34 guests from 7 twin towns celebrate the partnership between Langenhagen and Novo mesto
Langenhagen, novembre, 14.th, 2008.
20 years ago the mayors of Langenhagen and Novo mesto signed the twinning-document, that founded a partnership still alive and active nowadays.
Langenhagen has always been very open to find twin towns in many countries. So delegations from seven countries came to celebrate the 20th anniversary with Langenhagen and Novo mesto on friday, 14.th, of novembre.
Guest from Joinville, Brazil, Glogow, Poland, Stadl Paura, Austria (twinned to the village of Kraehenwinkel), Le Trait, France (twinned to the village of Godshorn), London Borough of Southwark, England and Bjieljina, Bosnia & Herzegowina learned to know each other and made friends as well. Gifts were given from one delegation to the other: Bosnian „Slivovitz“ for example is taken home to Brazil as a present and french „Calvados“ can now be drunken by polish people in Glogow.
In 1988 Novo mesto was still part of the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
A town partnership between a town in western Germany and a town in Yugoslavia wasn't usual in that time. So Langenhagen and Novo mesto weren't only signing a partnership document, but also writing history. Friedhelm Fischer, Mayor of Langenhagen: „This was rather special for the mayors and citizens who were supporting the scheme. They were – similar to pioneers – moving into new territory to find new paths to each other and finally to break new ground as durably as possible.“
In his speech the Mayor of Novo mesto, Alojz Muhic, remembered the role of Langenhagen in the years following: „You also helped us in those difficult times when the history of the Slovenian people was written and we had to decide on our national identity and our position. With your help the truth about the war for Slovenia was also spread internationally.“
