SUMMARIES Conference in Baasem
Slovenians in Germany are Primarily Slovenians
a large extent. Germany offers an abundance of business opportunities in all fields, yet it does not have time to deal with Slovenia due to the importance of its economy and the incoming offers from all over the world. “We ourselves have to endeavour and present our offers in the best way possible,” says Pen and adds that the German partners find it difficult to understand that even after 20 years of the Slovenian independence a large share of the country’s economy is still state-owned.
The Business Story of Success
Wine Opens the Doors to the Heart Slovenians who live in Germany, more precisely in North Rhine-Westphalia, are dedicated to taking care of the Slovenian identity preservation with language and culture being their foremost priorities. Such aspirations were very transparent on the 16th conference of Slovenian societies, Catholic missions, teachers, social workers, folklore ensemble members and choirs in Germany which was organised this March in Baasem under the patronage of the Slovenia’s Office for Slovenians Abroad. Especially encouraging is the fact that the Slovenian spirit lives also among the youth. United in societies or as individuals, our compatriots are nourishing both the interpersonal contacts as well as ties with their mother country. Over a hundred participants of the conference gained new experiences at workshops, lectures and discussions. Besides that they revived the old friendships and made new acquaintances on social gatherings. Do not miss the report from Baasem.
Interview: Matjaž Pen, Slovenian consul in Düsseldorf
Germany – the Market of Business Opportunities The Germans are willing to collaborate with the Slovenian companies and businesspersons, but they themselves need to make an effort as well and show them the potentials and willingness for co-operation, says Matjaž Pen, the Slovenian consul in Düsseldorf. The opening of the consulate this February was a strong economic-political impulse of Slovenia to the German authorities, saying that we want to strengthen our collaboration with Germany to
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for young compatriots beyond the Slovenian borders with which they above all wish to retain, strengthen and develop the Slovenian language and culture around the Globe. Also they want to build up the co-operation of the Republic of Slovenia with the youth. “We notice that they have overcome the ‘political’ divisions of the past and that they are united and connected by common interests from manifold fields,” was what among other things said Breda Mulec, PhD, a minister’s cabinet secretary and co-author of the action plan. She believes that new generations are capable of creating a dialogue, oriented towards the development of the national community in the neighbouring countries and the strengthening of collaboration between countries.
Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak
Forty years ago Marko Podkubovšek arrived to New York only with two suitcases and 600 dollars in his pocket but with his marketing idea, hard work and courage he succeeded. Together with a partner Jurij Brumec, a graduated oenologist, they established a prestigious wine label Sanctum and showed the world how good Slovenian wines are. “Slovenia is a country where I wish to spend the autumn of my life. No way it’s going to be in Florida or any other country,” emphasizes Marko who built a true American villa in his father’s town Loče which he also showed us.
Action Plan
The Youth Needs Support The Office for Slovenians abroad has prepared an action plan of collaboration and support
First Lady of the Black-andWhite Keys
The life story of Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak is equally legendary as her status among the piano music lovers. At the end of the last year the concert pianist marked her 65th anniversary of artistic creation in which also four decades of teaching at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana are included. Four thousand performances on the world’s greatest stages and over 90 CDs are merely two from the multitude of facts which tell about her genius. She began this year with a tour across Canada which was followed by recitals around Slovenia. In April she started a big tournament in the USA after which she is going to record some CDs in New York.