1

eNEWSLETTEREMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA IN TEL AVIVSeptember – October 2017

HAPPENING NOW

Port of Koper Day in Tel Aviv on 25 October 2017

The Port of Koper organized, in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovenia in Tel Aviv, abusiness event for the Israeli partners on 25 October 2017 for the third consecutiveyear. The event was organized within the EU project Fresh Food Corridor, coordinatedby the Port of Koper, which involves many partners from Slovenia and Israel.

Israel is already a traditional market for the Port of Koper. The cooperation between theport and the Israeli companies started soon after the Port of Koper was established, i.e.almost 60 years ago. Over the decades, the Port of Koper has become one of mostrelevant ports for Israeli goods, bound to the EU market.

After a well-attended B2B session with the numerous Port of Koper communitymembers, the participants were addressed by the Ambassador of Slovenia in Israel H.E.Ms Barbara Sušnik, the President of the Port of Koper Management Board Mr DragomirMatić and Mr Fabio Hrvatin, the Vice President of the Slovenian Association of PortLogistics Providers.

Ambassador Sušnik presentedthe excellent political andeconomic relations betweenSlovenia and Israel and shepointed out the contribution bythe Port of Koper to that end.She explained that the Port ofKoper, which celebrates its60th anniversary this year, hasbecome a major port in theAdriatic and the main point ofentry for landlocked CentralEuropean markets, as it offersthe shortest sea route to thethese European markets. Shethanked Israeli partners for

being part of the successful cooperation between Slovenia and Israel, and she invitedthem to further deepen connections with Slovenia, and the Port of Koper in particular.

2

Mr. Matić thanked the Israeli partners for several decades of cooperation and trust andpointed out the satisfaction that the first phase of Fresh Food Corridor project wasaccomplished and it proved the competitive advantage of the railway logistic concept.Favorable direct container services and short transit times with the Israeli ports of Haifaand Ashdod offer a good basis to further upgrade the cooperation.

Following a short video presentation of the Port, the event turned into a friendly-relaxed networking atmosphere.

SLOVENIA IN ISRAEL

Visit of Former President of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk

Former President of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk visited Israel on 16 October. The visit tookplace in the context of his humanitarian activities. The Foundation ‘Let Them Dream’,which Former President Dr Türk has established, includes among others ahumanitarian project of rehabilitation of children, victims of armed conflicts from Gaza.Since 2009, when the then President of Slovenia Dr Türk launched this project, 167children have been rehabilitated and 27 therapists trained in Slovenia.

The visit included a tour of Yitzhak Rabin Center, where he met with the Chair of theCenter, daughter of Yitzhak Rabin and former Member of the Knesset Ms. Dalia Rabin.The former President also visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where heheld talks with Mr. Nadav Tamir, Director of International Policy and GovernmentAffairs of the Peres Center. Dr. Türk also met several representatives of Israeli andinternational organizations as well as academia. The Former President Dr. Türk wasaccompanied by Mrs. Mojca Seliškar Toš, President of the Management Board of the'Let Them Dream' – Danilo Türk Foundation, and Ms. Barbara Sušnik, Ambassador ofSlovenia in Israel.

3

Dr. Danilo Türk and Ms. Dalia Rabin at Yitzhak Rabin Center. Photo. VTA

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik, Dr. Türk and Ms. Mojca Seliškar Tošat Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. Photo: VTA

Dr. Danilo Türk and Mr. Nadav Tamir at PeresCenter for Peace and Innovation. Photo. VTA

The Former President Dr. Türk also visited Gaza and Ramallah, where he met childrenand youngsters, who were rehabilitated in Slovenia, their families and therapists, whoparticipated in trainings in Slovenia.

4

The First Anniversary of the Former President Shimon Peres's death

Israel commemorated the first anniversary ofthe former President Shimon Peres's death on 13September 2017.

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik attended thememorial event held in honor of the late NinthPresident Shimon Peres at the Peres Center forPeace and Innovation in Jaffa, on September 13,2017, in the presence of the President of theState of Israel Reuven Rivlin and Chemi Peres,Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Ambassador Barbara Sušnik attended thememorial event at The Peres Center for Peaceand Innovation. Photo: VTA

The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation is advancing the legacy of Shimon Peres, ashe said: 'We must utilize innovation for economic and social prosperity, for the sake ofelevating humanity, for healing the sick and strengthening the weak for peace.'

SPORTS

Slovenia won the European basketball championship 2017!

Slovenia won its firstEuropean basketballchampionship on 17September by defeatingSerbia 93-85 behind 35points from GoranDragić. Dragić's 35points in the title gamewere the most in asingle game inEuroBasket 2017. Theywere also the most in aEuroBasket Finalsince Pau Gasol had 36in 2003.

5

ECONOMY

Prospects remain favorable

IMAD, the government's macroeconomicforecaster, has strongly upgradedSlovenia's GDP growth in itslatest Autumn Forecast. This year, theeconomy is projected to expand by 4.4%,up 0.8 points from the spring forecast,while the projection for 2018 was revisedupwards by 0.7 points to 3.9%, IMAD saidon 21 September.

Domestic demand will remain a significant factorof growth in 2017–2019. Photo: Mostphotos

The growth continues to be driven by exports, which are projected to expand by 8.8%this year before the pace of growth slows to just over 6% by 2019. Last year exportsexpanded by 6.4%.

Private spending is projected to decline to 3.3% from 4.2% last year, with additionaldeceleration planned in the subsequent two years.

Government spending, having surged by 2.5% last year, is expected to grow by 1.1% thisyear and under 1% in the next two years. Source: www.vlada.si

TOURISM

This week, Slovenia made Lonely Planet’s bucket list of next year’s top traveldestinations. The renowned travel guide described Slovenia’s Julian Alps as offering“mountain bliss in an overlooked corner of Europe”, and added them to their bucket listof top regions to visit in 2018.According to the guide, the Julian Alps,which were “[o]nce suitable only forthe intrepid ... are gently opening thedoor to every stripe of traveller”.Slovenia’s Julian Alps, which made thelist of “ten regions rising up our bucketlist” in Lonely Planet’s feature section“Best in Travel 2018”, were describedas having the “natural appeal ofChamonix or Zermatt, but with fewercrowds”. Source: www.vlada.si

6

Sustainable Development Strategy for Slovenian Tourism 2017-2021

At its October 5 session, theGovernment of the Republic of Sloveniaadopted the Sustainable DevelopmentStrategy for Slovenian Tourism 2017-2021.

The key objective of the strategy is to achieve acurrency inflow of EUR 3.7 – 4 billion fromtourism exports by 2021. Photo: Mostphotos

The strategy for 2017-2021 is based on past experiences and the development specificsof Slovenian tourism, the development of competitive advantages and the promotion ofsystemic solutions in this area, the effective linking of national, local, regional andentrepreneurial interests in the area of development of tourism, the promotion ofglobal, national and local tourism products, where Slovenia has noticeable competitiveadvantages, and on the understanding and introduction of modern managementmethods and techniques in the area of strategic planning and focusing of companies’competitive networks.The strategy is focused on a scenario of accelerated tourism development, and isdesigned to achieve the following tourism development objectives by 2021:

– a currency inflow of EUR 3.7 to 4 billion;– 5-5.5 million tourist stays;– 16-18 million overnights;– average length of stay 3.1-3.4 days;– 18,000 to 22,000 new tourist rooms, of which 8,500 renovated and6,500 new rooms in the hotel sector;– increasing full-time employment in the tourism sector from 8,000 to 12,000employees.

The proposed new strategic vision for Slovenian tourism is: Slovenia is a global greenboutique destination for discriminating guests who are seeking a diverse and activeexperience, peace and personal well-being.Source: http://www.vlada.si

Slovenian Thermal Spas and Health Resorts Through Time

The secret of wellbeing was discovered long ago at Slovenia's thermal and mineralsprings. Archaeological excavations from the Roman period bear witness to the richhistory of thermal baths in Slovenia, written documents about our thermal waters dateback to 1147, and the healing qualities of our mineral water have been appreciatedthroughout Europe for more than four centuries.

7

Terme Čatež spa, Photo: Slovenia.info

First discovered by local people, the beneficial effects of the healing springs gave rise tonew methods of treatment, and in recent decades new health resorts have developedat Slovenia's springs.

At the intersection of roads leading from north to south and west to east, Slovenia hasalways been part of the culture of the Old Continent. In the period when CentralEuropean health spas flourished, health centers developed in Slovenia that todayrepresent the foundations of our health resort tourism. At the same time, due to thehealing qualities of their natural elements, our health resorts maintain a special statusin Slovenia's health care system as well as close ties with the medical profession.

Fifteen Slovenian health Spas and tourist centres take pride in their certified status asnatural health resorts. The growing reputation of these health resorts over the last fewyears has encouraged others to study Slovenia's natural assets more intensively andthus contribute to establishing new tourist bathing centres.

The development and recognition of Slovenia's health resorts was encouraged by thewealth of natural assets in our country. The most important are thermal waters ofvarious qualities and temperature (from 32°C to 73°C) and mineral waters such as theworld famous Radenska Three Hearts and Donat Mg followed by sea water and brine,organic and inorganic peloids, and finally the Mediterranean, Pannonian, and sub-alpine mountain micro-climates.

At Slovenia's health resorts, knowledge, experience, the natural surroundings, and thecharacter of the country are interwoven with the friendliness of the hosts. In thisharmonious mosaic of health and well-being, everyone finds what they truly desire andneed.

8

Terme Olimpia spa. Photo: Slovenia.info

Springs of Life and Vitality

Because the modern lifestyle has brought many previously unknown problems,Slovenian health resorts applying natural healing measures have developedvarious new methods of treatment and new programs for the prevention of diseasesthat take fully into consideration modern scientific research in various fields ofmedicine.

Our health resorts offer not only balneo therapy and physiotherapy services, but alsoother kinds of modern therapies based on education and learning.

Far from the city noise and the ever faster pace of modern life, we can discover thesecrets of unspoiled nature and devote time to ourselves in Slovenia's health resortsand thermal spa centres. Here, we can spend pleasant family holidays, do somethingfor ourselves, for our body and spirit, and improve our physical and mental condition.This is made possible by well-equipped health and recreation centres where we canswim, jog, stroll, exercise on various equipment and playing fields, play golf and tennis,bowl, ride horses, ski, enjoy mountain-biking, and at the same time learn to live in a ina more healthy way. And because an exercised and active body also enjoys exercisingthe spirit, our health resorts organize social, cultural, and folklore events and provideplenty of opportunities for excursions. Source: https://www.slovenia.info/en/things-to-do/spas-and-health-resorts.

More Information at: SLOVENIAN SPAS ASSOCIATIONwww.slovenia-terme.si

9

SLOVENIA

Day of the Girl

October 11 was declared International Day ofthe Girl Child by the UN General Assembly in2011. Source: MZZ

International Day of the Girl is an international observance day aimed at raising publicawareness of the disadvantages and discrimination that girls face in various situations,and at promoting the full realisation of their potential. This year, the special emphasisis on the challenges faced by girls in emergency contexts, and numerous campaignshave been launched under the slogan EmPOWER girls: before, during and afteremergencies.

According to the UNICEF data, in 2016, around 535 million children lived in countriesaffected by conflicts, large-scale natural disasters, epidemics and other emergencies.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees points out that the protractednature of current crises means that several million girls born during the crisis mighthave to spend the first years or even decades of their lives in an emergency setting andtherefore are at greater risk of violence on the basis of gender, sexual and physicalviolence, child marriages, exploitation and trafficking in human beings. During conflict,girls are also 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys, which significantlycompromises their future prospects. Furthermore, health services critical to thewellbeing of girls, including services and information related to sexual and reproductivehealth and rights, and provisions for intimate health and hygiene are often scarce incrisis situations.

Therefore, on International Day of the Girl we call for support and assistance for girls inemergencies, respect for their human rights and the assurance of appropriateconditions for them to realise their full potential. Slovenia contributes to these aims byadvocating the rights and wellbeing of children and the empowerment of women indifferent multinational forums, as well as by supporting humanitarian projects intendedto improve the situation of women and children. In 2017, Slovenia made a financialcontribution to the UN Population Fund for programmes promoting sexual andreproductive health and rights in developing countries.Source: http://www.vlada.si

10

CULTURE

Lola Marsh performance at Jewish Cultural Center Ljubljana

On 21 October Lola Marsh performed at Jewish Cultural center Ljubljana.Lola Marsh is an Israeli indie pop band from Tel Aviv. The band was formed as a duo in2013 by Gil Landau (Guitars, Keyboards) and Yael Shoshana Cohen (Vocals), and wasquickly signed by the indie label Anova Music. The band released their first EP, You'reMine, under Universal Records-Barclay in January 2016.

Lola Marsh. Source &photo: Wikipedia.

ENVIRONMENT

Slovenian World Bee Day initiative at UN level

Since 2014 Sloveniahas been carryingout numerousactivities aimed at

reachingobservance of aWorld Bee Day onMay 20th at UNlevel. The projectwhich was initiatedby the Slovenian

Beekeepers'Association hasreceived a

generous endowment in support, i.e. more and more countries and other non-governmental institutions have given strong support to it.

Joint efforts made by our beekeepers and the state in the recent years have set up awide-spread social movement in support of protecting the bees and nature, connectingproducers and consumers on the local level and using the beekeeping know-how,experience and tradition when facing modern-day challenges. Moreover, we continueour common international path with the initiative to declare May 20 a World Bee Day atUN level.

11

In proposing declaring a World Bee Day, the Republic of Slovenia endeavors to makethe world public aware as much as possible of the importance of bees for humanity,especially in terms of eradication of hunger and malnutrition and preserving theenvironment and biodiversity.

On 6 July, 2017 The FAO, a UN organization specialized for foodand agriculture, gave its official support and with it the finaldecision at the United Nations General Assembly until December2017.

The project website www.worldbeeday.org.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia

UPCOMING EVENTS

Slovenian satire play "People's Democratic Circus Sakeshvili" performed in NissanNativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem, 2 - 16 November

The winner of the Grum Award 2016 for the best new Slovene play, People's DemocraticCircus Sakeshvili, is set in a tiny totalitarian state in which everything is restricted andregulated.

The play presents a series of absurdly comic situations dealing with the topic ofconstant »brainwashing« which destroys one’s personality, dignity and everything elsethat defines one as human.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Election of the President of the Republic of Slovenia

The first round of presidential elections was held in Slovenia on 22 October 2017. Ninecandidates ran in the elections, including the incumbent President of Slovenia Mr. BorutPahor. No candidate received a majority of the vote. Mr. Pahor received 47% of votesand second placed Mr. Marjan Šarec, mayor of Kamnik, received 25%of votes, resultingin a run-off between incumbent President Pahor and Mr. Marjan Šarec to be held on 12November 2017.More information at www.dvk-rs.si

Follow us on: www.facebook.com/sloveniainisrael