"...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
Friday, October 19, 2007
Peterle Leads, Run-Off Expected in Slovenia
"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
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
"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
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
Monday, September 3, 2007
Stifled Speech in Slovenia?
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.
"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
"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
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
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Bridges Torn Down on Slovenia-Croatia Border
"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
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Slovenia Third Safest Country in Europe for Foreign Investors
"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
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
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