Slovenia News

Slovenians in mass protest over wages, retirement

2009-11-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

"Some 30,000 workers, pensioners and students from all over Slovenia demonstrated in the centre of Ljubljana on Saturday for a higher minimum wage and against a rise in the retirement age.

Trade unions organised the gathering to back their demand for a 31 percent rise in the minimum wage to 600 euros ($900) and the scrapping of a government plan to raise the retirement age to 65.

At present men can retire at 58 and women at 56 in Slovenia.

Despite the threat of lay-offs, 'we will continue to demand that the minimum wage be raised to 600 euros,' Davorka Pregl, a public sector trade union representative, told the crowd.

'We demand that the government scrap its pension reform plans,' Pregl added, winning cheers from the crowd, many of whom waved red flags and wore red raincoats carrying the slogans 'For higher wages' and 'For social Slovenia'."

Source: Reuters

Slovenes celebrate after qualifying for World Cup finals

2009-11-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

"The centre of Ljubljana was packed on Thursday as thousands of soccer fans gathered to greet the Slovenia team which beat Russia in a playoff to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.

Slovenia's 1-0 win over Russia on Wednesday in the country's second largest city Maribor, earned them a spot in South Africa on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

'Ljubljana is proud to greet its champions,' mayor Zoran Jankovic told a crowd of more than 10,000 people and promised to build a new sports stadium within a year as the city's present one is too small and outdated for international matches.

This is the second time Slovenia, which has only two million citizens, has qualified for the World Cup. The country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and made its debut at World Cup finals in 2002."

Source: Reuters

Grenade planted by Slovenia nightclub

2009-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

"Slovenian police say four people have been arrested on suspicion of planting a hand grenade in front of a nightclub.

Eight people were wounded in Sunday's explosion in front of the Million Club in downtown Kranj, three of them seriously.

The head of the criminal police in the north-western city of Kranj, Bostjan Lindav, told reporters yesterday that the four suspects were arrested as they fled toward neighbouring Croatia."

Source: AP

International arbitration to solve Slovenia-Croatia border row

2009-10-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Slovenia and Croatia have decided to resolve their long-standing border dispute through international arbitration, Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor said Thursday.

Pahor said that the two countries decided, behind closed doors, to let the arbitration commission resolve their dispute and that the European Commission will 'soon' present that agreement.

Pahor, speaking to journalists in Ljubljana, did not give details of the agreement.

'I would not put my hand in the fire if I was not sure the agreement was a good one,' he said."

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Slovenia hosts international forum on economic crisis (SETimes.com)

2009-09-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

"More than 400 politicians and economists from around the world are taking part in an international Strategic Forum that opened on Sunday (August 30th) in Bled.

During the two-day forum, the participants will discuss ways to deal with key global issues, particularly the consequences of the current economic crisis in Europe and Eurasia."

Source: SETimes.com

Slovenia and Croatia "getting closer" to resolving border dispute

2009-08-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

"The Slovenian and Croatian foreign ministers said Sunday they had made further progress towards resolving their border dispute which has hindered Croatia getting European Union membership.

Croatia's Davor Jandrokovic and Slovenia's Samuel Zbogar said their talks in the Slovenian resort of Bled had discussed 'major and serious' cooperation which could result in Slovenia eventually lifting its objection to Croatian EU membership.

'We're going to agree first on what to say, then make a public statement,' said Zbogar after the meeting, which was also attended by Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor."

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Slovenia arrests Croat with grenades at border

2009-07-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Slovenian police have arrested a Croatian man carrying hand grenades, saying he wanted to assassinate a senior politician from Slovenia because of the country's stance against EU membership for Croatia.

Police chief Janko Gorsek said Saturday the 59-year-old man was caught on a train Friday night during a routine border check."

Source: AP

EU Wants Slovenia, Croatia To Resolve Border Row This Week

2009-06-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

"E.U. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn Monday stressed the need for Croatia and Slovenia to settle this week their border dispute which is hampering Croatia s bid for E.U. membership. 'It is really the moment of truth now and we should all try to settle this before the European council' summit meeting Thursday Rehn said as he entered E.U. foreign ministers talks in Luxembourg. The foreign ministers were to hold talks with their Croatian and Slovenian counterparts on the sidelines of the talks. 'I certainly hope that we could complete and conclude the process ' said Rehn."

Source: AFP

Recession hits Slovenia in Q1, budget gap to widen

2009-06-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia fell into recession in the first quarter, data on Tuesday showed, and the government forecast a budget shortfall of 6 percent of GDP this year.

Analysts said the figures released by the statistics office did not bode well for the country that was the fastest growing euro zone member in the past two years, but a mild improvement of quarterly GDP data was still possible later in the year.

The office said gross domestic product (GDP) had dropped 8.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, following a 0.8 percent fall in the last quarter of 2008. It said April exports fell 29.7 percent year-on-year and imports shrank 34.9 percent."

Source: guardian.co.uk

Defence Ministry Introduces Safety Measures after Robbery

2009-06-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

"Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic told the press on Tuesday that the ministry has introduced strict safety measures after 20 mortars were stolen from a warehouse near Postojna last week. She also disclosed that the ministry was missing destruction records of 57 hand grenades and 12 rocket propelled grenades (RPG)."

Source: STA

Grenade Thrown at Kranj Police Station

2009-05-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

"An explosive device, probably a hand grenade, exploded near the entrance to the police administration headquarters in the city of Kranj at around 1 AM on Friday. There were no injuries."

Source: STA

Croatia rejects changes to EU proposal for resolving dispute with Slovenia

2009-05-27T01:26:00.000-07:00

"Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said on Monday (May 25th) that Zagreb would not accept any Slovenian changes to an EU proposal for solving the long-standing border dispute between the two countries through international arbitration.

'We shall not agree to any amendments,' he said.

The plan, tabled by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn last month, was not an invitation for either Zagreb or Ljubljana to suggest possible changes to it, but a 'take it or leave it' offer, which Croatia chose to accept, Sanader said.

It envisions the establishment of an ad hoc five-member international arbitration tribunal, operating in line with international law, to solve the 18-year-long dispute between the two former Yugoslav republics.

But politicians in Slovenia criticised the plan, claiming their country was not explicitly recognised as a maritime nation in it and therefore 'lost its right to declare a sea belt', Croatian media reported earlier this month.

Critics also reportedly opposed a provision, under which Slovenia would have to lift its veto of Croatia's EU accession talks, once both countries consented to arbitration."

Source: SETimes.com

Slovenia to sign South Stream project deal

2009-05-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

"The Russian Federation is close to concluding agreements with Austria and Slovenia on their participation in the South Stream gas network project launched by the Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom Russian and Slovenian officials said in Moscow and Ljubljana on Friday.

Slovenia will sign the agreement in June Slovenian Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik said at a news conference in Ljubljana.

The South Stream pipeline will transport Russian natural gas via the Black Sea and Bulgaria to Italy. 'Slovenia has made this decision and wants to be a part of this project. We are working on a final text of the agreement and we expect its signing in June ' Lahovnik said after meeting Igor Shchegolev the Russian Minister of Telecommunications and Mass Communications."

Source: SEE news

Trading in Istrabenz suspended over insolvency

2009-04-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Trading in shares in Slovenian energy and tourism group Istrabenz (ITBG.LJ) has been suspended until April 17 due to the company's insolvency after it failed to reach a deal with creditors, the Ljubljana bourse said on Thursday.

There was no trading in the shares on Thursday but the price fell 3.46 percent to 8.46 euros in thin volume on Wednesday, the day after the company declared itself insolvent. Over the past year the share price has dropped by 91 percent.

Under Slovenian law the company has 60 days to reach a deal with creditors on debt repayment otherwise it has to go into bankruptcy which would be the biggest corporate failure in Slovenia in the last decade."

Source: Reuters

Trade in Slovene Istrabenz halted for debt talks

2009-03-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

"The Ljubljana Stock Exchange said on Tuesday it had suspended trade in energy and tourism group Istrabenz ITBG.LJ pending the outcome of debt talks with its creditors.

The Exchange said Istrabenz itself had requested the suspension following media reports regarding talks with creditors 'and the future fate of Istrabenz'. Istrabenz said it was in talks with banks but declined any further comment.

The bourse said Istrabenz which has market capitalisation of 49.7 million euros was expected to announce details of its talks with bank creditors on March 30. It said the suspension was expected to be lifted on March 31."

Source: Reuters

Slovenia seeks delay of EU accession conference with Croatia

2009-03-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

"Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar on Monday (March 16th) called for the postponement of the EU accession conference with Croatia, scheduled for March 27th. According to Zbogar, Slovenian and Croatian officials will not reach a deal on mediating their border dispute by the end of the month. Slovenia blocked Croatia's EU accession talks last year over fears that Zagreb's entry may influence the outcome of their years-long border dispute."

Source: SETimes.com

Slovenia: Hundreds of corpses found in WW2 mine

2009-03-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

"Slovenian authorities have found the mummified remains of several hundred people believed to date from World War II in a disused mine. State prosecutor Barbara Brezigar told Slovenian television on Thursday that up to 300 corpses were discovered in a deserted mine near Lasko, in central Slovenia.

“What I have seen is the most horrendous thing that a person can see in a lifetime,” Brezigar said.

Andrija Valic, an investigator from Slovenia's Centre for National Reconciliation, said it would be difficult to identify the victims discovered in the mine before the investigation was completed.

But he said he was confident the massacre had been carried out by the communist partisans of late Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito.

Tito’s partisans reportedly killed thousands of Croat and Slovenian soldiers at the end of World War II who had collaborated with Nazi occupiers and were withdrawing with German forces in 1945."

Source: - Adnkronos Security

Slovenia Risks Becoming Just Another Bump In The Road

2009-02-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

"Each year hundreds of thousands of Europeans flock to the coast of Croatia for their summer vacations. Many of them choose to drive, happily speeding from their home cities to their destination along Europe's modern superhighways.

Except for one 60-kilometer stretch that runs through Slovenia. There, motorists encounter a tiny, narrow, old roadway, and they never know if it will take them one hour or three to drive it. Either way, they have plenty of time to wonder why no one has bothered to improve this god-forsaken stretch.

The story goes back to 1969, and a Yugoslavian political scandal dubbed the "Road Affair." Yugoslavia applied for and received an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for highways. But Slovenian officials were unhappy when their share of the largess turned out to be smaller than they expected. They tried to divert attention from the fact that they had failed to submit the proper documentation.

In the intervening decades, Slovenia has had several opportunities to improve the highway from Austria to the Croatian border, but officials always refused. Germany and Austria both expressed interest in the project, but Slovenia lobbied instead for a road to take vacationers to the Slovenian coast. In 1993, Croatia offered to improve the 60-kilometer stretch, but again Ljubljana refused.

In 1989-90, Yugoslavia and Italy agreed on a project to construct a railway from Trieste to the Croatian resort of Rijeka. But after gaining independence in 1991, Slovenia backed out of the deal.

Two decades later, the railroad is still a dream and the road through Slovenia to Croatia remains a nightmare. Now, Slovenia is a member of the European Union and money for a new highway would seem within grasp. But last year, Ljubljana started a new Road Affair when they began charging the outrageous amount of 35 euros ($45) for drivers wishing to pass through the country into Croatia. The same old, hated road -- but now with a 35-euro price tag. The EU protested, and Slovenia decided to rescind the fee -- beginning next year. In the meantime, drivers will just gnash their teeth and the millions of euros will keep rolling in."

Source: Radio Free Europe

NATO in Fear of Possible Slovenian Referendum

2009-02-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

"NATO fears that Slovenia will not manage to ratify the protocols for accession of Croatia and Albania to the alliance by the April NATO summit or US President Barack Obama's first visit to Europe, especially if there is a referendum.

Everybody expects a new, fresh wind from the new US president, but the question looms if the wind will be stopped or slowed by a 'no' from a member state to the accession of two new countries, Jelusic said after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

De Hoop Scheffer was concerned by the latest developments regarding Slovenia's ratification of Croatia's and Albania's NATO accession protocols, in particular last week's delay of the vote on the ratification in the National Assembly."

Source: STA

Slovenia: Consumer confidence, economic sentiment fall sharply in January

2009-01-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia’s Statistical Office has released its latest data for consumer confidence and overall economic sentiment in the country, which pointed to a continuing decline in January that dragged the indices to an all-time low.

As even the most optimistic forecasts expect up to 1.1% GDP growth this year after more than 4% in 2008, the consumer confidence indicator declined by a seasonally adjusted 9 percentage points in January compared to December, and unemployment outlook for the current year worsened.

Compared to the previous year, the confidence indicator was 24 percentage points below last year's average."

Source: SEE news

EU calls for end to Croatia-Slovenia border spat

2008-12-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

"France urged Slovenia and Croatia Friday to end a 17-year-old border dispute amid worries it could hamper Croatia's bid to join the EU.

Slovenia on Friday used its veto power as an EU member to prevent the 27-nation bloc from speeding up membership negotiations with Croatia, apparently because of the border dispute.

The dispute, which involves a dispute over sea rights and various smaller tussles over land borders, dates back to 1991, when the two nations seceded from the former Yugoslav federation.

Bruno Le Maire, France's European affairs minister, urged Slovenia not to use the border dispute as an excuse to continue blocking entry talks with its Balkan neighbor."

Source: International Herald Tribune

Al Gore Promotes Climate Change in Slovenia

2008-12-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

According to the Slovene News agency STA, "Former US Vice President turned environmental activist Al Gore paid a highly publicised visit to Slovenia on Wednesday aimed at promoting the debate on climate change. He met with the highest Slovenian officials, including President Danilo Tuerk and Prime Minister Borut Pahor."

The 'highly publicized' visit of Al Gore did not receive any international coverage, however, and local media journalists were keen to point out that many of the VIPs and other guests who attended Gore's presentation had arrived in SUVs and other gas guzzlers!

D&B: Direct impact of the crisis on Slovenia minor

2008-12-09T03:08:00.000-08:00

"The rating agency Dunn& Bradstreet preserved Slovenians DB2b risk rating in December, while the ratings trend is deteriorating as in most countries.

The Agency established that the direct impact of the global financial crisis on Slovenia is minor, largely due to the dominance of traditional and relatively simple financial instruments in the country, adequate supervision of banks, low balance of payments deficit, and the fact that the country is in the euro area."

Source: emportal

Thousands on Facebook want Slovenia's Rupel out

2008-12-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

"More than 13,600 people have joined an Internet group urging Slovenia's 'perennial foreign minister,' Dimitrij Rupel, to retire from political life.

Rupel, who held the post in several governments after independence in 1991, attracted criticism when he swapped parties to allow him to retain the post from 2004 to 2008, a period that covered Slovenia's presidency of the European Union.

Now, despite being a member of the defeated centre-right Slovenian Democratic Party, his fourth party since 1991, he has been made special foreign policy adviser by the new ruling party, the centre-left Social Democrats.

A day after the announcement, his critics set up the 'Together Against Dimitrij Rupel' group on the social networking website Facebook."

Source: Reuters

Slovenia unlikely to privatise big financial institutions

2008-11-24T04:53:00.000-08:00

"Eurozone member Slovenia plans to retain large stakes in main financial institutions and companies, centre-left Prime Minister Borut Pahor said on Thursday.

'It is crucial that some important financial institutions, like Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) and Zavarovalnica Triglav, and some other companies remain in majority Slovenian ownership,' Pahor said at a financial conference.

The government and its investment funds own large or majority stakes in the country's largest bank NLB and the largest insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav.

'As it turned out it is very important particularly for small economies to have financial institutions that customers can count on,' Pahor added."

Source: Forbes.com

Slovenia parliament approves new centre-left cabinet

2008-11-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia's parliament has approved the 18-member cabinet of new centre-left Prime Minister Borut Pahor, who has pledged his government will focus on dealing with the financial crisis.

'We will focus on overcoming the financial and economic crisis so as to beat it with a development policy rather than a passive one,' Pahor told parliament before the vote.

The assembly approved the cabinet by 56 votes to 30.

Pahor's Social Democrats (SD) ousted former conservative prime minister Janez Jansa in a closely contested parliamentary election in September.

Pahor, 45, formed a coalition with two centre-left parties, Zares and the Liberal Democracy (LDS), and the pensioners' party Desus, which had been a junior partner in the Jansa government. The four parties together hold 50 out of 90 seats in parliament.

Pahor told parliament he would enforce social dialogue with trade unions and employers, curb budget spending and raise investment incentives in order to boost the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.

He also promised tax cuts and pointed out wage growth will have to lag behind productivity growth by at least one percentage point in order to keep the economy competitive."

Source: tvnz.co.nz

Slovenia gives Britain's queen a Lipizzaner horse

2008-10-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia gave Britain's queen a prized Lipizzaner stallion during her visit to this Alpine nation Wednesday — but she won't be taking the horse home to meet the rest of the royal menagerie.

The 16-year-old horse, 085 Favory Canissa XXII, is so precious to the identity of this tiny nation of 2 million that Queen Elizabeth II decided to leave him in the care of the Lipica stud farm in western Slovenia. The meticulously trained horses are known for being able to perform highly stylized prancing, jumps and other moves.

'He's a real stallion: Sometimes, he cannot concentrate on training because he thinks about mares all the time,' said the horse's chief trainer, Igor Maver.

The symbolic gift becomes another addition to a tradition of feathered, furry or four-legged presents. In the past, the royals have been given sloths, tortoises, pygmy hippopotami — among other creatures.

Most end up in zoos and sanctuaries — so it seems fitting the latest addition will remain back at the stud farm for horses so ingrained in the national culture their image is stamped on coins."

Source: Associated Press

Queen thanks Slovenia for support

2008-10-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

The Queen has thanked Slovenia for the support the nation has given to British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She spoke while at a state banquet, held in her honour, at the 16th century Brdo Castle near the capital Ljubljana.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are on a two-day state visit to the country at the behest of president Danilo Turk.

It is the first time they have been to Slovenia since its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and entry into the European Union in 2004.

Speaking to an audience of 80 guest, the monarch congratulated Slovenia, one of Europe's youngest countries, on its transformation since independence.

She said: 'This achievement has been all the more striking when we recall that it is only 17 years since you first emerged as an independent European nation."

Source: BBC

British monarch pays first state visit to Slovenia

2008-10-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

"Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, paid their first state visit to Slovenia on Tuesday at the invitation of Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk.

The 82-year-old monarch and the Duke were welcomed at the Joze Pucnik airport in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana by British ambassador Tim Simmons and several Slovenian officials, Slovenian news agency STA reported.

The royal couple then traveled in a motorcade to the nearby Brdo Castle, to be met by President Tuerk and First Lady Barbara Miklic Tuerk with full state honors.

After the talks, the Queen and her host exchanged state honors and gifts. President Tuerk decorated the Queen with the Order for Exceptional Services of the Republic of Slovenia, while he received the Most Honorable Order of the Bath."

Source: Xinhua

Commission warns Slovenia over 'unfair' road tax

2008-10-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

"A letter of formal notice was sent yesterday ( 2 October), the Commission announced, adding that this was but the first formal step in an infringement procedure that could see Slovenia referred to the European Court of Justice unless it amends its law.

At issue is the fact that all passenger cars and motorcycles wishing to use the Slovenian motorway network must buy a special vignette, which is only available on an annual or half-yearly basis.

This means foreign nationals or foreign residents who only use the country’s motorways occasionally face a 'disproportionate charge' compared to nationals and Slovenian residents, stresses the Commission. Its move follows complaints from EU tourist organisations in Germany and Austria."

Source: EurActiv.com

Slovenia: The official election winner announced

2008-10-07T04:07:00.000-07:00

"Last Friday, the Electoral Commission adopted the report on the results of the Slovenian parliamentary elections. Preliminary data have thus become official and the respective number of seats in Parliament won by each party remained unchanged.

63.10 percent of all voters cast their vote in the elections. The official winner is the party SD, run by Borut Pahor, which received 30.45 percent of the votes cast. 29.26 of voters voted for SDS, which is followed by Zares with 9.37 percent, za DeSUS with 7,45 percent, SNS with 5.4 percent, SLS and SMS with 5.21 percent, and LDS with 5.21 percent of the votes cast."

Source: Emportal

Bush Meets Slovenian President

2008-06-10T03:29:00.000-07:00

"U.S. President George Bush has met with Slovenian President Danilo Turk ahead of a summit with European Union leaders that will cover a broad range of issues - including Iran's nuclear program.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Turk met at Brdo Castle in Kranj, Slovenia. He is to also hold talks with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

During Tuesday's summit with European leaders, President Bush said he wants to discuss joint action to tackle high energy costs, including the need to cut dependence on fossil fuels. He also plans to ask for European help in Afghanistan and to put more pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear program.

The president is to also visit the Slovenia's world-famous Lipizzaner horse exhibit before heading off to Germany."

Source: VOA News

Bush to attend EU-US summit in Slovenia

2008-05-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

"US President George W. Bush will attend an EU-US summit in Slovenia in June as part of a European tour including stops in Germany, Italy, the Vatican, France and Britain, the White House announced Tuesday.

Bush will begin the June 9-16 trip 'by participating in the annual US-European Union summit in Slovenia,' White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters.

Slovenia, the first former communist state to hold the EU's six-month rotating presidency, said Monday that the summit will focus on political and regional issues, global security as well as bilateral partnership.

Perino said Bush was traveling to Europe in part 'to strengthen the trans-Atlantic partnership and to celebrate the enduring friendship between our nations based on shared democratic values,' Perino said.

'He'll also have a chance to visit with some new friends and some old friends,' she said, noting in particular Silvio Berlusconi, who has begun a third stint as Italy's prime minister.

Bush was also likely to press forward with ongoing cooperation on economic, trade and counter-terrorism issues, and to do more work on a multilateral approach to dealing with Iran, Perino added.

The June summit will be Bush's second visit to Slovenia after a 2001 visit where he officially met with then Russian president Vladimir Putin for the first time."

Source: AFP

Slovenia & Kosovo Formalise Relations

2008-04-11T04:39:00.000-07:00

"Kosovo and Slovenia have officially announced that diplomatic ties between two countries have been established.

Through a joint statement signed by Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci and Slovenia’s Foreign Minister, Dimitrij Rupel, the two countries announced the start of relations.

“We have decided to establish diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors,” a Kosovo government release says.

Both countries claim that establishing diplomatic relations is based on international principles and conventions."

Source: BalkanInsight.com

Rupel Blasts Former President's Views on Kosovo

2008-04-11T04:30:00.000-07:00

"Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel on Tuesday rejected the first Slovenian president's criticism of the EU's Kosovo policy. Rupel linked Kosovo's declaration of independence to Slovenia's 17 years ago in an op-ed that appeared the daily newspaper Delo.

Former President Milan Kucan criticised the international community over Kosovo last week, saying it had shown disregard for the principle that unilateral moves should not be allowed to alter state borders.

Rupel responded to this claim by noting that the Badinter arbitration commission ruled in 1991, without the endorsement of the federal government, that parts of Yugoslavia had the right to found their own states.

The minister argued that the ruling also applies to Kosovo and Vojvodina, provinces that in the former Yugoslavia had a status similar to that of the six republics that subsequently became independent states. Kosovo and Vojvodina were also members of the Yugoslav presidency, which Rupel said was a further proof of their equal status within the federation."

Source: Slovenian Press Agency

EU-US summit to take place in Slovenia in June

2008-04-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

"US President George W Bush is expected to attend a June summit in Slovenia between the European Union and the United States, sources in Brussels confirmed Tuesday. The summit will take place in Brdo, an estate near the capital Ljubljana where the Slovenian rotating presidency of the EU has been hosting EU meetings.

Presidency sources in Brussels said the summit would take place in the first half of June, but could not officially confirm Slovenian reports that it would be held on June 9-10.

EU-US summits are usually held once a year, alternatively in Europe or in the United States. The last such meeting took place in Washington, in the spring of 2007."

Source: DPA

Slovenia backs Brazil as permanent member of UNSC

2008-04-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia supports Brazil's entry as a permanent member of a reformed UN Security Council, said a joint statement issued by Brazil's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with his Slovenian counterpart Danilo Turk on Wednesday, according to the joint statement.

'Both presidents agreed on the need to reform the United Nations system, in particular the Security Council, in order to give it more transparency and legitimacy and to reflect the changes occurred in the international order in the last half century,' said the statement."

Source: Xinhua

More EU nations to sign visa deal with U.S. next week

2008-03-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

"Currently, only 15 EU member states enjoy the U.S. visa waiver. Citizens from Greece and 11 of the 12 newest states -- Slovenia is the exception -- are obliged to have visas, even for a short stay, when they travel to America.

Top justice officials from the EU and the United States discussed Thursday in Brdo, Slovenia, the issue of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which the EU hopes will allow all EU citizens to travel to America without a visa as soon as possible.

Washington's decision to conduct bilateral negotiations on the issue with individual EU member states, including the elements that are exclusively within the competence of the EU, was a matter of collective concern for the bloc."

Source: Xinhua

Former Slovenian President Drnovsek Dies

2008-02-28T01:42:00.000-08:00

"Former Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek, a popular politician who helped lead the country to independence from Yugoslavia, died Saturday, his office said. He was 57.

Drnovsek, who battled cancer for years, became a political icon in part for working to keep violence at a minimum when Slovenia gained independence in 1991. He later led the country to European Union and NATO membership.

In recent years, Drnovsek made a radical shift to a holistic lifestyle and wrote several New Age-influenced books.

Mild-mannered but resolute, Drnovsek served as prime minister from 1992 to 2002, after which he became president. He did not run for a second term in elections late last year and was replaced by Danilo Turk in December.

His office gave no specific cause of his death."

Source: Guardian

EU urges Serbia to protect foreign embassies

2008-02-25T03:48:00.000-08:00

"European Union officials called on Serbia on Friday to do more to protect foreign embassies targeted in protests against Kosovo's secession, warning the violence could have an impact on EU-Serbian ties.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters at an EU event in Slovenia that the violence could harm progress on a preliminary deal on ties with the European Union, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

'Things will have to calm down before we can recuperate the climate that would allow for any contact to move on the SAA,' Solana said after the storming of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade and attacks on the German and British missions on Thursday.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the European Union respected the democratic right of the Serbian people to voice their opinion on developments in Kosovo, 'but the use of violence for expressing one's opinion is unacceptable', he said."

Source: Reuters

Serb youths in anti-Kosovo rampage

2008-02-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

"Riot police using tear gas and batons dispersed hundreds of Serbian youths who ran riot through central Belgrade Sunday, targeting the embassies of Western backers of Kosovo's independence.

The youths, who numbered about 800 at the height of the violence, smashed the windows of two McDonald's restaurants, and those of the US and Slovenian embassies. Most of them appeared to be hardcore football fans.

The rioting lasted several hours and at least 50 people -- among them 20 policemen -- were injured during the rioting, radio B92 reported, quoting hospital officials."

Source: INQUIRER.net

President of Slovenia visits the Pope, discusses country’s situation

2008-02-07T00:37:00.000-08:00

'According to the Holy See’s Press Office, "The talks provided an opportunity to examine a number of matters concerning the current international scene, in particular the situation in the Balkans, also in the light of the Slovenian presidency of the European Union (January- July 2008).”

Mention was also made of the good relations that exist between Slovenia and the Holy See, as well as the need to ensure the protection of freedoms sought by the Church in Slovenia.

Pope Benedict considers the main challenge facing the Church in Slovenia to be "Western-style secularism”. Speaking to the Bishops of Slovenia earlier this year, he called this type of materialism “different and perhaps more underhand than Marxist secularism". It results in "the unbridled pursuit of material goods, the drop in nativity and the reduction in religious practice with a notable diminution in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life".'

Source: CNA

EU mission to arrive in Kosovo at any rate, whatever happens

2008-02-07T00:30:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel declared that the EU mission would be sent to Kosovo whatever happens over the next days, weeks or months, to guarantee the functioning of society, while the UN mission will withdraw from the region, Serbian Tanjung agency reported.

In an interview, Rupel remarked that UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has declared he backs the EU mission in Kosovo."

Source: FOCUS Information Agency

Croatia warns Slovenia not to block its EU bid

2008-02-01T00:56:00.000-08:00

"Croatian President Stipe Mesic warned Slovenia on Thursday not to block his country's European Union membership bid as such a move could seriously harm ties between the two neighbours.

'If Slovenia prevents our entry into the EU by persistently insisting on its attitudes, it will be a disaster for our future relations,' Mesic said.

Such a scenario would mean that any 'friendship between Slovenia and Croatia is over for good,' he added.

The Croatian leader is to have an informal meeting on Friday with his Slovenian counterpart Danilo Turk, for the first time since Turk was elected in November.

Asked by journalists what he expected from the talks, scheduled to be held in Slovenia, Mesic emphasised they would be informal to give them a greater chance of success.

Croatia accuses its northern neighbour of using its current six-month term in the EU presidency to press Zagreb over unsolved bilateral issues. Slovenia has rejected the charges."

Source: EUbusiness.com

Slovenia under US influence?

2008-02-01T00:50:00.000-08:00

"Mitja Drobnic has withdrawn as director in the Slovenian Foreign Ministry after the minutes of a private discussion between himself and a top US diplomat were revealed. The document gave the impression that Slovenia, which holds the EU Council presidency, would take its cues from the USA regarding the Kosovo issue. Antisa Korljan comments: 'It's no surprise that a scapegoat was found in the ministry. To some extent, Drobnic was the logical choice, because his name alone comes up in close connection with the minutes of the meeting."

Source: Courrier international

Slovenian diplomat quits after report of US meddling in EU presidency

2008-01-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

"The Slovenian foreign ministry announced the resignation of a top Slovenian diplomat Tuesday who press reports claimed had taken orders from the United States about Slovenia's EU presidency.

The Foreign Ministry announced on its website that political director Mitja Drobnic had resigned and would be replaced by state secretary Matjaz Sinkovec during Slovenia's six-month term as EU president.

Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel 'has accepted the resignation of political director Mitja Drobnic', the ministry said in a statement.

The resignation comes after a report in the daily newspaper Dnevnik last week which said that Slovenia had been taking orders from the US.

According to the newspaper, which quoted an internal foreign ministry report, Drobnic had met in December with US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, who allegedly suggested to the Slovenian side what their priorities should be during the EU presidency.

Fried encouraged Slovenia to be among the first to recognise the independence of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, the newspaper claimed."

EUbusiness.com

Slovenian Press Freedom

2008-01-30T04:35:00.000-08:00

"The director of the International Press Institute, Johann Fritz, warned in an official statement that 'business contacts and stock ownership should not be used by the government to influence independent media into publishing positive articles.'

But Grah, the Vienna correspondent for Delo, said there are now only two papers -- Dnevnik and Mladina -- that are not subject to state influence. Those news outlets are suffering from a lack of advertising, however. Big companies have pulled their ads from the critical newspapers, costing them a significant portion of their revenues.

In order to answer the critics, the Ministry of Culture funded a study at the University of Ljubljana, on press freedom. The researchers found that the reporting in Slovenian papers was even-handed, but sociologist Matej Makarovic, who conducted the research, found that the government and other political parties had tried to influence it."

Source: Deutsche Welle

Slovenian parliament ratifies Lisbon Treaty

2008-01-30T04:12:00.000-08:00

"The document, which was endorsed in a 74-to-6 vote, is to ensure efficient operation of the enlarged European Union and strengthen its role in the world, the Slovenian news agency STA reported.

The endorsement has already been welcomed by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who told the MPs earlier on Tuesday that all 27 EU countries needed to ratify the treaty in order for it to enter into force.

Jansa said the treaty included the majority of the contents but not the form of its ill-fated precursor, the constitutional treaty, which was rejected at referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005.

One of the basic points of the new document is increasing the role of deciding by a qualified majority on the back of consensus-based decision making.

The treaty also omits a direct reference to constitutionality, which caused fear among the French and Dutch that the EU was changing into a super state. No article of the treaty also mentions EU symbols, such as its flag or national anthem."

Source: Xinhua

Slovenia's debut EU presidency marred by row over press freedom

2008-01-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

"Two journalists who launched a petition at the end of last year accusing the government of political meddling, which was signed by 571 Slovenian journalists, said yesterday that they still want an independent inquiry. Their campaign has been backed by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the European Federation of Journalists, which said in a statement: 'Slovenia has failed the first test of leadership in Europe by failing to show that it is prepared to deal openly and honestly with serious questions over its own record on dealing with media and journalism.'

'There is continuing pressure on journalists,' said Matej Surc, a radio journalist who initiated the petition along with his newspaper colleague Blaz Zgaga.

In addition to direct censorship – the newspaper Vecer has pinned censored articles on an office wall known as the 'bunker' – the government of the centre-right Prime Minister, Janez Jansa, is accused of indirectly influencing the media through exploiting business relationships with companies that have financial holdings in media interests."

Source: Independent.co.uk

European Commission pledges support to Slovenian presidency priorities

2008-01-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

"European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstroem said on Tuesday the commission 'fully supports Slovenia's presidency priorities' during its term at the helm of the 27-nation bloc in the first half of the year.

Wallstroem made her statement at Brdo pri Kranju in suburban Ljubljana, where a meeting was being held between the European Commission and the rotating EU presidency Slovenian government.

Wallstroem, who led the visiting delegation in the absence of commission President Jose Manuel Barroso who is ill with the flu, said the goal for 2008 was to have a 'Europe of results.'

In a joint press conference with Wallstroem, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said the 'substantive talks' examined the key issues facing the Slovenian presidency, including the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the energy-climate talks, implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, the Western Balkans and intercultural dialogue.

'Today excellent cooperation has been established between the Slovenian government and the European Commission,' Jansa said after the first session of meetings.

According to Jansa, Slovenia's presidency will tailor its activities in order to provide for the smooth ratification of the recently-signed EU reform treaty, a key goal of the presidency. He said the goal was to have the document in force by Jan. 1, 2009."

Source: Xinhua

Bosnian MPs Slam Slovenia PM's remarks

2008-01-10T01:15:00.000-08:00

"Bosnian politicians have criticised Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa's comments that Bosnia and Herzegovina poses a bigger threat to regional stability in the Balkans, than Kosovo.

The ruling Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, SDA, said Jansa's comments were unacceptable, ambiguous and required explanation, Bosnian media reported on Wednesday.

Slovenia currently holds the rotating European Union presidency and Prime Minister Jansa was hosting EU officials when he made the controversial remarks on Monday..

'Bosnia and Herzegovina is a more serious problem for the stability of the western Balkans', the Slovenian Premier told delegates at talks just outside the capital Ljubljana.

'For Kosovo it's clear what will happen, it's more a question of how to do it', Jansa said, hinting that the province's ethnic Albanian majority will inevitably gain independence from Serbia.

'For Bosnia the question is: are the Dayton agreements working? First we have to see if the Dayton agreement works.' He added that in the long term, 'it's not possible to have a state that cannot rule itself and needs international governors.'

The SDA claimed Jansa's arguments were reckless."

Source: BalkanInsight.com

Cracks Appear in Slovenia's Model Facade

2008-01-07T02:04:00.000-08:00

"The Slovenians began expressing their frustrations in late November, when around 70,000 people took to the streets in Ljubljana -- a massive demonstration for such a small country. In what was the largest rally since the Slovenians proclaimed their independence, trade unions, students and pensioners protested against the rising cost of living and demanded more social justice.

Slovenia's inflation rate of 5.7 percent -- the highest in the euro zone -- does give rise for concern. In early November, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Policy Joaquín Almunia even felt the need to issue a public warning to Slovenia, a model economy until then. An inflation rate higher than 3 percent, Almunia said, sends 'a bad signal' to the countries next in line for Euro-zone membership."

Source: Business Week

EU warns Zagreb over Adriatic fishing restrictions

2008-01-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

"The European Union has warned Croatia it will damage its chances of joining the EU by setting up a protected fishing zone in the Adriatic Sea aimed at EU members Italy and Slovenia.

Croatia is involved in maritime border issues with Slovenia and alleges that Italian fishermen have taken Croatian sea fishing stocks, Croatian media reported.

Slovenia, which took over the six-month rotating EU presidency Tuesday from Portugal, said Croatia's unilateral proclamationof the protected fishing zone violated the sovereignty of Slovenia."

Source: AKI

Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency

2008-01-07T01:42:00.000-08:00

“Slovenia took over on Tuesday from Portugal the six-month EU's rotating presidency, expected to be dominated by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the Kosovo issue, among others.

‘The agenda on the table is highly diverse. The main focus will be on the Lisbon Strategy, energy and climate change, the Western Balkans, the ratification of the new treaty and intercultural dialogues,’ Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said in his welcome address on the presidency's website. …” [Xinhua (01/01)/Factiva]

AP notes that “…There are worries that Kosovo independence could trigger new violence in the Balkans and European governments expect Slovenia …to use its past ties to help reach a solution. …Slovenia also is expected to push for other former Yugoslav countries to join the EU.
…” [The Associated Press (01/01)/Factiva]"

Source: World Bank News & Broadcast

Celebrations at Schengen Passes with Italy

2007-12-22T08:20:00.000-08:00

"Trieste, 20th December - Italy and Slovenia are about to write another page in their history, following Ljubljana's entry to the European Union and the single currency. From midnight tonight frontier barriers will disappear, and from tomorrow onwards all passes will be free to traffic, without even the need to display an identity card. Ceremonies are already underway today to mark the entry of Slovenia into the Schengen area. They are to culminate with Saturday's most high-profile celebration, which is to take place in Rabuiese, in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Manuel Jose' Barroso and of Italy's Interior Minister Giuliano Amato."

Source: AGI News On

Croatia May Back Down on Fishing Zone

2007-12-16T16:28:00.000-08:00

"Croatia is likely to ease a planned enforcement of a protected fishing zone in the Adriatic in January, which has angered neighbours and worried the European Commission, President Stjepan Mesic said on Tuesday.

'We want to join the European Union and it is difficult to imagine that the (zone) will be enforced in its current form,' Mesic, who visited Brussels last week, told state radio.

Croatia, which hopes to become an EU member around 2010, is due to apply the zone, which covers roughly 56,000 square km, from Jan. 1 to preserve fish stocks and limit pollution. The plan is opposed by EU members Italy and Slovenia.

'I expect a compromise, a temporary solution until we join the EU. It is now important that experts agree on how to protect the Adriatic and regulate fishing quotas,' Mesic said."

Source: Javno

Slovenia denies plan for Kosovo independence

2007-12-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

"Janez Janša has refuted the International Herald Tribune’s claims regarding a plan for Kosovo independence.

The Tribune yesterday writes that Slovenia has prepared a plan for Kosovo independence to be implemented in the first two months of 2008, and within 48 hours of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany recognizing the province’s independence.

Afterwards, the United States and other countries would recognize Kosovo’s independence, adding that the plan involves a “carefully prepared declaration of independence from Priština, some time after the Serbian elections in early February,“ the Herald Tribune writes, quoting “high European Union officials“ as sources.

The daily says that Slovenia will present the plan in January on assuming the EU presidency, though after the EU meeting in Lisbon, Slovenian Prime Minister Janša dismissed the claims while talking to reporters."

Source: B92

Slovene inflation spike a warning to euro hopefuls

2007-11-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

"An inflation spike following Slovenia's adoption of the euro has exposed weaknesses in the economy and fiscal policy and is a warning to eurozone aspirants to ensure deep reforms are in place before accession.

Although it is the richest of East Europe's ex-communist states, Slovenia, which joined the single currency in January this year, has a history of struggling with inflation, both when it was part of communist Yugoslavia and since independence in 1991.

In October the headline rate jumped to 5.1 percent, nearly double the average eurozone rate and up from 1.6 percent in the same month of last year. While consumer prices have been rising across the continent, analysts said the larger jump in Slovenia shows how the economy is struggling to cope with the competitive pressures that accompanied joining the euro zone."

Source: Reuters

Slovenian customs to strike over border changes

2007-11-25T23:55:00.000-08:00

"Slovenian custom agents on the border with Croatia will strike at midnight Sunday in a dispute over working conditions once the country joins the open-border Schengen trade area, reports said.

The open-ended action, which will see agents take longer over their work so as to slow down the passage of vehicles across the border, comes four weeks before Slovenia joins the European Union's Schengen visa regime on December 21.

Slovenia's border with Croatia will become the border of the Schengen area, and the customs agents union is demanding talks with the government on the subsequent reorganisation of their work, higher salaries and more benefits."

Source: EUbusiness.com

Slovenia promises support for Turkey's EU membership bid

2007-11-22T01:42:00.000-08:00

"Visiting Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Wednesday pledged his country's support for Turkey's bid for the European Union (EU) membership.

Jansa made the statement at a joint press conference following his talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital.

Slovenia, which is to take the rotating EU presidency in 2008, extends full support to enlargement of EU, and the EU reform agreement to be signed in December is very important within that scope, Jansa said.

Jansa stated that the recent Progress Report of EU on Turkey was objective, and they believe Turkey will rapidly fulfill adjustment efforts.

Jansa also recalled that Turkey and Slovenia are allies in NATO, while thanking Turkey for its support to Slovenia's NATO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) memberships."

Source: Xinhua

Slovenian government crisis averted

2007-11-22T01:40:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia's centre-right government under Prime Minister Janez Jansa won a parliamentary vote of confidence by 51 votes to 33 on Monday.

Jansa proposed the vote of confidence because he saw Slovenia's unity under threat in the run-up to the country's EU presidency, which begins on 1 January 2008. "

Source: Courrier international

Slovenian workers stage mass protest for higher salaries

2007-11-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

" Police said that about 15,000 protesters arrived in the capital by bus from all over the country, while organizers estimated that the turnout was 70,000 people.

The protesters wearing red bibs converged on one of Ljubljana's main squares, where heads of all six trade union associations urged the employers, who have so far refused to budge on wage demands, to heed the calls for change.

Addressing the crowd, union leaders repeated the threat of a general strike if no progress was made in the talks with employers on wage increases.

'We hope that the employers will come to their senses. If there is no progress in negotiations, we will be forced to stage a general strike,' said Dusan Semolic of the ZSSS, the largest trade union in Slovenia, 'this rally is the last warning for the employers.'

The protesters were joined by representatives of students and pensioners. They walked down Ljubljana carrying banners which condemned employers' policy and salaries which lag behind inflation and living costs."

Source: Xinhua

Slovenia's PM: Cabinet might resign after opposition candidate elected president

2007-11-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa said Tuesday that his Cabinet might resign following the overwhelming victory of the opposition-backed candidate in a weekend presidential vote.

'We will analyze the situation further, but all possibilities are open, including the resignation of the government,' Jansa told reporters after a meeting of his center-right Cabinet.

Longtime diplomat Danilo Tuerk, who was supported by several leftist opposition parties, was elected president in Sunday's elections with 68 percent of the vote — more than twice as much as Lojze Peterle, who was backed by Jansa's governing coalition.

Jansa insisted that Tuerk's campaign 'was directed entirely at settling accounts with the government.'

'It is particularly worrying that a lot of energy was invested in blackening the government abroad,' Jansa said, claiming his opponents portrayed Slovenia 'as Belarus' or some other authoritarian country.

'That makes the government's work more difficult, even its routine duties, and especially its preparations for taking over the European Union presidency,' he said.

Slovenia, which joined the EU and NATO in 2004, will assume the EU's rotating, six-month presidency Jan. 1."

Source: International Herald Tribune

Tuerk leads in Slovenia elections

2007-11-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

"Leftist former diplomat Danilo Tuerk is set to become Slovenia's new president, as preliminary results suggest he has a huge lead over his centre-right rival.

Former prime minister Lojze Peterle conceded after exit polls showed Mr Tuerk getting almost 70% of the vote. Mr Peterle - who helped lead Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia - was well behind despite topping a first-round vote last month. Mr Tuerk, 55, was backed by the main left-wing opposition parties.

Mr Peterle had the support of the governing centre-right coalition. But the 59-year-old did not secure enough support to win outright in October, and has since fallen behind in the polls. Mr Peterle conceded almost immediately. 'I expected a better result,' he said."

Source: BBC NEWS

Slovenian PM vows to expand cooperation with China

2007-11-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

"Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa has said the cooperation between his country and China has been developing well and further expanding all-round bilateral cooperation is in the interests of both sides.

Jansa, who is scheduled to visit China from Nov. 8 to 11, told Xinhua in a recent written response that his visit is 'an excellent opportunity not only to positively assess the past cooperation but also to set goals for further strengthening of bilateral ties.'

He said a delegation of 50 successful companies and institutions from Slovenia will accompany his tour to Beijing in a bid to enhance economic ties."

Source: Xinhuanet

Slovenia puts climate change, energy at top of its EU presidency

2007-11-07T02:29:00.000-08:00

"Slovenia will put climate change, energy and economic reforms at the top of the European Union's agenda when it takes over the union's presidency in January, the country's prime minister said Tuesday.

In addition, after meeting with European Commission President Manuel Barroso, Prime Minister Janez Jansa said he would push EU governments to quickly ratify the reform treaty European leaders will sign next month. The treaty includes changes in decision-making rules designed to make the union function more effectively.

'We will follow closely the ratification process of the reform treaty and encourage our colleagues to speed up as much as possible the ratification process,' Jansa said at a press conference with Barroso. The new treaty, if approved by all 27 member nations, would take effect in 2009."

Source: International Herald Tribune

Opposition candidate ahead in Slovenia presidential race

2007-11-05T03:46:00.000-08:00

"The centre-left opposition candidate in Slovenia's presidential election, Danilo Turk, is expected to gain a clear victory in next weekend's second-round vote, opinion polls showed, AFP reports.

Turk won 24.47 percent support in the first-round vote on October 21, behind the ruling centre-right coalition's candidate, former prime minister Lojze Peterle, with 28.73 percent.

But nationwide polls carried out this weekend by private POP TV and state television showed Turk, a relative newcomer in Slovenian politics, could win between 68 percent and 68.9 percent in the run-off on November 11. "

Source: FOCUS

Tus launches Slovenia’s third mobile network

2007-10-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia’s Tus Mobil, owned by domestic retail magnate Mirko Tus, has announced that it will launch commercial services over its own GSM network on 31 October, Slovene Press Agency reports. The cellco will offer new subscription plans covering bundled voice minutes, text messages and data use, in competition with state-owned market leader Mobitel and Telekom Austria subsidiary Si.Mobil.

Tus Mobil currently offers nationwide services via roaming on market leader Mobitel’s network, but is building out its own infrastructure in phases. The network currently covers 39.2% of the population, while comprehensive coverage is expected in 2009, according to Tus Mobil director Marko Fujs. Three-year investment needed to complete the rollout project is estimated at EUR200 million (USD289 million), with at least EUR20 million already spent. Tus Mobil is a subsidiary of Tus Telekom (including Voljatel), which offers fixed line telephony, broadband internet access and IPTV."

Source: TeleGeography Research

Slovenian ex-deputy minister extradited from Canada to serve sentence for corruption

2007-10-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia's former deputy economics minister, who fled the country before being convicted of corruption, was extradited from Canada on Wednesday, police said.

Boris Sustar, who was arrested in Canada in July, is to serve six years in prison for receiving kickbacks from companies in exchange for helping them get state funds and loans from the Economics Ministry, where he was a deputy minister from 1997-2000.

Sustar, 45, is the most senior government member to be convicted of corruption in Slovenia."

Source: International Herald Tribune

IMF's Projections for Slovenia Incorrect

2007-10-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

"Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk has assessed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has underestimated Slovenia's economic growth in its projections. Slovenia's growth will top 5.4% this year and will definitely also exceed the IMF's projections for next year, Bajuk said on the margins of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington.

The governor of the Slovenian central bank, Marko Kranjec, meanwhile noted that the officials he had met in Washington were mainly interested in Slovenia's high inflation, while he also announced that the next IMF mission would visit Slovenia in late 2008. The pair held a number of bilateral meetings on Saturday, and took part in the session of the International Monetary and Financial Committee. "

Source: GCO

Presidential Vote Heads to Second Round

2007-10-22T04:23:00.000-07:00

"Veteran Slovenian politician Lojze Peterle was the victor of the presidential poll with 27.5%, well short of the 50% needed for an outright win and below what the polls had forecast for him, as two left-leaning candidates fought it out for second place.

While Peterle looks a sure run-off contender, as even votes from abroad cannot change his lead, it is as yet unclear who will be his rival due to an extremely close finish by former senior UN diplomat Danilo Tuerk and ex-central bank governor Mitja Gaspari. The latest unofficial results give Tuerk 24.55%, ahead of 24.16% for Gaspari for second place. "

Source: STA

Telekom Slovenije M&A Action

2007-10-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

"...a dozen companies have submitted offers for the 49 percent stake in the national (Telecom) operator that's being sold by the Slovenian government, which will still hold a 25 percent stake after the divestment.

Slovenia's Economic Ministry announced that 12 companies had submitted non-binding bids by the deadline, which was Monday this week. The dozen include private equity firms The Carlyle Group LLC and Providence Equity Partners , Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT) subsidiaries Magyar Telekom Plc (Hungary) and Hrvatski Telekom (Croatia), and Oger Telecom from the United Arab Emirates.

That group will now go into the second phase, which will involve submitting binding bids once a full due diligence process is completed.

Telekom Slovenije reported an operating profit of €46.3 million ($66 million) from revenues of €380.8 million ($541 million) in the first half of this year. "

Source: Telecom News Analysis

Peterle Leads, Run-Off Expected in Slovenia

2007-10-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

"A former independence leader remains the most popular presidential candidate in Slovenia, according to a poll by Delo. 28.5 per cent of respondents would back Lojze Peterle—also a former prime minister—in this Sunday’s ballot.

International law professor Danilo Tuerk is second with 20 per cent, followed by Central Bank governor Mitja Gaspari with 16.9 per cent, and Zmago Jelincic of the Slovenian National Party (SNS) with 16 per cent.

The presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 21. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off would take place on Nov. 11."

Source: Angus Reid Global Monitor

Slovenia beats Britain in safe births

2007-10-19T01:24:00.000-07:00

"Britain comes only 19th in a worldwide survey of the safest places to become pregnant and give birth.

Although Britain makes it into the “lowest risk” category in a new study by Population Action International, it is bettered by some surprising nations, including Cuba, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia and Singapore.

The league tables, headed by the Netherlands, compares the risks of dying in pregnancy and childbirth by analysing nine indicators. These include the maternal death rate, the infant mortality rate, the proportion of birth attended by skilled health personnel, the prevalence of HIV/Aids, the percentage of women married by the age of 18, adolescent fertility, and coverage of antenatal care."

Source: Times Online

Stifled Speech in Slovenia?

2007-09-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Slovene journalist Blaž Zgaga has just published an open letter in the Prague Post decrying wholesale political censorship of the press in Slovenia:

"Open letter to people who live in the European Union: In Slovenia, a sister country to the Czech Republic, many articles are censored that express any critical statements toward our prime minister, Janez Janša, our government or any of its policies.

For example, my newspaper, Večer, scrapped an opinion piece I wrote about how the new chief of the Slovenian Army was selected. Editors had previously planned for my column to run at the top of the editorial page.

The next day, I wrote about a change in policy that allows our secret services to eavesdrop on citizens. That column wasn’t published, either. These types of opinion columns were always assigned by editors and run in the past. Since January, however, I have not been called on to write any opinion columns.

According to research by the Peace Institute, an international nonprofit group with offices in Ljubljana, there are three types of press censorship in Slovenia. The first type of censorship is when sentences or whole paragraphs of text are deleted or changed without the consent of the author. Second on the list is when a newspaper refuses to publish articles or opinions after they have been assigned by editors. The third kind is people and topics that are verboten to writers if editors believe writing about them could disturb the government.

All three types of censorship exist at my newspaper and, unfortunately, also at a majority of other major Slovenian publications. At newspapers, top editors and the chief executive officer make these decisions. That means the distinction between editorial and management is practically dissolved in most Slovenian media."

The full text of Zgaga's open letter in the Prague Post can be found online here.

Three ministers resign under pressure

2007-09-03T02:58:00.000-07:00

"Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said Thursday that he has accepted the resignation of three embattled ministers from his cabinet, in order to soothe poor relations with the opposition ahead of the country's presidency of the European Union.

Health Minister Andrej Brucan, Transport Minister Janez Bozic and High Education Minister Jure Zupan were under huge pressure over what the opposition said was their poor record.

Jansa told reporters that he has accepted the resignations, informed the parliament about them and promised to appoint the replacements soon. "

Source: DPA

Bridges Torn Down on Slovenia-Croatia Border

2007-08-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

"With Slovenia entering Schengen territory, there will be 60 border crossings left, 27 of them for border traffic, on the 670 km long border with Croatia, and 115 different bridges and roads used by the local population will be either blocked or torn down, writes Ljubljana daily newspaper Delo.

Delo writes that bridges on Sutla, built by the local population, with continue to be torn down, which the Slovenian police justifies with the introduction of the Schengen system of border supervision and danger of illegal immigration or crime across the border.

Bridges being torn down will not affect any of the citizens who live next to the border with Croatia. Only the crossings that are not used very often or are abused for illegal migrations and crime will be removed, Ljubljana police spokesman Drago Menegalija tells Delo in response to the inquiry about the bridges between Dobovac and Bistrica na Sutli being torn down, which Slovenian and Croatian media had reported. "

Source: Javno

Slovenia Third Safest Country in Europe for Foreign Investors

2007-08-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia ranks third among 31 European countries included in a rating evaluating investment risks for foreign investors from a human resource perspective conducted by the Federation of European Employers (FedEE).

According to FedEE's web site, Poland was the safest choice for foreign investors, followed by Denmark, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The survey, which included 27 EU members, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, rated the countries on the basis of 15 quantifiable factors related to labour supply, human capital, employee relations, inflationary pressures, labour costs and labour flexibility, according to FedEE's web site."

Source: STA

Slovenia First to Be Connected to SIS

2007-07-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia is the first among the nine candidates for entering the Schengen passport-free zone to have established a full link to the central Schengen Information System (SIS), Interior Minister Dragut in Mate said on Friday, 20 July in Bratislava.

Slovenia will be followed by Hungary and Estonia in establishing the full link. 'This means that the system is working,' Mate said.

Mate, attending a meeting of the candidate countries, added that the country's preparations for joining the zone are proceeding according to plan, as the draft report on the additional evaluation of the air border shows that the Ljubljana airport complies with Schengen standards.

Slovenia's main airport underwent the evaluation in early July after the airport failed the check last June."

Source: STA

Gender Pay Gap in Slovenia among Smallest in EU

2007-07-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

"While women in Slovenia earn about 8% less than men, women in the EU earn on average 15% less than their male colleagues, a report by the European Commission says.

Only in Malta and Belgium was the gender pay gap smaller than in Slovenia, according to a Eurostat survey from 2005 that had been included into the report, which was presented in Brussels on Wednesday, 18 July."

Source: STA

Slovenia sets new presidential election for Oct. 21

2007-07-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia will hold new presidential elections on October 21 when the five-year term of President Janez Drnovsek expires, parliament speaker France Cukjati announced Friday.

Drnovsek, 57, said he would not run for the post again. But three prominent public figures — a former Central Bank governor, an ex-assistant to former U.N. Secretary General and a member of the European parliament — have already announced their candidacies.

The elections would be the fourth since the country of 2 million declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Slovenia joined the European Union and NATO in 2004 and is to take over EU's rotating six-month presidency on Jan. 1, 2008.

All of the three main candidates will run as independents, although each has political backing. The new president takes office in December."

Source: IHT

FM Tells Independent SE Europe an Opportunity, not a Burden

2007-07-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

"Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel wrote in an op-ed for Thursday's issue of UK daily Independent that the 'EU should stabilise its southern flank' by including as soon as possible the countries of SE Europe, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

'We should start thinking of south-east Europe as an opportunity, not as a burden,' Rupel wrote in his commentary and pointed to not only tourism and cultural attractions but also to energy connections and the diversity of the region's human resources. According to him, the EU needs 'to fill the gap between Slovenia and Greece sooner rather than later - or risk paying a much higher price in the future.'"

Source: GCO

FM Rupel Asks Miliband for Assistance in EU Presidency

2007-07-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

"The priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency topped the agenda as For eign Minister Dimitrij Rupel held talks on Thursday with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, with Rupel asking for the UK's assistance in climate change, the Middle East and the Western Balkans. 'We will need British help here,' Rupel said.

Great Britain wishes to work closely with the Slovenian presidency, Rupel said after the talks. 'They are a lot more experienced than we are in presiding the EU, and they expect us to tell them what we know about the 'Balkans quarrels' and issues underway regarding the UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo.'

Rupel also invited Miliband and Gordon Brown, the new British prime minister, to attend several events taking place in Slovenia during its stint as EU president."

Slouce: GCO

Heather Mills buys holiday home in Slovenia

2007-07-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

According to the Daily Mail, Heather Mills has purchased a house in Slovenia that was formerly used by the country's president as a holiday retreat.

"The estranged wife of Sir Paul McCartney is said to have paid £400,000 for the house in the former Yugoslavia.

A senior Slovenian government official has appeared on TV to confirm that the property, once used by president Janez Drnovsek, had been bought by Miss Mills.

Bozo Predalic, who helped negotiate the deal, said: 'Miss Heather Mills has acquired the villa with her bid of 610,000 euros plus taxes. There were just two bidders and we took the highest.'

The wooden house stands alongside a wood and beside a mountain. It is close to Lake Bohinj and has a large garden.

During her split with Sir Paul it was reported that 38-year-old Miss Mills was looking for a property in the country as an escape from the UK. She spent several weeks in Slovenia, staying with friends.

The country holds bitter-sweet memories for the former model. She fled to Slovenia some 17 years ago when her first marriage - to a dishwasher salesman - broke down. She worked as a ski instructor in the Slovenian Alps where she fell in love with a colleague called Milos. The pair dated for several months before deciding to end their relationship."

Source: Daily Mail

Slovenian stock market may be peaking

2007-07-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

"The Slovenian stock rally has made the equity market of the former Yugoslav republic more expensive than China's. Now investors say it's time to sell.

'We are gradually reducing Slovenian shares because the market feels hot,' said Jernej Kozlevcar, a manager at Triglav Asset Management in the capital, Ljubljana. 'Recent growth of the market is mainly based on speculation about consolidation and less on business results.'

The Slovene Stock Exchange index, known as the SBI20, was the best-performing equity benchmark in the world last quarter, jumping 39 percent in dollar terms, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It has more than quadrupled since the end of 2002, paced by Petrol, the largest Slovenian refiner and retailer of petroleum products, and Intereuropa, a logistics company.

Companies in the index trade at an average of 38.9 times estimated earnings, more than twice as much as their average for the past year. The price/earnings ratio is also more than double that of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets index, a global gauge for developing economies. Members of the CSI 300 index in China trade at 32.9 times earnings."

Source: International Herald Tribune

Prince Caspian Movie Filming in Slovenia

2007-07-03T23:48:00.000-07:00

"Filming on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has now begun in Bovec with a team of hundreds.

But this year’s largest Disney film project, Prince Caspian, is wrapped in a shroud of mystery even after the first few days of filming. Only a few things are known - for instance, that they have built a 60 metre long wooden bridge.

However, more information will become available next week when the producers and their assistants arrive in Bovec. Until then, only those who are involved in the filming have permission to enter the location.

Security man: 'You must turn off the news camera because they are filming there.'

The filming location is heavily guarded, so we could only see it from a distance. 'Narnia' could not even be seen from the air, because the air space above Bovec is closed. It’s also forbidden to reach the area by the river."

Source: NarniaWeb

Slovenia takes up role of EU presidency in Macedonia

2007-07-03T04:58:00.000-07:00

"As of July 1, Slovenia represents the Portuguese EU presidency in Macedonia and Montenegro, where it will perform duties on behalf of Portugal as long as Slovenia takes-over the EU presidency next January.

Slovenia, according to rules set by the European Union, will hold the role of EU presidency in Skopje and Podgorica for a period of one year, as Portugal which took over the rotating EU presidency on July 1 has no embassies in Macedonia and Montenegro."

Source: Makfax

Russian FM cancels Slovenian trip

2007-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cancelled his visit to Slovenia, where he was to take part in the traditional ceremony at Russian Chapel near Vrsac.

The meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa has been canceled as well. Jansa had previously cancelled his participation in the economic forum in St. Petersburg on 9-10 June, where he was to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin."

Source: Makfax

Slovenia lawmakers will consider changing rules

2007-06-22T02:46:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia's lawmakers will next month start debating changes to gaming and business-ownership laws that would allow Harrah's Entertainment to partner on a $1 billion casino development near the Italian border.

The Las Vegas gaming company agreed in early June to take a 49 percent stake in partnership with Hit, a Slovenia-based developer, for a mixed-used project in western Slovenia.

The agreement allows Slovenia's Finance Ministry to propose and debating changes to regulations that only allow a 20 percent stake by foreign investors in businesses and to the country's gaming tax, which is close to 60 percent.

'The government has a desire to see an increase in tourism,' said Jan Jones, Harrah's senior vice president of government relations. 'They also realize they need partnerships to realize that goal.'

Jones said the current tax rate is prohibitive for Harrah's to see a return on its investment.

The casino would be Eastern Europe's largest, with 1,500 rooms, 2,000 slots, table games, convention and event space, clubs, bars, restaurants and a spa. The partnership is considering six building sites around the western city of Nova Gorica."

Source: Casino City Times

Slovenia gets new Central Bank governor

2007-06-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia's parliament on Tuesday approved a new Central Bank governor, after months of political wrangling.

Marko Kranjec, 67, a prominent economics and financial expert who was the young nation's first finance minister and once worked at the World Bank, was supported by 74 deputies in the 90-seat chamber. One voted against him, others abstained.

Slovenia's Central Bank was without a governor — who automatically is a member of the European Central Bank — for nearly three months as a result of President Janez Drnovsek and Prime Minister Janez Jansa's argument over the candidates."

Source: IHT

EU Warns Slovenia Again over Finance Sustainability

2007-06-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

"The European Commission has issued another warning to Slovenia over the sustainability of its public finances. In an annual report on the finances of the eurozone countries, the Commission says the structure of Slovenia's finances is expected to weaken in the future.

Slovenia is not among the ten countries in the report that the Commission expects to achieve their mid-term goals in the field in 2008.

The Commission says in the report that the eurozone members are not doing enough to utilise the current favourable economic situation to undertake structural changes and to shore up the public purse.

The public finances of the eurozone countries have improved in recent times not on account of government measures but because of higher-than-expected tax revenues, a result of the current economic upswing, the report suggests. "

Source: STA

Pakistan pilots get bravery award

2007-06-18T01:52:00.000-07:00

"Two Pakistani pilots who carried out a daring rescue of a mountaineer are to be given Slovenia's top award for bravery, Pakistani officials say.

Slovenian Tomaz Humar got stranded on the western end of the 8,125m Nanga Parbat mountain in the Himalayas two years ago. He remained for around a week on top of the world's ninth-highest peak.

The helicopter pilots plucked the 38-year-old from an icy ledge 6,000m up the peak known as 'killer mountain'.

The Slovenian president will present Lt Col Rashid Ullah Beg and Lt Col Khalid Amir Rana with the Golden Order for Services in the country's capital, Ljubljana, this month 'for risking their lives during the rescue mission', a Pakistan army statement said."

Source: BBC

Slovenian president meets China's Tibet Autonomous Region delegation

2007-06-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

"Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek met on Sunday with a China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) delegation which is visiting there to expand the ties between the former Yugoslav country and China.

During the meeting at Strmol Castle in northern Slovenia, Drnovsek said that every individual and every country needed to play their part in fighting climate change, and large countries such as China, India and the United States have an important role to play in preventing pollution.

Drnovsek also pointed to the need to preserve cultural heritage and tradition. He said that globalization was positive as long as it made one's life easier, but must not be allowed to destroy the traditional ways of life."

Source: People's Daily Online

Slovenia asks EU to extend roaming zone: CommsUpdate : TeleGeography Research

2007-06-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Slovenia has called on the European Commission to extend new rules cutting the costs of cross-border mobile roaming within the European Union to candidate countries, including Croatia and Turkey, the Slovenian Press Agency reports. ‘Roaming should be one of the priority fields that candidate countries must transpose into their legislation as they implement the EU body of law,’ Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak said, adding that ‘It is in Slovenia’s interest that this matter be arranged with candidate countries as soon as possible.’"

Source: Telegeography.com

Majority of Slovenians Satisfied With Euro Switch

2007-06-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

"Two-thirds of Slovenians are satisfied with the switch to the euro, but the majority believe that the changeover caused price hikes, according to a Eurobarometer survey on the euro changeover in Slovenia, which was published in Brussels on Thursday.

The majority of Slovenians are convinced that the euro strengthens Slovenia's position in the international community, while paying with euros makes them more European.

More than four-fifths believe that the changeover was simple, while only 2% say that the change of prices from tolars to euro presented a problem."

Source: GCO

Poll: Pahor and SocDems in the Lead

2007-06-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

"The opposition Social Democrats (SD) are gaining in popularity, a poll commissioned by daily Vecer has found. MEP and SD leader Borut Pahor topped the poll on the presidential race front, while the SD holds the lead among parliamentary parties.

Pahor, who is waiting for his party's endorsement to enter the 2007 presidential race, would receive 40.5% of votes, while 24.6% of the respondents would support MEP Alojz Peterle, who enjoys the backing of all three centre-right coalition parties.

If the presidential poll were held this Sunday, Zmago Jelincic, leader of the opposition National Party (SNS), would take third place, with 9.8%, followed by incumbent Janez Drnovsek, who would get only 4.9%."

Source: GCO

Economic and Social Council Increases Work Permit Quotas

2007-06-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

"The Economic and Social Council, the industrial relations forum, has reached an agreement on Monday to increase the quota for work permits for foreign workers from 18,500 to 24,500.

The members of the council also agreed to prepare a detailed analysis of employment of foreigners as part of the economic migrations strategy, which the Labour, Family and Social Affairs Ministry is to draft by September.

The ministry proposed to increase the quota because only some 400 work permits were left by the end of May, representative of the national Employment Service explained. The ministry thus suggested that the quota should increase by 4,870 permits."

Source: GCO

Slovenia agrees to clear way for Harrah's entertainment park

2007-06-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

"The Slovenian government has agreed to amend legislation to allow the US firm Harrah's to help build a 750-million-euro (1.01-billion-dollars) entertainment park in western Slovenia, a spokesman said Tuesday.

'The government has decided to propose parliamentary changes in the gaming law in order to enable this and similar projects,' Andrej Sircelj, Finance Ministry state secretary told journalists.

He said the stake in domestic gaming companies that could be owned by foreign investors would be increased from 20 to 49 percent and the tax on profits from gaming would be cut from 38 percent to 17.5 percent.

The decision comes two years after Harrah's Entertainment and the Slovenian Hit Group, holding the largest casinos in the tiny European Union state, started talks on building a mega-entertainment park in Nova Gorica, a region bordering Italy."

Source: AFP

E.Leclerc Opening Supermarket in Maribor

2007-06-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

"E.Leclerc, a leading European retailer, will open its second outlet in Slovenia in Maribor on 7 November in an investment worth EUR 26m. The shopping centre will create 200 new jobs and is expected to attract two million shoppers and turn over EUR 50m a year, its owner, Alain Gomez, told reporters in Maribor on Wednesday, 30 May.

The centre will spread over an indoor area of nearly 20,000 square metres, the supermarket covering a quarter of this, while the remaining area will accommodate 31 shops. The car park will have the capacity for 1,000 vehicles.

According to Gomez, the supermarket will offer 70,000 goods, one fifth of them French-made, while all major Slovenian brand names will also be available. Shoppers are expected to come from as far as Croatia, Austria and Hungary."

Source: Slovene Press Agency STA

Work Permit Quota for Foreign Workers in 2007 Reached

2007-06-04T03:20:00.000-07:00

"The work permit quota for non-EU workers was exceeded for the first time in a decade, since many citizens of former Yugoslavian republics are looking for work in Slovenia, a senior Slovenian official said after a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels.

Marko Strovs, state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, said on Wednesday, 30 May that the quota amounted to approximately 54,000 work permits.

It is time to discuss whether Slovenia should raise the number of work permits issued per year, which is what employers strive for, said Strovs, adding that the quotas should remain the domain of the member states.

According to Strovs, too few work permits present a problem for Slovenia, since the domestic workforce does not cover all of the less paid jobs due to a well developed education system."

Source: Slovene Press Agency STA