Composer Globokar and Poet Jesih Win Highest National Award for Achievement in Arts - EMBARGOED UNTIL 8 PM CET

Ljubljana, 7 February - Composer Vinko Globokar and poet Milan Jesih were presented the 2001 Preseren Award - the highest national award for achievement in arts - the former for his life life-time achievement and the latter for his entire oeuvre. The award-winning ceremony, also the central ceremony marking Slovenia's Culture Day celebrated on 8 February, was held at Ljubljana's Cankarjev dom arts centre on the eve of Culture Day. Apart from the two highest honours, five minor awards, namely the Preseren Fund Awards, were conferred tonight.