Slovenia News - April 2005

Slovenia News 26 April 2005

Slovenian officials welcomed the selection of a new Pope last week. Most of the officials agreed that Benedict XVI is expected to carry on the work of his predecessor, John Paul II. In other news, the highly-disputed government bill on the public broadcaster made it past the first hurdle in parliament as it got sufficient support to proceed to second reading. Top Slovenian officials said they think the newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI would continue the work of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. More » MPs gave the go ahead for the government-proposed bill on the public broadcaster to undergo second reading in a 49:22 vote on Friday. The second reading is due to be held at the relevant parliamentary committee in May. More » With 58% backing the Janez Jansa government in April, the support the government enjoys remains strong, a survey shows. Nevertheless, the cabinet had a slightly better rating in March (61%) and February (59%), results of the Politbarometer poll show on Monday. More » The government decided on Thursday to eliminate the visa requirement for holders of Thai and Peruvian diplomatic and service passports for stays of up to 90 days within six months. More » Outgoing British Ambassador Hugh Mortimer paid a farewell visit to President Janez Drnovsek and Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel on Friday. He estimated in the talks that Slovenia had made considerable progress over recent years. More » The government on Thursday discussed options for Slovenia's bid to host the seat of a new European gender equality institute. According to government spokesperson Jernej Pavlin, the cabinet tasked the Office for Equal Opportunities to prepare Slovenia's case. More » The government has named Miha Pogacnik, an expert on international law, as the new high representative for succession to the former Yugoslavia. Pogacnik has succeeded Rudi Gabrovec, who has been ambassador to Denmark for over a year. More » The parliament has confirmed Barbara Brezigar as the new state prosecutor general for a six-year term in office. Brezigar was appointed in a 44:25 vote which was split along party lines. More » The company operating the Postojna Caves - one of the most famous Slovenian tourist sites - has reported a profit of SIT 167m (EUR 696,550) for last year on revenues of SIT 1.96bn (EUR 8.18m). More » Participants of the 3rd annual Business Week conference highlighted the importance of research and development for the future of the Slovenian economy on the second day of the meeting in Ljubljana. More » The Jesenice-based steelworks Acroni reported profit of SIT 841m (EUR 3.5m) last year and sold 265,000 tonnes of steel, valued at SIT 60bn (EUR 250m), in what the company said was its best result ever. More » The director of the government Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development has urged Slovenia and the EU to undertake extensive reforms if they are to meet Lisbon Strategy goals. More » Slovenia and Norway have signed a financial memorandum under the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, which gives Slovenia EUR 12.474m in the 2004-2009 period for environmental protection, sustainable development, cultural heritage, human resources, health and other projects. More » The Society of Slovenian-Austrian Friendship is organising Days of Carinthian Culture in Ljubljana for the second year in a row. Carinthian Slovenians wish to present their cultural activity to the people in their homeland. More » The Slovenian Theatre Museum has published a photo-monograph on dancer and choreographer Janez Mejac, dubbed "Janez Mejac, Danseur Noble". The career and life of the acclaimed artist is presented through photos, the words of his peers Pino Mlakar, Marija Vogelnik, Andrej Inkret, Anka Cernic and Vojko Vidmar, and the artist himself. More » The Spanish arts and cultural centre, named Aula Cervantes, officially opened its doors in Ljubljana on Thursday, offering a library, a reading club and language courses and exams for students and lovers of Spanish language and culture. More » Days of Indian Culture, organised by an Indian-Slovenian friendship association, started at the Slovenian Philharmonics with a concert of traditional Indian music. The association wanted to present the colourful and diverse Indian culture to Slovenia. More » BTC, the largest shopping and entertainment hub in Ljubljana, got bigger on Thursday with the opening of the Atlantis water park, which will start receiving visitors on Friday. The SIT 6.6bn (EUR 27.5m) project is the company's largest investment to date. More » Schedule of events More »

Slovenia News 19 April 2005

The government dominated headlines last week, first with a visit to Primorsko, western Slovenia, and then, only a day later, with a package of laws. The government has confirmed the bill on public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, which will bring about major management and editorial changes. The government has also amended the acts on disabled war veterans, victims of war crimes and war grave sites, which it says will eliminate the differentiation that is based on ideology, and emphasise what unites Slovenia. The southwestern region of Slovenia has good development potential and there is no reason why it should not continue to prosper if it utilises all of this potential, Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Wednesday. More » The recent stirring of old differences between World War II foes Italy and Slovenia has moved to the European Parliament, where an Italian MP called for "the forgotten and denied" story about foibe to be laid bare. This prompted a response from a Slovenian MEP, who said Italy was using the story as an alibi for its own war crimes. More » The presidents of Slovenia and Poland, Janez Drnovsek and Aleksander Kwasniewski, have called on all EU countries to endorse the European constitutional treaty. Beginning his two-day official visit to Poland on Wednesday, Drnovsek said "ratification procedures must continue even if a referendum in some member state may fail". More » The government has confirmed the bill on public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, which will bring about major management and editorial changes. According to the bill, the director general would retain the powers for business decisions but also take over significant responsibilities for the programme. More » The government has amended the acts on disabled war veterans, victims of war crimes and war grave sites, which it says will eliminate the differentiation that is based on ideology, and emphasise what unites Slovenia. More » The government adopted Thursday a zoning act for the construction of a second rail line between Divaca and Koper, in southwestern Slovenia. The investment is valued at SIT 168bn (EUR 700m). More » On Spring Day in Europe pupils discussed the EU constitution in Slovenian parliament. They agreed that Slovenia is faced with new challenges in the EU. They were wondering, however, how to turn this situation to their own advantage. More » Slovenian companies shared their experience in setting up shop in distant and unfamiliar places, in a round table held as part of the 3rd annual Business Week. More » Slovenia's national airline carried 885,000 passengers in 2004, up 2 percent over the year before. Adria Airways generated EUR 136m in revenues and finished the year with a profit of EUR 171,000, the company's chairman told the press on Wednesday. More » Slovenia's economy will expand by 4% annually in 2005 and 2006, according to the World Economic Outlook, a report released on Wednesday by the International Monetary Fund. IMF believes inflation will stand at 2.6% this year and 2% in 2006. More » Slovenia is well prepared for the adoption of the euro, while inflation remains its greatest challenge in meeting the convergence criteria, Andrej Rant, a vice-governor of the Bank of Slovenia, told a symposium on accounting, finances and auditing on Wednesday. More » Almost one year into EU membership, Slovenian companies are feeling the positive and negative effects of the single European market and the fact that trade is governed by EU regulations. While they have unlimited access to a market with 450 million consumers, they also feel the negative consequences of the termination of free trade agreements with CEFTA and countries of the former Yugoslavia. More » Adria Mobil, the Novo mesto-based maker of campers and caravans, saw rapid growth in 2004, when its net sales revenues grew by 41.5 percent to 209 million euros. Its operating profit was up 31 percent to over 10 million euros, the company said on Wednesday. More » A delegation of the World Food Programme (WFP) is due in Ljubljana on Tuesday for a two-day working visit aimed at boosting cooperation between Slovenia and this UN agency. More » Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Jure Zupan said that Slovenia is in favour of the framework programme for research and development for the period 2007-2013, which was presented to EU ministers by Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik on Monday. More » Cooperation between regions is important in the face of new challenges, but also new opportunities brought on by the EU's enlargement. To promote interregional cooperation, Germany's Saxony, Austria's Styria, northern Hungary and Slovenia initiated a project called REVITAE. More » "After the first year of membership, the economic advantages of EU accession are becoming clear in the EU newcomers," Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak told a round-table analysing the first year of membership for the ten newcomers. More » Adria Airways will fly Slovenian officials to and from Brussels until October under a deal for 2,000 tickets worth SIT 294m (EUR 1.23m) that was signed on Tuesday by the flag carrier and the government. More » The 10th annual Slovenian Book Days opened in Ljubljana's Zvezda park on Monday with a ceremony at which an award for best short story was conferred on Janez Kajzer for "Zaznamek za dosje" (File Note). More » "Ruins", a feature film by Janez Burger, has received a special award at the 6th Festival of European Cinema in Italy's Lecce in what is the first international recognition for this drama about art and emotions. More » The 11th annual Exodos festival of performing arts will feature stars such as Robert Lepage, Forced Entertainment and Lydia Lunch, offering a programme varying from theoretic discourse and workshops to hip hop and breakdance. More » Slovenia has the highest rate for the employment of women with children under 12 in the EU, according to a survey released on Tuesday by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. While the EU average was 60 percent in 2003, Slovenia's was 85 percent, according to the survey. More » The National and University Library (NUK) has staged an in-depth exhibition to pay tribute to Slovenian traveller and writer Alma Maksimiljana Karlin (1889-1950), who died 55 years ago. The show will last until 5 May. More » Marko Baloh has managed to tour Slovenia on his bicycle in 46 hours and three minutes, finishing on Sunday at 11.03 AM in Ljubljana. Baloh has thus improved his personal best from 2003, when he did practically the same route in 50 hours and 10 minutes. More » Schedule of Events More »

Slovenia News 12 April 2005

Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Dimitrij Rupel wrapped up his tour of Central Asia and paid a visit to Serbia-Montenegro. On the home scene, the week was marked by debates over the government-proposed bill on the public broadcaster amidst concerns that it would weaken the autonomy of the broadcaster's journalists and editors. Slovenia observed a day of mourning on 8 April, the day of the funeral of Pope John Paul II. More » The government committee for state administration and public matters on 5 April approved a new bill on public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, which was released last week and already drew criticism from the ranks of journalists. More » Fifteen years ago, to the day, Slovenia held its first multi-party elections, which were overwhelming won by the opposition coalition DEMOS. The first round of vote was held on 8 April 1990, with the run-off a fortnight later. More » Slovenia will continue to support Montenegro on its path towards a new future, regardless of what this path may be like, Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel, who is currently also OSCE chairman, said on Tuesday as he came out of meetings with the Montenegrin leadership. More » The Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (IMAD) has acquainted the government with an upgraded inflation forecast for this year. Apart from predicting lower inflation, IMAD also said it was keeping its growth outlook unchanged in its spring report. More » The parliamentary commission for Slovenians abroad has called upon the Slovenian minority in Austria to unity in asserting its interests both in relations with Austria and Slovenia. More » Car maker Revoz was the no. 1 Slovenian exporter in 2004, generating 5.6% of all Slovenian exports. Following are the home-appliance manufacturer Gorenje, pharmaceutical company Lek, car-seat cover maker Prevent and pharmaceutical company Krka, according to a list of leading Slovenian exporters. More » EU citizens are increasingly interested in buying real estate in Slovenia after restrictions were lifted following EU entry nearly one year ago. Some 500 properties have been sold in the first year, according to the Tax Administration, mostly at the seaside and in the northeastern region of Pomurje. More » Some sectors of the Slovenian economy have been put to a tough test as a result of EU entry. Not all were equally prepared to face it, while analysts expected the industries that were in trouble already before the accession to be hit hardest. A year after, importers seem to have capitalised on advantages of the common market, while exporters feel the increasingly fierce competition there. More » The first year of Slovenia's membership of the EU has seen no major disruption on the labour market despite a considerable inflow of workers from the new member states, which almost doubled. The number of Slovenians who found new employment in the EU, on the other hand, has been low as expected. More » A show featuring works of Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979), an all-round avant-garde artist from Paris, opened in Ljubljana on Thursday evening. More » A two-day seminar on the 17th century Slovenian polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor began in Ljubljana on Tuesday to highlight the importance of his versatile work, ranging from history to natural sciences. More » A group of four Slovenian survivors and their relatives took part in Sunday's ceremony in memory of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald. More » The Museum of Kobarid plans to upgrade its famous exhibition on the Soca Front (Isonzo Front) this year to mark the 90th anniversary of the beginning of this bloody WWI battleground. More » Schedule of Events from 12 - 15 April More »

Slovenia News 5 April 2005

Last week Parliament has backed the government guidelines for Slovenia's activities in the EU in 2005. All parties with the exception of the opposition National Party (SNS) voiced their support for the document, which was passed in a 44-to-3 vote on Tuesday. The main priorities as set by the government include the revival of the Lisbon Strategy, 2007-2013 budget negotiations, EU enlargement and preparations for EU presidency in the first half of 2008. Designed to reinforce the promotion of Slovenia's national interests in the EU, the 85-page document will be used mainly for the government's participation in the EU Council. In other news, Slovenia last week marked the first year of NATO membership. The Slovenian government has declared a day of mourning for the deceased Pope John Paul II for Friday. It called on Slovenians to pay their respects to the pope by observing a three-minute silence, and decided that flags would be flying at half-mast from today until the end of the day of mourning. More » It is with great sorrow that we received the news of the passing of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father was not only the undisputed leader of the Roman-Catholic Church, but also a great statesman. He was a herald of freedom, solidarity, justice and peace. He was a great advocate of mutual respect and cooperation between various religions and their believers, and for this his work is highly esteemed on all continents. More » The government on Friday released the names of the six Slovenian members who are to sit on the Slovenian-Croatian commission of historians that will study the history of bilateral relations. More » The government debated a bill on the registration of same-sex partnership at its regular session on Thursday, referring it to parliament for first reading. More » Parliament has backed the government guidelines for Slovenia's activities in the EU in 2005. All parties with the exception of the opposition National Party (SNS) voiced their support for the document, which was passed in a 44-to-3 vote on Tuesday. More » Slovenian logistics group Viator&Vektor has signed a deal on business cooperation with Serbian automotive group Zastava. The two companies will cooperate in logistics and in the maintenance and production of trucks, buses and military vehicles, Viator&Vektor chairman Zdenko Pavcek said on Thursday. More » The European Commission projects Slovenia's economy will grow by 3.7% this year, with the expansion speeding up to 4% in 2006. Inflation is set to stand at 2.6% in both years, according to the spring economic forecast released in Brussels on Monday. More » The Agency for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development said on Tuesday that a total of SIT 56bn (EUR 233m) will be earmarked for Slovenian farmers this year for the implementation of the agricultural policy. More » President of the EU's Committee of the Regions, Peter Straub, has recommended Slovenia to work towards dividing the country into three regions. Only in this way would the country be eligible to get more funds from the EU, which would secure its future even regional development, Straub told the press in Ljubljana on Wednesday. More » Army Chief-of-Staff, Major General Ladislav Lipic, has said the army has been successful in the first year of Slovenia's NATO membership. According to Lipic, the army spent the year focusing on integration into NATO, restructuring and professionalisation. More » Edward Clug's new dance project "Radio and Juliet" will be appearing at a festival dubbed "Mediterranean Platform of Contemporary Dance" in Volos, Greece, on Tuesday. The three-day festival is designed to present professional Mediterranean dance groups to agents, festival and art directors. More » Austrian Ambassador Valentin Inzko has decorated Slovenian artist Andrej Jemec with the Austrian cross for science and art. Jemec was rewarded for his merits in cooperation between Austria and Slovenia in arts and science and for the ties he has established. More » The northeastern region of Prekmurje celebrated the 60th anniversary of liberation from German and Hungarian occupation on Sunday. A monument to British airmen shot down in 1944 was unveiled at the Murska Sobota barracks, and a new Orthodox cross erected next to the monument to Red Army soldiers. More » Noam Chomsky, the US dissident and one of the world's most respected thinkers, mounted a barrage of criticism against US foreign policy in Ljubljana on Tuesday. In a lecture entitled "Force, Law and the Prospects of Survival" he rebuffed the officially disseminated argument of America as a beacon of democracy and painted a picture of an America pursuing pragmatic interests, often at the expense of the values it wants to be seen as promoting. More » Lawrence R. Klein, a Nobel Prize laureate in economics, received the honorary doctorate by the University of Ljubljana on Tuesday for his contribution to science and the education of professors of the University of Ljubljana. Klein was also received by President Janez Drnovsek and held a lecture at the Faculty of Law about current trends in the world economy. More » Tourists from Serbia-Montenegro are certainly part of our target audience, especially since Slovenia is already recognisable on this market, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) Bojan Meden said on the margins of the meeting of Slovenian and Serbian businessmen from tourism and the hotel industry. More » Schedule of Events from 29 March to 3 April More »

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