At the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), Jable castle a new book titled "Slovenian diplomats in the Slavic world" was introduced. The extensive work was published as part of the "Studia diplomatica Slovenica collection", issued by CEP, Scientific Research Centre SAZU and the Forum of Slavic Cultures. The book, which was published in three languages (Slovenian, Russian and Czech), is an important and meaningful work about certain Slovenians, who have proved as successful diplomats in the Slavic countries before Slovenian independence.The audience was first welcomed by Mr Elvin Klobas, executive director of CEP, and Mr Vojislav Likar, director of ZRC Publishers. The keynote speaker was the Slovenian minister without portfolio, responsible for Slovenians Abroad, Mr Bostjan Žekš. In his speech he stressed the importance of history as a contribution to the Slovenian national self-confidence. He further explained that the book proves the existence of Slovenian diplomats for centuries; this fact should eliminate the Slovenian feeling of smallness, vulnerability and fear of open spaces. At the same book also points out that we are part of the Slavic community, to which the Slovenes should also be proud of, stressed minister Žekš.
The contents of the book were presented by three of the eight authors, namely Dr. Andrej Rahten, Dr Jonatan Vinker and Dr Milan Jazbec. As pointed out by Dr Rahten, Slovenian presence in diplomatic circles is not merely a matter of a sovereign state. Is has a much longer genesis going back to the Habsburg diplomat Sigismund Herberstein in the early 16th century. Herberstein was appointed to the court of the Grand Duke of Moscow by Emperor Maximilian as his emissary. In doing so, Herberstein's knowledge of Slovenian was of great importance, since Latin, as the language of European diplomacy at that time, could not come into relevance in Russia.
Dr Vinkler explained the logic of the trilingual issue of the book. Slovenians were namely most active in the triangle of Belgrade, Prague and Moscow, therefore the book focuses on representatives from the inside of this triangle. In the period of the so called second Yugoslavia (1945-1991) four Slovenians held exposed ambassadorial positions in the Slavic countries: Dr Darko Černej immediately after the war in Prague, Dr France Hočevar at the end of 50ies in Warsaw and Jože Smolej in the early 70ies in Moscow. Janez Strniša is also worth mentioning, since he was a permanent representative to the Council for mutual economic assistance in Moscow in mid-80ies, stressed Dr Jazbec and briefly outlined their work.
The authors addressed the silenced and marginalized Slovenian-Slavic relations, which once served as an important segment of the Slovenian National awareness. The book deals with a very long historical period from the beginnings of Slovenian diplomacy with Herberstein in the early 16th century to the mid-80ies in the 20th century, when ambassador Strniša held the highest diplomatic function amongst Slovenians in the Slavic world at the time.
Other Slovenian diplomats, who stood out due to being well-read, accomplished and diplomatically committed, were also presented. They have always been able to promote the Slovenian culture and to find opportunities for economic cooperation. They had an exquisite diplomatic ear and a wide horizon. They were also successful in pure diplomatic policy. After the Second World War, the Slovenian diplomats were matchless in their efforts to resolve the western boundary, while the conclusion of the Treaty of Osimo is one of the highlights of secret diplomacy, mainly carried out by Slovenian diplomats. Diplomatic service in different parts of the world, from Argentina to Asia, was also inspired with close political observation and conscientious reporting.
The monograph "Slovenian diplomats in the Slavic world" is a unique and rare venture, which combines efforts of the academic sphere and the diplomatic profession operating in the framework of the Research Group on diplomatic History of South-East Europe (CEP). The book is important because it is unveils the little known history of Slovenian diplomacy and it internationally and domestically promotes the Slovenian diplomatic achievements abroad.
