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INVITATION |
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Slovenia is not a large country, but at the hub of traffic routes from east to west and north to south, it has always played a larger part in European events than its size would suggest. Slovenia is now an independent Central European state, on the sunny side of the Alps, bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. The landscape embraces rolling countryside leading to the Pannonian plain to the east, rugged Karst bordering the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, and the Alps to the north and west. The Slovenian nation of only two million today has survived mainly due to its culture, language and vitality. A bone flute, 30,000 years older than any other known in the world, and Europe’s oldest bone needle, testify to the roots of culture here. Its capital, Ljubljana, has a picturesque unity, composed of an architectural heritage spanning Roman Emona, through Renaissance and Baroque Ljubljana, to Secession Art Nouveau and Modern Ljubljana, so strongly marked by the influence of the world famous Slovenian architect, Jože Plecnik. Ljubljana is an university city. The roots of the University go back to the seventeenth century with Academia Operosorum, the fourth Academy of Sciences in Europe. A Philharmonic Society dates back three centuries. Ljubljana's congress tradition began in 1821, when the three emperors of the Holy Alliance met here to discuss the post-Napoleonic fate of Europe. These traditions have been brought together in the new Cultural and Congress Centre Cankarjev dom, with a capacity of 3,600, located in the heart of Ljubljana. Cankarjev dom is well equipped with all modern technical facilities and has an experienced in-house team to ensure the necessary high standards for scientific sessions and exhibitions. All Congress venues, and most hotels, are within walking distance of the centre of the city. Particular attention will be paid to stimulating the participation of trainees and young pathologists by securing as low a registration fee as possible, and inexpensive accommodation. The European Society of Pathology has been succeeding in establishing its ever more continuous activity and influence. The old idea of a common programme of continuous education of pathologists has been realised through a number of courses organised each year by the European School of Pathology, at its headquarters in Turin and other centres throughout Europe. An increasing number of Working Groups within the European Society of Pathology, devoted to various fields, promote a continuous exchange of professional experiences and other information, the establishment of common diagnostic standards and collaboration on common research projects. The biannual ESP Congresses retain a major role in fulfilling the main aims of the ESP in pathology education, exchange of the most recent research achievements and, particularly, in keeping together all branches of pathology, that otherwise tend to split according to organ systems, disease processes and the increasing number of techniques. The Congresses also keep together pathologists from the whole of Europe, irrespective of geographical and political borders. We believe that the 19th European Congress of Pathology will continue the traditional approaches of previous Congresses and will serve to increase both links with European national and international pathology societies and intercontinental links, particularly with the International Academy of Pathology. The framework of the Congress Scientific Programme has been created with the strong impact and assistance of the ESP Working Groups, the ESP Executive/Scientific Committee and the Advisory Council as well as companion Societies. The programme covers all areas of pathology, provides information ranging from current diagnostic standards to recent advances in science and modern techniques, particularly those of molecular genetics, and includes a number of "hot" topics of today and tomorrow, which will be presented by the best, internationally recognised experts at Keynote Lectures, Symposia, Special Presentations, Round Table Discussions, Short Courses and Slide Seminars. One evening is devoted to ESP Working Group Meetings, both business and scientific. Interesting Satellite Symposia will be organised by supporting companies, two by the Congress Main Sponsor, Ventana Medical Systems S.A. Furthermore, all practising pathologists and scientists are kindly invited to present their scientific achievements and exchange their professional experiences through Free Paper and Poster Sessions. The best Free Papers will be acknowledged by giving the authors the opportunity to present their achievements at the plenary session, at which the authors of the three best Poster Presentations will additionally receive special Awards. All who are coming to Ljubljana are kindly invited to join us at two one-day Pre-Congress Meetings, prior to the Congress Opening Ceremony on Saturday: one on Pulmonary Pathology and the other devoted to non-neoplastic Nephropathology. There will be also a three-day Joint Meeting of the European and North American Society of Head and Neck Pathology. All Pre-Congress Meetings and a whole day Examination by the European Board of Pathology will be organised by using the facilities of the new building of the Faculty of Medicine University of Ljubljana. Culture kept the Slovenian national identity alive over the centuries and it still plays an important role in people’s lives. The Congress will also highlight the traditional close connection between medicine and art. Some novel events are planned: an exhibition of the work of pathologists – painters and, especially, a Gala Concert on Monday evening in the main Gallus Concert Hall of the Congress Centre in Ljubljana, by pathologists – musicians from all over the world. A social programme is offered which reflects the warmth and hospitality of the Slovenian people. The Second Millennium we have entered provides major challenges for all biomedical sciences, and the 19th European Congress of Pathology is a challenge for the Organisers. We sincerely hope that attendance at the Ljubljana Congress in 2003 will be a fruitful, enjoyable and memorable experience in every respect for all participants, and will give new impetus to our medical speciality in Slovenia. We look forward to seeing you in September 2003 in Ljubljana.
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