WEBVTT

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Welcome at a historic event.

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This story is
already very long.

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It began at the end of 1970s

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when one of my predecessors,

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director of the National
and University Library Dolar

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asked the president
of the executive board

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to provide the funds
for additional space

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for the national library
that was already crowded back then.

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He was promised
the library would be built,

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but then a couple
of decades passed

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and even the law about building
the library was passed.

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In 2010,
the project was prepared,

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in 2012, the international
competition was carried out

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where the office Bevk Perović won
with their idea.

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The representative of the office
will tell us something

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about the project itself.

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Then,
nothing happened for some time

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and eight years later,
we got the money

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for the documentation
and three years ago,

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we were more clearly promised

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that the library would be built.
Then we saw

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there were still some open questions
about the land.

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We solved them in cooperation

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with the Ministry of Education,
Science and Sport

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at the end of last year. This year,
we solved other questions as well

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and we are about to get
the building permit.

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I would like to say something
about the nature of the project.

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Contrary to the needs
from decades ago,

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now, we will build rooms for
users, not a warehouse for books.

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We will keep
most of the books in BTC,

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at Levskovškova Street
and it won't change

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when the NUL 2 will be built.
We will get new rooms for users.

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Modern libraries, and NUL
is also a university library,

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offer much more
that just a table and a chair.

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They offer different rooms

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where information
and knowledge circulate.

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Ljubljana, Slovenia
and Ljubljana University

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definitely need
a place like this.

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We have been saying it
for quite some time,

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but now it is the last time
that we get a place like this.

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It isn't just a place
for Ljubljana University,

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it is important
for the whole country.

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By its nature,
this is a university library

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that will be able to accept
more than 1,000 users.

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If we compare ourselves with
foreign, developed environments,

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this is normal for a society
where knowledge means something

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and that values the circulation
and gaining of knowledge.

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I will now ask Mr. Bevk,

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the co-author of the project,

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to say a few words. The project
has been presented multiple times

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and we made a special website

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with all the basic information
about the project,

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including the 3D-animation

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for a better picture.
Mitja, I ask you

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to present the project from
the architectural point of view.

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Thank you. I am very glad

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to be here again.
We were here in 2013 and 2019

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when we started with the project
again. Now, I have a feeling

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that this is
really a key event

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that will move the project forward.
We are about to get the permit.

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I will briefly describe
the project.

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As the director already mentioned,
this will be a modern library

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that will offer more
than just storing books.

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It will be a platform
for a modern education

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and communication

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and probably one of the key points
of university programs

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that are, especially in Ljubljana,
connected to the city.

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Incorporating the library into
the city was one of the key elements

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of our approach.

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The building
will be very compact.

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It will stand by the building
that was not meant for the library

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and we will create an open space

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and two entrance squares

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which, of course, belong to
the library, but also to the city.

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The archaeology, the remains
of Emona are very important.

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Ljubljana was built on
the remains of Emona.

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In a way,
Emona is coming to the fore again.

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At minus two meters
where a new entry level appears,

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the main ground floor,
the foyer for the public program.

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This is the ground floor equipped
with common public programs

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which is the layer that connects
the library to the city

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and at the same time
represents archaeology.

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The upper floors are the platforms
for the library program,

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books that are in constant exchange,

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but above all,
learning spaces, study places.

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The new library
will offer 1,400 study places,

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1,500 user places,
which is a very large number.

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This means a significant difference
in usability, openness

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and the flexibility of the
university program in the city.

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The main element
is the great reading room.

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A multi-storey reading room
connected by cascading platforms,

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with quiet and
semi-quiet workplaces.

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This space refers to
Plečnik's reading room

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as the key element
of this library space.

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I would emphasize that the new
library is not a duplication of NUK1,

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but it is meant to complement
and relieve this building.

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It also means easier
preservation and heritage care.

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We see this
as a multifaceted project,

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which deals with the city, the
university, public and social space,

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a space of flexibility
and usability,

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which is equipped so that it can
develop over a number of years.

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The cooperation was exceptional.

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In the last three years,
we have renovated the program,

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there are no more
warehouses in the facility,

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there are just
pure library programs,

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public programs intended
for library users, other visitors,

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and the accompanying
ground floor program.

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This is a modern institution

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that means a lot
for the university, for the city

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and for the general
social climate in the country.

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Thank you very much.

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Minister, even as chancellor you
were very familiar with this project.

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In the role of minister,
you are even more so.

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You are very active in the project.
Can you tell us more?

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Of course, thank you.

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I have been following
this project very actively

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for at least the last five years.

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I followed the setbacks
and starts of the design.

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But today it was already indicated,

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the basic message
of this press conference is

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that the government decided to
bring this project to construction.

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Maybe some data.

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We paid the public utilities charge
last week.

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This means that in December,
in the next week or two,

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we will obtain a building permit.

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Regarding the further course,

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for 2023, we have guaranteed
funds within our ministry.

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At this stage, the project
documentation must be completed.

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I know that they have to complete

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archaeological research
on a small part of the plot.

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At the same time, they can start
drilling the holes for heat pumps.

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In the second half of 2023,
we are planning on

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starting
the public tender procedures

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for the selection of the contractor
for construction and trade works.

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If we're lucky, construction works
could start at the end of 2023,

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but certainly in 2024.

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The deadline is set for 2026.

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Of course, we want to speed
it up as much as possible.

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This is also tied
to the potential funding source,

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but regardless
of the funding method,

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the government will continue
with this project

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until the facility is built.

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I think this is a historic moment,
when we can say

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that after 40 years of successful
and less successful attempts,

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we want to conclude
this story in 2026.

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This may be the basic
short message. Thank you.

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Thank you very much.

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Prime Minister,
what would you like to add?

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The fact that libraries are important
for the development of any nation

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is indisputable.

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Libraries are not just a place
where people go to read and learn,

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build their personality
and knowledge,

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but also where people go to meet

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and learn about new ideas.

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The new NUK is designed
precisely in this spirit.

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It will meet
all the challenges of today

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and encourage learning
and creating new ideas,

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creating new knowledge
for the future.

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History teaches us, how very
important books are for our nation.

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When Trubar said:
"To stand and to withstand"

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and thus laid the foundation
for the Slovenian nation

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and statehood,

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this point in history
should be our inspiration

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to finish projects like these.

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This is the essence
of the Slovenian nation.

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Written word was the reason
that the Europe we're part of today

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saw us claim a spot for ourselves.

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And that was many years
before we got politicians.

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That's why
it's politicians' obligation,

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and I'm in disbelief
as to why I have to say this,

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that we have an obligation

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to promote and develop
this essence of the Slovenian nation.

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I'm very happy

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that we made this final
symbolic step forward.

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Not only are we determined
to proceed with the investment,

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and determined to build NUK2.

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Most likely in this mandate.

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We've also made the first step
and paid utility costs.

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So that there's no doubt
we're in on the project

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And we'll begin construction
works in 12 or 13 months.

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This is a minor detail.

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We'll wait for good weather.

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Another very important thing is ...

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I'll give you my own example.

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I've always loved coming
to the National University Library.

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Every time I come here,
even today, I'm humbled.

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This is a message for all of us
that it's worth to come

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to the temple of knowledge
as often as possible

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because we become aware
how small we are

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and how big of a responsibility
to the nation we bear.

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In the following months, we'll bring
more people in, even our adversaries

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so that they can realize
what our obligation is

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and how unimportant daily struggles
are compared to this challenge

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that we can tackle
if we're aware of our responsibility.

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I look forward to the next few years
and to the finished NUK2.

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I believe the new building
will both humble me

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and instil thirst
for knowledge in me.

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Thank you.
-Thank you for your efforts so far.

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If you have any questions,
you're welcome to ask.

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We'll be taking questions
related to the project.

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This project is bigger than
any other topics at hand.

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What were the utility costs?

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How are the funds provided
in the 2023 budget?

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The utility costs were
1,600,000 €, paid last week.

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There's 1,000,000
in provided funds.

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We'll see if the drilling
for heat pumps is included,

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because this needs to be done
before construction itself,

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especially because of the location
on an archaeological site.

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The majority of the archeological
research has concluded.

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The financing for 2023
is not as big,

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the biggest part
will kick in in 2024.

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How does the financial
framework look like?

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We're talking about € 85 million.

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This was an initial figure
that needs to be revaluated.

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The construction is worth
around € 95 million.

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We estimate around € 7,5 million
in costs for the equipment.

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So altogether
more than € 100 million.

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So from 23 to 26 a year,
or a third each year.

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Will this be financed
from the budget?

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Are we talking about EU funds
or loans perhaps?

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The initial plan is to get funds
from Recovery and resilience plan.

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We're talking about
repayable funds.

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This is a huge opportunity.

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There are around
€ 2 billion in funds.

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We'll use that
for developmental project.

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For important national projects.

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Even though
we are facing a crisis,

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we'll use this opportunity to grow

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and not hide at home
or complain.

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As far as construction goes,
yes, the budget will receive funds,

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but the decision,
approved by the Ministry of Finance,

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is that we'll guarantee missing
funds from the integral budget.

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This has already been foreseen.

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The financial framework is set,

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we'll include it
in all the future budgets,

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and we'll amend the legislation

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to reflect the current state.

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But the weight of the project
is estimated at € 102.5 million.