“A first-class event …”

Two days ago, on Wednesday morning, in the hall of the Provincial Museum filled to the brim, the premises of the Scientific Research Center of the Republic of Slovenia in Koper has officially opened in a very ceremonial manner and in the presence of many distinguished guests.

Thus, after many years of comprehensive efforts, the last foundation stone was laid for the operation of the institution established by the government, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and all three coastal municipalities, in this respect the successor to the former Coastal Community.

Introductory words by the director of the Scientific Research Center Koper (ZRS) dr. Lucija Čok – she especially greeted Zoran Thaler, acting Foreign Minister, SAZU Vice President Ciril Zlobec, State Secretary Ciril Baškovič from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Slovenian consul in Trieste Tomaž Pavšič and the Italian consul in Koper Michele Esposito, Mayor of Three Coastal Municipalities and Bishop of Koper dr. Piriha Method – the mayor of Koper, Aurelio Juri, joined on behalf of the coastal municipalities with greetings, thanks and sincere wishes.

Ciril Baškovič from the Ministry of Science and Technology reminded those present that the opening of the ZRS premises is a first-class event of exceptional importance not only for the Coast and Primorska, but for the whole of Slovenia. At the same time, he emphasized the binding role that the previous acting president had played in the creation and formation of the institution from the very beginning, director dr. Duša Krnel-Umek and mag. Darko Darovec. Baškovič as well as Lucija Čok and the Municipality of Koper once again warmly thanked both of them.

“The number of attendees,” said SAZU Vice President Ciril Zlobec, “clearly shows the extent to which the public and individuals are aware of the importance of the ZRS. This institution is all the more important precisely because it was created outside the countries center, in the Mediterranean open border area, because it will be able to cooperate creatively and in comprehensive coexistence – and compete – with similar institutions in Trieste, Gorizia and Udine. And through the work of the ZRS, the coastal temperament will certainly be able to bring greater creative openness and Mediterranean tolerance into the otherwise historically conditioned Slovene obstinacy…” In this, too, we can – according to Zlobec – see an additional guarantee that the ZRS will justify its purpose even more than before and fulfill the mission entrusted to it.

At the end – the pupils of the Koper Center for Music Education took care of the attractive music program – Mag. Darko Darovec presented in more detail the CD ROM, which includes all issues of the Annales collection, the Annales Library collection and the Acta histriae volume. The project, in which the Historical Society for South Primorska and the Scientific Research Center are now participating, was made possible by the Open Society Institute of Slovenia. Videos for this – four language – multimedia ‘book’ were made by TV Koper, and the material was edited by VIDA Gorjup-Posinković.