Belgian Ambassador Jean Louis Mignot was declared the foreign diplomat of the year on Thursday as the largest two Slovenian media outlets oriented at foreigners pronounced the winners of Guest Star 2006 awards.
The winners were selected by the readership of The Slovenia Times and the listeners of Radio Slovenia International.
"The award is a recognition and a proof that my work as a diplomat is not too bad," said Mignot following the ceremony in Nova Gorica. The ambassador came to Slovenia four years ago and now feels "at home" here as he says.
The foreign personality of 2006 in culture was declared Michel Obenga, the Director of the Institute de Langue Francaise (Institute of French Language) in Ljubljana, who came to Slovenia from Gabon more than two decades ago. "This is an acknowledgment for the whole group of dedicated professors at the institute," Obenga said.
Andreas Maierhofer, the Director of wireless operator Simobil, in the majority ownership of Austria's Mobilkom, was voted the Guest Star among business executives for a second time. "I'm very proud of this as I did not expect it, while it is also a confirmation that I work well," he said.
One of the best sprinters of all time, Marlene Ottey was also honoured for a second time as the foreign athlete of the year. The Jamaican with a Slovenian passport said the award was big surprise but also an honour. She was awarded already in 2004.
This is the third time The Slovenia Times and Radio Si declared Guest Star Award winners. These were selected among four nominees in each category who were chosen among 40 candidates by a jury.
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