SLOVENIA: ANOTHER NEW FACE IN THE PROVINCES,

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000044

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE (SSADLE)

USDOC FOR ITA/RUSNAK

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).

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Revitalizing the Economy
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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.

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Putting Maribor on the Map
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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