Evropské hlavní město kultury Plzeň 2015
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Dear citizens and visitors to Pilsen, the European Capital of Culture 2015, After months of preparations, this extraordinary event is a reality. Expectations are coming to a head, nervousness is growing in the active participants: Will people like the events prepared? Will everything turn out as imagined? Will all the scheduled happenings attract as many tourists as everyone is wishing? I am confident that the answer is yes. And I also wish it upon Pilsen that things turn out as such. Because when Pilsen thrives, with it thrives the entire surrounding region where Pilsen has been the natural centre for centuries. I am delighted that it is to be our region where the heart of European cultural life will beat this year. I take pride in being able to say that our regional capital is the European cultural metropolis for 2015. Because Pilsen has always occupied a prominent position on the cultural map of Europe. And as long as Pilsen can be found on that map, so can the Pilsen Region. A region that will contribute a host of interesting programmes at attractive locations to the events held during 2015. Shortly, it will, in a sort of neighbourly fashion, contribute its cultural bit. And it might be the kind of bit which the magic mill in Koloveč can do: Once it all has happened in the 365 days, Pilsen and the entire region will be there looking younger, more beautiful, and charged with new energy. Václav Šlajs, the President of the Pilsen Region
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