Some Point in Your
Life, You Really Need to Quit Rubbish
by director Rodrigo Garcia; and The
Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry, directed
by Diego de Brea. In addition, visitors
could see three other performances,
whereas the scheduled performance
by Egyptian artists was cancelled.
10th Festival of
Slovenian Film
Award ceremony at the 10th
Festival of Slovenian Film, Silva
Cusin receiving the Vesna
Award for best actress for the
leading role in “Estrellita”.
Anniversary of the death
of inventor Ressel
This year, together with the Czechs,
the kinsmen of the great inventor
Josef Ressel, the Slovenes are
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This year’s 10th edition of the festival
offered a record number of new films
screened in the official section of the
festival, drawing a satisfactory number
of viewers to the cinema, which finally
proves that the festival set in the tourist
town of Portorož has acquired the
support it needed. The festival drew
attention to the fact that there are deep
rifts within the Slovenian Film Fund,
which finances practically all Slovenian
film production and film-makers, which
will not be solved that easily. That is, the
record number of films is not so much
a proof of flourishing film production as
the result of some productions having
been behind schedule, which is why
there was only one new feature film at
last year’s festival.
Experts and viewers alike were also
satisfied with the quality of the new
films. In the official programme,
showcasing seven feature films, the
jury, composed of director Peter Zobec,
British journalist and film critic, Martin
John Blaney, and the executive director
of Munich Film Weeks, Andreas Max
Strohl, chose the documentary Children
from Petriček Hill by Miran Zupanič as
best film. The film is about a series of
incredibly cruel events affecting the
childhood of abandoned children and
is made with extraordinary sensitivity
and respect for the victims. The film
also won the award for best music
(Bojana Šaljič) and best editing (Jaka
Kovačič). Other films also attracted
great attention, especially Rooster’s
Breakfast, the debut by director Marko
Naberšnik, who won the awards for
best direction and best screenplay.
The two leading actors Vlado Novak
and Pia Zemljič won best actor award
and Stop Magazine’s best actress of
the year award, respectively. Winning
the most awards, Rooster’s Breakfast
was immediately invited to the Zagreb
Film Festival. Teah by director Hanna
W. Slak received the award for best
sound (Hanna Preuss) and for best
supporting actor (Sandi Krošl), plus
awards conferred by the Association of
Slovenian Film Critics. In addition to very
positive reviews, Estrellita by director
Metod Pevec received best actress
award for Silva Čušin’s performance. The
film will be screened in the competition
programme of the 56th International
Film Festival Mannheim–Heidelberg,
and then at the Mediterranean Film
Festival in Montpellier.
The award for best short film went to
On the Sunny Side of Alps by director
Janez Burger. It is an ironic account of
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stereotypes of the Slovenes, however,
all characters are played by black
actors. The film not only entertained
people, but also made them think.
dancers. Kovač does not hide his
ambitions and sees in his company the
beginnings of such an institution, which
could very well be realised next year.
En Knap:
the first performance by the
permanent dance company
Laugh Out Loud!
Leader, choreographer and dancer of
the renowned En Knap dance company
Iztok Kovač has realised his project
of establishing a permanent dance
company, EnKnapGroup, which after
fourteen years of creative success by
the En Knap dance company sets a
new framework for future work. At the
end of September, the new permanent
company appeared in public for
the first time with the performance
Celebration, created by Iztok Kovač,
director Sašo Podgoršek, and dancer
and choreographer Andreja Rauch.
Some months ago, 200 dancers from
all around the world accepted an
invitation from Iztok Kovač to audition
for the permanent dance company.
He selected five: two Slovenes Ana
Štefanec and Katja Legin, Ilgem
Ulugun from Turkey, Tomaš Nepšinsky
from Slovakia, and Luke Dunne from
the UK. Kovač says that the permanent
dance company represents the start
of greater changes, for it is clear that
contemporary dance needs a public
institution with a permanent dance
company and an ensemble of younger
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In the beginning of October, the 13th
International Festival of Contemporary
Arts – City of Women opened in
Ljubljana. The slogan of this year’s
festival, at which only women
participate, but which can be attended
also by men, is Laugh Out Loud!. The
festival offered 48 events by 45 artists
and was divided into programme
sections according to their specific
types of humour. The festival is coproduced by the Association for the
Promotion of Women in Culture – City
of Women and Cankarjev dom.
The festival kicked off with the opening
of Humorous Works, an exhibition
and an international curatorial project
that examines the precarious working
conditions in the enlarged Europe in
Škuc Gallery; this was followed the next
day by a cabaret at the Linhart Hall of
Cankarjev dom, The Burlesque Hour, in
which the Australian group Finucane &
Smith offered a mixture of burlesque,
cabaret, circus and variety acts.
The international curatorial and
artistic project Humorous Works
seems especially provocative, since
it elucidates, through exhibitions,
lectures, films and performances, the
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Perpetuum Jazzile
positive and negative consequences
of miserable working conditions, in
particular, in the context of the old
‘Eastern’, or to put it differently, ‘the
new’ Europe. The one-year project
is comprised of four research and
performative stations that follow one
after another at a crazy pace. After
Bratislava and Sarajevo, the project was
presented in Ljubljana, and it is to end
its journey in Berlin. At every station, the
artistic programme is locally oriented
and aims, in particular, at reflecting,
reassessing and comparing working
conditions in the four cities, which
provides good grounds for, at times,
also bitter humour.
Researchers Night
At the end of September, the University
of Maribor organised an interesting
event, Researchers Night. This was
the Slovenian part of a pan- European
event that took place for the third
consecutive time and was financed
by the European Commission, in line
with the programme of implementing
the Lisbon Strategy aimed at bringing
science and research activity closer to
all citizens.
The visitors to Maribor’s most beautiful
square, Slomšek Square, could follow
marked paths between the rectorate
and Maribor Cathedral and stop at
various stands where they could find out
how physics can make one dizzy, learn,
in a simple manner, about the MentosCola fountain, the functioning of cells
in the human body, interesting things
from the world of electrical engineering
and IT, and much more. They conferred
the awards of a fine arts competition
Draw Me a Researcher organised by
the Slovenian Science Foundation in
which around 600 youngsters from
39 primary and 11 secondary schools
participated. The best 82 works were
exhibited.
The Magical Music
of Perpetuum Jazzile
For twenty five years, all who love jazz,
pop and gospel music have been able
to actively indulge in their passion as
singers in Slovenia’s only jazz choir –
Perpetuum Jazzile. Their music is taken
to another level by the choir’s expert
conductor Tomaž Kozlevčar, who is a
trained musician, producer, composer
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and member of New Swing Quartet. The
three albums they have recorded so far
day (entitled Ko boš prišla na Bled, Pozabi,
da se ti mudi, and Čudna noč) reflect
clearly their musical direction, which
dictates good quality and recognisable
music making. Performing live, their
excellent musicianship is complemented
by their seemingly boundless energy
and love of singing, which radiate from
the stage to the audience. Such was the
case at the two sold-out concerts called
Vokal Xtravaganzza in the big Gallus
Concert Hall of Cankarjev dom Cultural
Centre, when the audience stomped their
feet with enthusiasm and rewarded the
singers’ efforts throughout the concert
with loud cheers and standing ovations.
The most appealing and inspiring
aspect of the concert, which lasted over
three hours and was further enriched by
performances from exceptional guest
singers, the superb a cappella Bovki
Brothers Jazz Quartet from Hungary,
was not only the outstanding renditions,
but also the great sense of humour with
which they rounded off the demanding
compositions. Their upcoming tour of
Latin America next spring is proof of
how good they are, and is also a kind
of reward.
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GoodSlovenianinns
Šiker Inn
Močna, near the town of Lenart
Bogi Pretnar, photo: Tomo Jeseničnik
A
wonderful old house bearing the sign Gostilna
Šiker comes as a relief for a thirsty visitor travelling
on the main road on the winding uphill section
leading to the town of Lenart between Maribor
and Gornja Radgona. Only a stone’s throw away
there is a glittering lake, and after you have ordered dishes
typical of the Štajerska region, you can let the kids play in the
nearby playground while you stroll down to see the lake. The
Šiker Inn has a long tradition, with the first generation dating
back to 1870, when they began serving home made plum
brandy to carters. Soon afterwards, Šiker brandy became
so well-known that whole cartloads of it were being sent
to Vienna, and it was not long before it was being enjoyed
throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The owners also
started serving food and the Šiker Restaurant soon became
an essential stop in the upper Štajerska region. The fourth
generation of this entrepreneurial family received formal
training in the profession and started making good white
wine from their vineyards in the vicinity of Urban, near
Maribor. Today, the inn is managed by the fifth and sixth
generations, and the first member of the seventh is on the
way.
is learning the business from the fifth generation of the
Šiker family, mother Breda Cotar and father Silvo, in order
to soon be able to manage it herself, guided us through
the menu. Since yellow and orange pumpkin is in season,
she first suggested trying the home-made pumpkin soup
with pumpkin seeds. Nataša, who is a qualified sommelier,
recommended a glass of the dry 2006 šipon from the
Ljutomer-Ormož winemaking region. As a hot starter we
tried one of the best house specialities, a pastry with
pumpkin, porcini mushrooms and chestnuts, which are in
season in autumn. It is a pastry you will not find anywhere
else in Slovenia, since traditionally, puff pastry is filled with
all kinds of fruit or cottage cheese as a dessert, and it was
only contemporary chefs who started making it with savoury
fillings. Pino Gris 2005 from Polički vrh near Jarenina was
recommended to accompany the dish. As the main dish we
had the trademark of the Šiker Inn, aromatic and crispy roast
duck with homemade mlinci (boiled unleavened bread) and
red cabbage, which went well with a 2004 Pinot Noir from
the Maribor region. Those who like game should not leave
without trying the braised venison in a dark shallot sauce,
served with cheese štruklji, which makes an excellent side
dish. Štruklji is another traditional Slovenian dish, which is
made from filo pastry that is a little thicker than puff pastry.
First the pastry is filled with sweetened or salted cottage
cheese and other ingredients. Then the pastry is rolled in a
cloth and boiled. Nataša recommended trying Steyer-Mark
cuvée, which is a dry wine from the north-eastern RadgonaKapela region and accompanies the dish beautifully.
The house, which is protected as a cultural monument,
is an example of nineteenth century architecture, and is
maintained with care. Beneath the house there is a vaulted
cellar with the perfect climate for storing all the wine that
is waiting to be offered to the inn’s qualified sommeliers
as perfect accompaniments to the food. Nataša Fuler, who
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GoodSlovenianinns
Afterwards, we tried the home-made charlotte, which Breda
enhanced after learning about it in secondary school. It is
so delicious that people come all the way to Močna just to
take some home. Šiker vineyard’s aromatic Muscat Otonel
from Urban above Maribor was the perfect accompaniment
to the charlotte. Now that Breda has delegated some of her
tasks to her daughter Nataša, she has more time to make
her delicious marmalades, which she stores in a separate
part of the cellar. She often gives a jar of apricot, quince,
blackcurrant, redcurrant, jostaberry, apple or some other
kind of marmalade, sealed with a cap and covered with
colourful cloth, to regular guests of the inn.
Tradition and culinary feasts make sure the inn is always
full. The innkeepers have also received many awards for
their work and service. Gusti Frasova, the legendary chef
of the Šiker Inn, who has won the Golden Spoon award at
a competition organised by the Delo publishing house, still
comes to help her former apprentices. Her roasts, duck
dishes and pastry are still considered the best in Slovenia.
Enjoy the spirit of St Martin
and gourmet duck dishes
After eating so much, we needed a break before trying one
of their desserts. We went across the road to look at Silvo’s
collection of farm tools, which is housed in former stables
where the carters used to stop to rest. The objects tell stories
of the days of yore, when cars did not speed past the inn
night and day like they do today. One can see harnesses,
harrows, threshers, carters’ lights and other traditional tools.
The museum features a neatly arranged and professional
display of the tools with detailed descriptions.
In the shady garden or in one of the peaceful rooms in the
inn where the tables are covered in damask linen and are
a reminder of earlier Šiker generations, guests are also
invited to try a traditional Slovenian Sunday lunch which
can be anything from boiled veal breast stuffed with beef,
stew, or mushroom soup with buckwheat žganci, leg of pork
with baked potatoes, venison in a sauce, ‘farmer’s feast’, to
koline (black and white pudding), for which the time is nearly
here. As there are four sommeliers to help you choose the
wine, this should not be too difficult a task. It has been a
good year for wine and the must has already turned into
young wine. St Martin’s is the most important saint’s day
in the Štajerska region, and how better to celebrate it than
with roast duck?
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THISISSLOVENIA
Nicolas Nève, France
country. Every time I returned to France, with a head full
of wonderful landscapes, I repeated to my self, “I must live
there.” At the end of 2004, I was seriously determined to
find an internship in Slovenia. The opportunity came from
the Faculty of Agriculture in Maribor. The Rural Development
Department of the Faculty proposed I carry out a seven
month study on the abandonment of agricultural land in
the North East Slovenian mountains. During this stay, I fully
enjoyed the Slovenian quality of life, and discovered the
habits and culture of the Štajerska region. So much so, that
seven months were far too short for me. But as I could not
find a job at the end of my internship, I had to get back to
France. The return journeys started again…They have been
going on for almost two years, until Dr Andreja Borec from
the Faculty of Agriculture in Maribor proposed that I work
with her on a European research project. One more time:
“Gremo na Štajersko…” And now I firmly intend to stay.
But, as a French Railways ticket clerk asked me when I was
buying a ticket to Ljubljana, an unknown Eastern European
city with a very complicated spelling, “What the hell are you
gonna do in that lost hole?”. Actually, I somehow had the
chance to fall in love with a very nice girl from a very charming
‘lost hole’. All these different regions, from the high mountains
of the Julian Alps to the Pannonian Plain in Prekmurje, from
the wild woods of Kočevje to the Adriatic, all these strange
dialects and traditions, all these typical wines and foods are
for me an inexhaustible source of astonishment. Slovenia is
a concentrate of Europe in an area half that of Switzerland.
Like a small village in the heart of Europe, where everybody
knows each other at least by sight.
E
Here, most people still maintain a connection with the earth,
making the countryside lively, full of life and diversity. Almost
every Slovene attaches great importance to cultivating a
garden for home-grown vegetables. And as they say, their
home-made wine is just about the best in the world. Even
the main cities have a human size, making life there more
relaxed: a few minutes walk from their centres is often
enough to find yourself in deep woods. And the numerous
events happening in the whole country, and particularly in
Ljubljana, show that the cultural life is far from lethargic.
And what about the character of the people? I see them as
respectful, polite and pleasant. At first sight, they sometimes
seem reserved with new people, but they appear really
warmer as they become accustomed to them. Also, the
Slovenes have a really nice sense of hospitality, and always
find a good reason to party. The bottle of schnapps is always
near…Na Zdravje!
verything began during a cold and snowy February
weekend three years ago. While studying in
Vienna, I came to Slovenia with my friends to visit
the country and attend a carnival. A nice friend
from Gorenjska guided us through the charming
streets and living pubs of Ljubljana. We were all amazed
by the beauty of the country and returned with really nice
memories. My story with Slovenia could have ended there, at
the Austrian border, on my way back to Vienna. But I became
closer to the nice Gorenjka guide…and in three years of time
I have been using quite a lot of return tickets to see her…
But let’s get back to the story. A few months later, my stay
in Vienna ended and my studies led me back to France.
However, my head stayed in Central Europe. Every time I
could I came to Slovenia, and every time was the occasion
to discover more of what I now consider as my second
sinfo november 07
38
LETTERFROMABROAD
Janez Vouk, Brussels
T
he usual rant about Brussels, as told by some
Slovenian ex-pats or daily visitors, arriving by morning
Brnik–Zaventem ‘bus’, goes like this: “Oh, it’s a boring,
concrete-infested dump, full of grey-suited Eurocrats
who are totally dull and uninteresting because all
they talk about are directives, and they work from dawn ‘till
night. There’s no decent food, the beer is awful, there is dog
pooh wherever you set your foot, garbage lying in the streets,
and it rains all the time!” Well, it’s just past noon on Friday and
wonderful sunshine is pouring through my office window. The
only thing that keeps me from calling it a day, heading for a
delicious lunch - Belgian food is often referred to as French
cuisine in German servings - with a glass of tasty trappiste
beer on a sunny terrace, escorted by a strikingly beautiful and
funny Eurocrat colleague of mine is... the promise I made to
write this letter.
the only European city to claim this, but the nature of its
institutions and their entourage – lobbyists, diplomatic and
other representations, regional offices, etc. – make it a very
special place. The names on the pigeon-holes in my office
building, as well as on the mailboxes in the lobby of my
residence block are from all over Europe. It’s quite common to
see guests in almost any restaurant in the EU Quarter chatting
during lunch-time in different languages at each table - or
every member of the group might be from another country, so
they would settle for English as their lingua franca. Old hats
agree about French losing it’s dominance in the institutions,
while the city itself – although officially bilingual, French and
Dutch – remains predominately Francophone. Spending the
working week mainly in offices, one unfortunately forgets its
other qualities: charming art nouveau architecture, cobbled
streets, vast parks and the sometimes annoyingly slow, but
nevertheless very friendly and smiling, almost Mediterranean
local people. My own short description of Brussels says that
it is just about the right size – not too small to be boring, not
too big to get lost in –and it’s not too clean to feel sterile, while
not so appallingly dirty as to be revolting. It also offers many
opportunities to enjoy art, music, good food, night-life, or just
sitting outside and feeling privileged while watching a sunny
autumn afternoon or long summer evening pass away – like
me in the photo.
Until April 2005 I was an employee of Sinfo’s publisher, the
Government PR and Media (renamed Communication)
Office. One rainy evening in Ljubljana, two weeks after the
best farewell party ever, I packed my belongings into two
suitcases and headed off to take up an administrative post
at the European Parliament. Working as a press officer in
charge of communication with the Slovenian media both here
and “down there”, on the sunny side of the Alps, I’m extremely
lucky in having a job which is ideally suited to me because it
fits my previous journalistic and public relations experience,
(medium-rare) knowledge of European Union affairs, and
gives me editorial independence while writing, and not merely
translating texts into Slovene. My love affair with Brussels
started four years earlier, was kept alive through several short
business-related visits, and finally bore fruit after my success
in competition for EU administrators. I’m ever more certain that
it was one of top three, if not the most important decision I’ve
made in my professional career so far.
Friends and relatives in Slovenia often ask me if I intend to return
eventually, if I miss anything or anybody in particular, if I feel
lonely or disillusioned when earning the “bitter gastarbeiter’s
bread”. My reply: I never plan more than a month in advance
(except for Strasbourg hotel reservations, but that’s another
story), everybody is just a phone-call or two hours flight away,
and while the occasional loneliness or alienation from my job
can happen, the thick “piece of bread” quickly chases those
thoughts away. I think I’ll stick around some more.
One of Brussels’ treats is the real diversity of the multicultural
environment, which is not just a slogan. Of course, it’s not
PS: Did I mention the famous Belgian chocolate? Gorenjka
– eat your heart out!
39
sinfo november 07
THISISSLOVENIA
Kostanjevica na Krki
Art and Natural
treasures
Jože Prešeren, photo: Darinka Mladenovič
K
ostanjevica na Krki is the smallest Slovenian
town, but it makes up for this ‘shortcoming’
through several distinctive assets. Above all,
it is noteworthy for its cultural history and its
unique geographical position. It is located on a
natural island formation in the middle of the Krka River. The
town grew around a fort in the Middle Ages on the border
between the German Empire and the Hungarian Kingdom,
and was called Landstrass; the Slovenian version of the
name – Kostanjevica – first appears in a text dating from
1615. The small town is also unique because of its position
in the centre of a wine region noted for the red wine native
to the Dolenjska region, Cviček. At present, the town has
a population of 750. Judging by the year when it was first
mentioned, it is among the oldest towns in the Dolenjska
region. It is known primarily for its cultural institutions. Every
day this blend of the old and new attracts countless visitors
from around Slovenia and abroad.
Traces of History
On the island, in the core of the old town, there are two
churches. One, the parish church of St Jacob, also happens
to be the oldest surviving building in Kostanjevica. It was
built as a private church for the Counts of Spannheim before
1220.
The other, a church dedicated to St Nicholas, is smaller. The
first known mention of it dates to 1581. The most important
secular building in town is the so-called ‘Dvorec’ (The
Court), which today houses the Lamut fine arts salon. Other
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40
THISISSLOVENIA
of the former monastery today boast exceptional works of art,
the significance of which extends well beyond the borders
of Slovenia. The permanent exhibition includes donations
from some of the most noted Slovenian artists: painter and
graphic artist Božidar Jakac; sculptor France Gorše who,
after World War II, worked abroad; painter, sculptor and
graphic artist Jože Gorjup; the Kralj brothers, France and
Tone, painters, graphic artists and sculptors; painter Zoran
Didek; sculptor Janez Boljka; and last, but not least, painter
and graphic artist Bogdan Borčič. An area has also been set
aside in the gallery for the extremely precious art collection
from the nearby Pleterje Carthusian monastery. The pieces
were brought to Slovenia between 1899 and 1904, after
the monastery had been restored, by monks from Alsace
in France. Included in the gallery’s collection are also over
100 oak sculptures, which are exhibited outdoors. These are
the product of several years’ worth of activities at the Forma
Viva.
significant buildings that merit a mention are the house of Dr
Ivan Oražen and the building of the former town hall.
The part of the town on the mainland is the location of the
primary school, constructed in 1906. Standing in front of it
is a statue of a mother with her baby. It is worth noting that
it was this school that gave rise to most of the initiatives
for the town’s extraordinary cultural transformation in recent
decades, at the instigation of the headmaster of many years,
Lado Smrekar, a great admirer of the fine arts and an avid
supporter of culture.
One of the treasures taken into safekeeping by today’s
inhabitants of Kostanjevica is a large Cistercian monastery
that was founded in 1234. The monastery soon became an
important cultural, religious and economic centre. However,
its development was stalled by Turkish raids, a general crisis,
and also the Reformation in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Nonetheless, the monastery’s estate continued to develop
successfully, until this was cut short in 1785 when it was
dissolved by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. For a while the
monastery grounds housed an administrative centre, but
soon some of the unnecessary buildings were torn down and
the others soon started falling into ruin. During World War II
the monastery building was burned down. Renovations were
begun after 1958. Since 1961 the grounds have been a Forma
Viva sculpture park with an outdoor collection of statues,
and in 1974 a gallery was founded there.
The Beautiful World at the
Foot of the Gorjanci Hills
No town, not even Kostanjevica na Krki, can survive without
its surrounding countryside. Kostanjevica is surrounded by
a multitude of natural curiosities and beautiful sites, some
of which are well known to visitors, while others are still
waiting to be discovered. The well-known Cviček wine from
Dolenjska merited its own, separate exhibition, the Cviček
Cellar, and an adjacent shop, both located near the gallery.
In the immediate vicinity of Kostanjevica there are appealing
stopovers on the Cviček Wine Routes. Especially noteworthy
are the inns Kmečki hram and Žolnir in Kostanjevica and the
Jelenič wine shop in Zavode. The natural sites that are a must
for visitors are the vast Krakovo Oak Forest, which still has
features of a virgin forest, and Kostanjevica Cave, accessible
via a scenic route along the foot of Gorjanci Hills.
A Gallery, Recognised throughout Europe
Today, the central cultural institution in the former monastery
building is the Božidar Jakac Gallery, which manages all
exhibition spaces in town, including the Gorjup Gallery, the
first gallery in town, originally based in the Kostanjevica
Primary School. The meticulously renovated exhibition areas
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sinfo november 07
THISISSLOVENIA
52nd Cow Ball at Bohinj
Jože Prešeren, photo: Darinka Mladenovič
I
n the middle of September, tourism
workers at Bohinj organised a
tourist and folklore event boasting a
venerable 52-year tradition – the Cow
Ball (Kravji bal in Slovene), which on
the one hand marks the end of the summer
tourist season at this important Slovenian
tourist
destination, but on the other hand is essentially a fine display
of traditional farming activities from this part of the Alps. The
event takes place at a time when cattle are brought down
from the pastures in the mountains where they have been
grazing during the summer months under the attentive care
of the herders whom the local people refer to as ‘majerji’
(men) and ‘majerice’ (women). The Cow Ball event also
presents the cattle owners or herders with the opportunity to
sell their produce – particularly the mouth-watering Bohinjstyle cheese – to visitors.
War,
several dairy
cooperatives were to be
found in the valley, and in the aftermath
of the war, this branch of farming was scaled down
considerably. Today, only four mountains overlooking Lake
Bohinj remain known for Alpine herding and cheese-making.
Generally speaking, it is obvious that the agricultural sector
is no longer of prime importance to the local economy, with
the focus shifting towards tourism and the protection of the
natural environment, as most of the Bohinj area is part of
Triglav National Park.
Nowadays, the Cow Ball is hardly more than just an interesting
event intended for visitors to this beautiful Alpine valley of
Slovenia; and it keeps alive memories and traditions from
days of yore. In the main event, herds of cattle come marching
down from the mountain pastures. In 2007, the ‘procession’
included some 70 animals, accompanied by several
herdsmen and herdswomen wearing traditional dress. This
was followed by cultural events, such as performances by
many Slovenian folklore and pop groups.
For centuries – from the 16th to the 19th century – the Lake Bohinj
area was a very important iron foundry centre employing most
of the local population. After the last ironworks closed down,
the people focused on farming, especially Alpine herding,
dairy farming and cheese-making. Before the Second World
sinfo november 07
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THISISSLOVENIA
The Wine Routes of Dolenjska -–
the Cviček Trails
Jože Prešeren, photo: Darinka Mladenovič
T
he winemaking regions of Slovenia – Štajerska,
Primorska and, of course, Dolenjska with Bela
krajina – are criss-crossed with twenty wine routes
which have been mapped out in a way that allows
the visitor to see Slovenian vineyard estates, private
and public wine cellars, tourist farms and traditional inns,
farmsteads and vineyard brick huts; they can also get to
know the places and sample the local culinary delights. The
purpose of the wine routes is therefore not solely catering for
those who wish to become acquainted with the various wines,
but to all who would like to learn about life in different parts
of Slovenia, traditional songs, and habits and customs from
times past and present.
a couple of kilometres before the Croatian border. The route
mainly leads through vineyards in the foothills of the Gorjanci
Hills and there are several stopover options, such as tourist
farms, castles and other local curiosities. Tourists may also
visit cultural landmarks such as the Pleterje Charterhouse with
the nearby Open-Air Museum of Dolenjska, the art galleries at
Kostanjevica na Krki and, at the very end of the route, Mokrice
Castle where they can spend some time on the adjoining golfcourse.
In the past few years, the Upper Dolenjska Wine Route has
become increasingly popular. The route leads from Mokronog
to Trebeljevo: both of these villages are famous for their
excellent local wines. Special mention should also be made of
the Belokranjska Wine Route, especially the vineyards around
the town of Metlika, where the excellent žametna črnina red
wine is produced; in recent years, certain winemakers have
also received awards for their top-quality white wines.
Some of these wine routes pass through the Dolenjska region,
where the best-known routes are the ‘Lower Dolenjska Wine
Route’ and the ‘Podgorjanska Wine Route’.
The Lower Dolenjska Wine Route is located in the area
around the town of Novo mesto and connects the following
places: Trebnje – Gradišče – Rihpovec – Karteljevo – Gornje
Kamenje – Trška Gora – Otočec. Traditionally, the best-known
are the vineyards at Trška Gora, overlooking Novo mesto, and
the nearby Vinji Vrh, famous for good-quality cviček wine;
other areas are known primarily for the making of traditional
white and red wines. The vineyards at Trška Gora and Vinji Vrh
enjoy a great sunny location overlooking the Krka River Valley;
the soil is also very good. The area covered by the wine route
is also known for its exceptionally varied natural and cultural
heritage: numerous churches, the most notable being the
pilgrimage church at Trška Gora dedicated to the Nativity of
the Virgin and near the church grows one of Slovenia’ oldest
lime trees which is also protected as a natural monument.
Other sights include castles, archaeological sites, etc.
The Podgorjanska Wine (and Tourist) Route starts at the
Dolenjske Toplice spa resort and then runs a total distance
of 83 kilometres past Novo mesto towards Šentjernej,
Kostanjevica na Krki, and Brežice, ending at Mokrice Castle,
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sinfo november 07
THISISSLOVENIA
a furry bear’s head. But because the water of the Zadlaščica
literally jumps from one pool to the next, forming picturesque
little waterfalls through the gorge, the local people call this
stretch Skakalce (‘Hoppers’).
The Tolminka River Gorge has always been very popular with
the local people, as well as visitors of Tolmin, which is why it
is not at all surprising that it has seen many famous visitors.
If you continue upwards on the path from Medvedova glava,
you will reach an asphalt road leading east to Zadlaška or
Dante’s Cave. It was named Zadlaška Cave after the village of
Zadlaz near the gorge. The latter name, however, comes from
the poet Dante Alighieri, who was a guest of the Patriarch
of Aquileia, Pagano della Torre, at the beginning of the
fourteenth century. Dante is said to have been taking shelter
in the cave from rain, which had surprised him on one of
his treks. It was then that the poet was allegedly inspired to
write The Inferno, the first canto of his epic poem The Divine
Comedy.
Tolminska korita
a heavenly inferno
The road from the cave then continues over the sixty-metrelong Devil’s Bridge above the rivers and the thermal spring.
The bridge and the road were constructed under the Tolmin
local authorities and were built by the local people and the
workers of Bohinj Railways. Before that, the village of Zadlaz
could be reached only along a narrow path over the small
bridge at the bottom of the gorge. At first, the bridge was
made of wood, but under the Italian occupation during World
War I and II the wood was replaced by iron. It was then that
it was named the Devil’s Bridge, which is a common name in
Slovenia for bridges over narrow and dangerous hollows. In
1966, the road and the bridge also saw the first car (Fiat 600)
driving into the village of Zadlaz.
Kornelija Ajlec
T
olminska korita (‘Tolmin Gorge’), the biggest natural
monument in Tolmin, is situated about a kilometre
north of the Alpine town of Tolmin, at the edge of
Triglav National Park. The gorge, which is the lowest
and southernmost entrance point to the park, was
carved over thousands of years by the crystal clear Tolminka
River and the vivacious Zadlaščica River.
This circular path takes about an hour to walk, and the roaring
of the Tolminka and Zadlaščica rivers may resound in your
ears for a while after you have left. But the memories of the
beautiful gorge and crystal waters will stay with you forever.
On the chutes there is a circular path leading to one of the
gorge’s biggest attractions, a thermal spring, which is located
in a shallow horizontal cave under Hudičev most (‘The Devil’s
Bridge’). It is the result of geothermic energy, which deep
down heats the water that has come from the surface and
then pushes it back up through cracks. Slovenia has a few
such springs, but they are very rare in the Julian Alps. Due
to a landslide under the bridge which blocked and raised
the bed of the Tolminka the cave can no longer be reached,
while the thermal springs which flow into the gorge can only
be seen when the Tolminka is very low.
The next attraction on the path is the confluence of the
Tolminka and Zadlaščica, which meet at the widest point of
the gorge. The confluence is especially interesting because
it is the only one found in a gorge in Slovenia.
The Zadlaščica is primarily known as a reserve for the Soča
trout. The river has formed obstacles which make it impossible
for brook trout, to inhabit it, as this species would otherwise
have eradicated the Soča trout. In this way, the latter, with
its special archaic genetic code, has been preserved in this
area.
From the confluence, the path rises a little, only to drop again,
bringing us to Medvedova glava (‘Bear’s Head’), which is a
natural bridge formed by a big boulder jammed between the
walls of Zadlaščica Gorge. The rock is covered in moss and as
such has stirred people’s imagination with its appearance of
sinfo november 07
44
PEOPLE
THISISSLOVENIA
Floristry
the Art of
Floral Creations
arranging techniques, he acquired most of his craft by
himself. Or, as he puts it, floristry is an art which uses flowers,
greenery and other accessories as its primary tools. In the
creation of bouquets a florist must respect the prescribed
colour combinations, know the characteristics of the various
plants and the ratios between the materials used, as well as
the various bouquet forming and arrangement composition
techniques. Matjaž is a man of inquisitive spirit and great
talent, with artistic flair and a sense of aesthetics. All of these
characteristics are essential for a good florist. As to the rapid
changes in the fashion of flower arranging, he comments that
one must be very careful when combining various flowers:
a good selection of individual flowers can nevertheless
yield a modest, outdated bouquet. Therefore Matjaž often
participates at floristry competitions both at home and
abroad, which helps him keep track of new approaches and
innovative designs. At competitions and fairs he meets with
his often excellent peers, whose work further stimulates his
exploring spirit, which constantly pushes him to discover new
solutions and shapes. Even though the costs of preparing for
such events are extremely high, he is well aware of how much
these competitions boost the prestige of floristry and help
promote the consumption of flowers and floral gifts. Usually,
the winners of floral competitions do not receive any prize
money; instead, they are very well paid to appear at various
events and TV shows. Matjaž believes that his input will help
promote his company both at home and abroad, which is
very important in the long term.
photo: Personal Archive
Anja Lorenzetti
T
he Mak Florists from Kranj is celebrating an
important jubilee. This family business was founded
seventy years ago, and it seems the tradition
continue well into the future. In their shop in the old
town centre three generations of the same family
have been making their floral creations, and passing their
knowledge onto younger generations. The grandson of the
family, fifty-year old Matjaž, pursues his family’s mission of
crafting the top-class floral arrangements which have won
him awards both home and abroad. At this year’s European
Championship at Velenje, Slovenia, he was among Europe’s
top twenty florists competing in six different categories: their
exquisite floral creations were a delight to flower aficionados
from Slovenia and beyond. The categories were: Pippi’s
Feast, the Wedding Bouquet, a Garden in a Pot, Jože Plečnik,
Bouquet, and Surprise.
What is it that sets Matjaž apart from his peers from the world
of floristry? Everyone who knows him says that he has two
distinct features that are very welcome in his line of work: he
likes to be different from others and is a good improviser. In
his flower arrangements, he relies mostly on the use of plants,
because he says that people have grown tired of minimalist
bouquets and are therefore looking for better contact with
nature and stronger and more varied colour content. They
would like to find all the colours of the meadow in their
bouquet. While Matjaž finds it hard to choose his personal
favourite flower, those who know his creations will tell you
that he most often uses Gloriosa and Craspedia. Each of
these plants is special in its own right. One impresses with
its luxurious shape, while the other is quite minimalist, but
both have thin stems which is ideal for the formation of a
sumptuous bouquet. Thanks to his international success, he
cooperates with the Flower Council of Holland on presenting
new directions in floristry to retailers. Both in Slovenia and
abroad, Matjaž Beguš is indeed a very important figure in the
world of floristry.
Matjaž Beguš is a trained mechanic, but the scent of the
flowers enticed him, and making flower arrangements has
long since been his way of life. Although he learned a lot
from his grandfather, who taught him the basic bouquet
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sinfo november 07
S P O R T
T
The Presidency
Runs the
Marathon
he Ljubljana Marathon, which in the past
few years has established itself as one
of the most important marathon events
in Slovenia, is the climax of the running
season, and is this year an introduction
to the final phase of preparations for the Slovenian
‘diplomatic marathon’ in the first half of 2008 when
Slovenia heads the Council of the EU.
On a suggestion from the Slovenian Government
Communication Office, under the slogan ‘The
Presidency Runs the Marathon’, state officials
working on the Presidency project, members
of the government and the diplomatic corps in
Slovenia were invited to join the running team.
The reaction was very positively surprising, as
more than one hundred runners applied in all
three distance categories. Among the runners
are also cabinet members: Dr Milan Zver, Minister
of Education and Sport, Karl Erjavec, Minister of
Defence, and Dr Gregor Virant, Minister of Public
Administration, some state secretaries, other state
officials and members of the (foreign) diplomatic
corps in Slovenia. Why the Ljubljana Marathon?
“It is the last major running event before the start
of Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU. And since
we are determined to reach the finishing line,
be it 10, 21, 42 kilometres or the entire six month
marathon of the Presidency, we have decided to
go through with this project. We are well prepared
for everything,” says the Official Spokesperson of
Slovenia’s Presidency Anže Logar. All Presidency
Team members will wear jerseys in the colours of
the Presidency. The results and some photos will
be available in the next issue of Sinfo.
N. S., photo: Darinka Mladenovič
“In Ljubljana, the marathon has a long tradition and
I am glad that this marathon has ‘caught on’ so well.
Last year, over 10,000 people participated and we
hope for an even larger number this year, but this will
also depend on the weather. The event is interesting
for all participants and sponsors because it is about
healthy lifestyle. We aim at a larger international
participation which is why we will try to enter the
Ljubljana marathon into the marathon network of
EU capitals. I myself will promote the marathon at
the meeting of the mayors of EU capitals during
Slovenia’s EU Presidency. I would like to apologise
to the citizens because of road closings, but without
them such an event could not be realised,” said the
Mayor of Ljubljana, Zoran Janković.
sinfo november 07
46
CULTURALTRAILS
Ljubljana
The karst
The Karst house is all in all a very simple building. Karst architecture does not allow for superfluous decoration, ornamentation or colour. Overly detailed modelling of stone fences
or excessive wood decoration on the exterior staircase can
utterly reduce the beauty of old Karst architecture. The interior design of such houses also demands special attention.
The appropriate furniture is extremely hard to come by. A
couple of years ago, such furnishings were still plentiful, but
today they are either largely gone or owned by local people,
who are unwilling to sell. The same goes for entire estates.
The demand for old Karst-type estates by far exceeds the
supply. Nonetheless, many people, mostly non-residents, decide to renovate old Karst houses, even though this sort of
venture can cost more than it does to build two new houses.
Recently, the residents themselves have also started caring
for the preservation of the old cultural heritage. Most of them
only renovate a part of the farm and add a more modern
extension. Present-day viticulture and fruit growing demand
a larger cellar or fruit-drying facilities, which in turn demand
modern buildings and equipment. In the old days the houses
in the Karst grew slowly. After the smokehouse was built it
was only enlarged in width and height when this became
necessary. Today the renovation of old Karst houses is quite
similar – it is gradual and takes a very long time. Some renovations take over 15 years before they are completed.
The Karst House
Vesna Žarkovič
A
lpine, Pannonian and Mediterranean cultural influences
all entwine in Slovenia. Slovenia was once divided into
five historical regions: Carniola, Carinthia, Styria, the
Slovenian Littoral and Prekmurje. Today, this division is still
preserved in spoken language, dialects and typical regional
architecture. A short car journey can provide an overview of
the beauty of all the traditional houses of Slovenia. The most
typical among them are the Karst, Alpine and Prekmurje designs.
The Karst house does not have a characteristic, unified
floor-plan. The ground-floor was mainly used as stables. A
staircase led to the first floor, where the living quarters were
located. Where the building itself did not form an atrium, a
wall was constructed around the entire dwelling, shielding it
from the strong winds. Most Karst houses are enclosed in
this way. The characteristic entrance portal or the kalona was
large enough to allow the passage of a large horse-drawn
cart – the richer the family, the bigger the portal. The entrance to the actual building was much smaller.
Traditional Karst houses are usually of stone. The same goes
for the walls, window frames, portals, roof, gutters and floor.
All quarters have separate exits. Those on the ground floor
open onto the courtyard, and on the first floor onto the gank
(balcony). So the main characteristic is the exterior staircase,
which can either be made from stone or wood. The enclosed
courtyards were mainly intended for domestic use. Since
housewives did their cooking in the open, the kitchen table
was located outside as well. In the courtyard there was customarily a large mulberry tree which provided shade, and a
vegetable garden with typical Karst herbs. There were no
hallways in the house; instead, the rooms were connected
directly. Windows were upright and there were usually none
facing north. There were no eaves either. Because of the
wind, the fronts of the houses were customarily walled in.
Karst houses have several chimneys, which also have a symbolic meaning.
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sinfo oktober 07
sinfo oktober 07
CULTURALTRAILS
The Karst House