PZS has hosted Cuban ambassador Mrs Norma Goicochea Estenoz

President of HI Slovenia met her Excellency, ambassador of Cuba for first time on Cuban Embassy in Vienna, where he has in capacity of Board member explained possibilities for Cuba to join Hostelling international. During this meeting she has expressed an interest to learn more about Slovene NGO-s and other associations, while she is also responsible for Slovenia and Croatia.

During Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of January her Excellency met representatives of Student organisation of University of Maribor (SOUM), where it’s president has presented her also organisation on the national level and presented her associated members of SOUM and their activities. Some of them she has also visited.

Next meeting was with a secretary general of Association of municipalities of Slovenia, Mrs. Jasmina VDMAR, where we have discussed about possibilities of co-operation on the local level between Cuba and Slovenia.

In non-formal dinner she also met member of municipality council of municipality Šentilj and president of Slovene Youth party – Mr. Darko Krajnc.

Saturday, 10th of January was dedicated to cultural and technical heritage and in municipality of Beltinci we have met some masters of handcraft and saw the last existing floating mill on the Mura River. Also we have presented her work of “Bürjaši”, men, who fortified banks of Mura River to prevent floating.

Last visit we had on tourist farm Hlebec, where the 6th painter’s colony will be held in 2009. Also Cuban painters would be invited.

Ambassador Goicochea expressed her deepest appreciation to the President of Hostelling International for organizing this programme which allowed her to have a better knowledge of Slovenia as well as a clear perspective of possibilities for fostering relations between the peoples of Slovenia and Cuba.

After 2 days, her Excellency ambassador of Cuba, Mrs. Norma Goicochea Estenoz left Slovenia with gratitude.