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DE RUEHLJ #0044/01 0291402
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (TREAT AS ORIGINAL-695)
R 291402Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5493
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EINV SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: ANOTHER NEW FACE IN THE PROVINCES, 
MARIBOR'S MAYOR HAS WORLD CLASS PLANS 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Maribor, Slovenia's second city situated in 
the northeast, voted Franc Kangler of the Slovene People's 
Party (SLS) into office in the October 2006 elections.  After 
47 days in office, he is confident he can meet 70% of his 
campaign promises by the end of this year.  Kangler spent 10 
years in parliament, but after next month's parliamentary 
session, he will hand off his national duties to focus full 
time on his municipal obligations.  Among his goals are to 
revitalize the Maribor airport and bring in international 
flights, increase tourism -- particularly from the United 
States, and reorganize the city bureaucracy. Kangler is also 
lobbying to have Maribor elected a European Cultural Capital 
for 2013. Longer term and more ambitious goals include 
building two skyscrapers in Maribor of at least 50-60 stories 
(a la NYC Twin Towers).  In a country with no building more 
than 20 stories high, this will be a real feat to pull off. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U)  With the goal of strengthening U.S. ties to regions 
outside the capital, and as part of two day visit to the 
region January 25-26, COM met with newly installed Mayor of 
Maribor, Franc Kangler to discuss his economic revitalization 
plans and potential for U.S. trade and investment.  Joining 
Kangler was Deputy Mayor Danilo Bornac of the Slovene 
Democratic Party (SDS).  Kangler also has deputy mayors from 
the Social Democratic (SD) party and the Slovene National 
Party (SNS). 
 
------------------------ 
Revitalizing the Economy 
------------------------ 
 
3.(U) Kangler is focused on revitalizing Maribor,s economy 
by developing its largely dormant airport, expanding a nearby 
business park and taking advantage of EU funds to attract 
more science and technology research and development to his 
region.  Kangler believes Maribor can take better advantage 
of its natural resources to develop tourism. He seemed 
particularly interested in attracting U.S. investors and 
tourists, saying the U.S. tourist was a high quality tourist 
(i.e. spends money). 
 
¶4. (U)  An important piece of Kangler,s plan for the Maribor 
airport is the creation of a logistics hub.  With its central 
location - 2.5 hours from Vienna, 2.5 hours from Slovenia,s 
port of Koper and as a gateway to the Western Balkans - he 
should be able to realize this plan.  Kangler also said that 
he was authorized to offer an incentive of 120,000 Euros to 
any airline (passenger or cargo) wishing to open a connection 
with Maribor. 
 
¶5. (U)  COM highlighted for Kangler the strong cultural 
relationship the Embassy has developed with Maribor over the 
years and our desire to see that continue to grow. Based on 
our experience, Maribor should have a good shot at becoming a 
European cultural capital.  Other links between the U.S. and 
Maribor that COM encouraged Kangler to nurture are the sister 
city relationship with Pueblo, Colorado, student exchanges, 
and those commercial contacts such as Office One, that 
already exist.  On developing the market for U.S. tourists, 
COM suggested that Kangler develop a plan to benefit from the 
Harrah's entertainment deal currently under negotiation. 
Capitalizing on Slovenia's small size and excellent highways, 
it should be possible to attract those clients to enjoy the 
advantages of the Maribor region as well. 
 
-------------------------- 
Putting Maribor on the Map 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Over dinner, Kangler expanded on his desire to build 
Slovenia's first modern skyscaper(s).  He says he has 
identified the location and plans to meet with a well-known 
architect from Vienna - Boris Podreca - to discuss the 
feasibility of this sort of construction in Maribor.  Kangler 
envisions the complex to be not only a business center but a 
tourist attraction as well on the lines of Paris' Eiffel Tour 
and London' Millennium Wheel.  Kangler also described his 
desire to build two memorials in Maribor.  One would be to 
victims of terrorism.  He said he had written of his plans to 
former President Clinton, Russian President Putin and 
Slovenian President Drnovsek.  Only Drnovsek failed to 
respond.  Former gymnastics champion, Leon Stukelj, who died 
in 1999 just short of his 101st birthday, is Kangler's idol, 
and he would like to create a memorial to him, as well, in 
 
Maribor. 
 
¶7. (SBU)  Comment.  Maribor's new mayor has a vision for 
revitalizing the city, and he appears to have the energy to 
realize his goals.  Though some of his plans are grandiose 
and likely to meet with resistance (skyscrapers) from the 
public, it is clear he is looking for a way for Maribor to 
make its mark and become a "must see" place for the tourist 
and a "can do" location for business.  His years as a member 
of Parliament and extensive travel as a member of the NATO 
Parliamentary Assembly, are assets that will help him to 
expand the horizons of this charming, provincial city in 
Slovenia's heartland.  End Comment. 
ROBERTSON