An international commission assessing candidates for the European Capital of Culture 2012 has recommended that Slovenia's second-largest city Maribor receive the title. The commission's opinion is not binding and the final decision will be made by the government, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti told the press on Monday.
The Culture Ministry will prepare a detailed report on the bids for the government by mid-May, Simoniti explained at Monday's press conference in Ljubljana.
The commission's chair Guy Dockendorf explained that the outcome was somewhat surprising, as the commission expected Maribor and Ljubljana to be neck-and-neck, however Maribor's bid was more convincing. Maribor received 45 points, followed by Ljubljana with 35 points, Celje (23) and Koper (18).
Dockendorf explained that the bids of all four candidates were very well prepared and that all candidates used the opportunity to offer more in the field of culture to the cities and their inhabitants.
Maribor is running for the title, which will be shared between a Slovenian city and Portugal's Guimaraes, together with five towns from northeastern and eastern Slovenia.
The motto of the joint bid of Maribor, Velenje, Slovenj Gradec, Ptuj, Murska Sobota and Novo mesto is "Pure Energy".
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