letopis sazu 2011

first two decades of independence can also be considered contributions to thecelebration of the anniversary.Last year, SASA resigned from the European Scientific Foundation (ALLEAand ARRS will continue to represent our interests in that association). In principle,we will not accept invitations to join new inter-academy associations. Nowadays,there are a great many; taking all of them seriously would demand a lot oftime, and also money for membership fees and travel to meetings and sessions.In our view, this development is unnecessary, perhaps even counter-productive.We remain committed to maintaining working relations particularly with theEuropean Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the All EuropeanAcademies (ALLEA). On a smaller scale, we cooperate with the Union AcadémiqueInternationale (UAI), the Inter Academy Panel on International Issues (IAP),the International Human Rights Network (IHRN) and the Euro-MediterraneanAcademic Network (EMAN). Of course, within the limits of possibility, we willcontinue to foster bilateral scientific and cultural contacts with academies withwhich SASA signed (we have) contracts on cooperation. We maintain particularlyactive contacts with the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. You will findmore in the report of the Department for International Cooperation.Last year, we donated two copies of Valvasor’s (Graphic) collection of printsand drawings Iconotheca Valvasoriana. One was presented to the Austrian NationalLibrary (Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek) in Vienna, which houses asubstantial part of Slovenia’s literary wealth, including the only preserved copyof the first Slovenian printed book, Trubar’s Catechism. Iconotheca Valvasorianawill be placed in proximity of the portrait of Jernej Kopitar, one of the headmastersof the library, still a witness to the historical Slovenian presence. The othercopy of the facsimile of Valvasor’s collection went to the largest Scandinavian library,Carolina Rediviva in Uppsala, Sweden, which, among many treasures, isalso home to the original of Valvasor’s Die Ehre dess Hertzogthums Crain. Bothrecipients showed that our gift was highly appreciated. Carolina reciprocated witha friendly gesture of presenting our Academy with a magnificent facsimile of theexceptionally well preserved manuscript on parchment, Codex Caesareus Upsaliensis,a 11 th century Latin Bible.Let me finish by saying that despite difficulties and some failures in the lastAcademy year, we must not be dissatisfied. We had the opportunity to observe,deliberate, create, and also live and work in peace. We can be confident that ourinstitution enjoys respect, although our voice is not always heard. We have goodplans for the future. I do not doubt that the majority of these will come to fruitionin due time.Jože Trontelj , President30