Politics

26 Feb 2022, 09:42 AM

What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.

If you’d like to keep up on the daily headlines then follow those here, or get all our stories in your feed on Facebook.

FRIDAY, 18 February

        MUNICH, Germany - President Borut Pahor called for dialogue and a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis as he arrived at the Munich Security Conference.
        LJUBLJANA - The teachers' trade union SVIZ said its members overwhelmingly endorsed the decision for school and kindergarten teachers to start a general strike on 9 March to demand for higher pay for teaching and non-teaching staff plus bonuses for extra work connected with the Covid-19 pandemic.
        LJUBLJANA - The government decided to waive the quarantine requirement for those in high-risk contact with an infected person and end contact tracing. It also abolished the requirement that passengers entering Slovenia have to produce a Covid pass.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's eight MEPs addressed a letter to the European Commission alerting it to a seizure of church bells in Dolina, a village near the Italian city of Trieste populated by the Slovenian minority. The MEPs would like to see the Commission act on this incident that they say encroaches on religious freedom and local cultural tradition.
        MARIBOR - Chipmaker NVIDIA signed a partnership with Digital Transformation Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič that will support the development of an artificial intelligence ecosystem in Slovenia and stimulate new ICT talents in creative AI environments.
        LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of Petrol approved the plan of the energy company's management to build three large solar power plants in Croatia, worth a total of EUR 17 million. Planned to start producing electricity at the beginning of 2023, the expected output the three facilities will be 29 gigawatt hours (GWh).
        KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper said its net profit had contracted by 1% to EUR 31.8 million last year despite a 9% increase in revenue, which amounted to EUR 228.4 million. Total throughput hit 20.8 million tonnes, up 7% on the year before.
        SLOVENJ GRADEC - The 16th annual auction of prime timber in Slovenia brought new records, as a quilted sycamore maple from state-owned forests fetched a record price of EUR 23,800 per cubic metre or EUR 47,838 for the whole log.
        LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana criminal police said they had busted a drug trafficking ring with over 80 members and seized almost 600 kilos of cannabis and several kilos of heroine as part of an international investigation that started in 2018.
        
SATURDAY, 19 February
        MUNICH, Germany - President Borut Pahor held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, focussing on the Ukraine crisis, including with his Finish and Montenegrin counterparts Sauli Niinistö and Milo Đukanović.
        LJUBLJANA - The latest public opinion poll conducted by Parsifal saw the ruling Democrats (SDS) in the lead, with party's support rising by 3 percentage points to 22.9% in the past month. The Freedom Movement headed by Robert Golob comes second, on 13.2% support, up by 2.8 percentage points.
        ROME, Italy - Prime Minister Janez Janša and Cardinal Franc Rode featured as witnesses in a documentary on summary executions in the wake of Second World War that was aired on Rai 2, the second channel of the Italian public broadcaster.
        LJUBLJANA - LPS or Last Pizza Slice, a band of five teenagers, won the contest to represent Slovenia at the 66th Eurovision song contest in Turin with the song 'Disko' (Disco).
        NEW YORK, US - The first space exhibition at the International Space Station (ISS) will feature two miniature artworks by Slovenian artist Eva Petrič as part of the miniature works contributed by 65 artists from around the world.

SUNDAY, 20 February
        MUNICH, Germany - President Borut Pahor urged stepping up EU enlargement to the Western Balkans as he appeared in a panel debate at the Munich Security Conference, saying the EU was the only answer to the issues troubling the region. FM Anže Logar said the key was to resolve issues in the region stemming from the past.
        BEIJING, China - Slovenian athletes won seven medals at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which puts the country second only to Norway in medals per capita. Overall, Slovenia ranked 15th among all countries on the Olympic medal table.

MONDAY, 21 February
        LJUBLJANA - Virtually all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Slovenia except for the wearing of masks and hand sanitising indoors. Proof of recovery, vaccination or negative test (PCT) is only be required in hospitals, care homes and prisons. There are no more caps on gatherings or numbers allowed inside shops, hospitality or other services establishments, and no restrictions to opening hours.
        LJUBLJANA - The government decided to increase the capital of Slovenia's custodian of state assets, Slovenian Sovereign Holding, by a sum that will allow it to exercise its pre-emptive right to purchase private fund York's share in Slovenian tourism company Sava.
        LENDAVA - Slovenian and Hungarian PMs Janez Janša and Viktor Orban stressed as they signed an agreement on cooperation to develop the border areas populated by the countries' respective minorities in Lendava that the minorities were a "bridge for cooperation between two friendly countries" and economic ties between them brought double benefit.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed the government's proposal not to allow a referendum on a law ratifying the agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. The opposition Left, which initiated the referendum bid, is now planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court.
        LJUBLJANA - The government approved material aid for Ukraine and Madagascar as well as a donation of Covid-19 vaccines to Namibia and COVAX. Through the EU civil protection mechanism Slovenia will send EUR 163,000 worth of sleeping bags, rubber boots, diesel generators, gloves and face masks to Ukraine in response to the country's appeal for aid.
        LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption cleared PM Janez Janša over his socialising with a well-known lobbyist and a businessman while holidaying on the island of Mauritius when he was still an opposition leader. The commission closed the case after it had found no breach of anti-graft legislation.
        MARIBOR - The supervisory board of the electricity distributor Elektro Maribor appointed acting chairman Jože Hebar for a full-fledged term. He was appointed acting chairman in November after the dismissal of Boris Sovič, who had led the company for nine years.

TUESDAY, 22 February
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's officials unanimously condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as blatant violation of international law. PM Janez Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership and Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced the government's top officials agreed Slovenia was ready to support the country's membership of the EU and enhance its troops' presence in eastern NATO member states.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly approved the government package to mitigate the impact of high energy prices, whose primary focus is on aid for households and citizens, as it provides for a one-off payment for some 710,000 Slovenians.
        LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin discussed Russia's actions in Ukraine in an interview with the CNN, underscoring that unity was the Western allies' strongest tool and warning that something bad could happen in the Western Balkans, in particular Bosnia-Herzegovina.
        PARIS - FM Anže Logar attended the first ministerial forum on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region organised by the French EU presidency, noting the importance of good and sustainable integration between Europe and the region.
        LJUBLJANA - MPs endorsed a government-sponsored act that temporarily increases the scope of temporary or casual work available for pensioners to help the labour market recover in the wake of Covid-19 in what the government says will help mitigate labour shortages.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed changes to the act on state border control that bring border municipalities EUR 2.5 million in assistance to cover the costs they incur as a result of enhanced border patrolling by police and soldiers to prevent illegal migration.
        LJUBLJANA - Ferenc Horvath, the MP for the Hungarian minority, will have to pay a EUR 1,000 fine after a district and a higher court upheld the anti-graft watchdog's view that he is in breach of the incompatibility of dual offices as he also serves as the head of a minority organisation.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the investment promotion act that aim to raise the productivity of the Slovenian economy and the standard of living by facilitating companies' adjustment to the demands of the digital and green transition.
        NOVO MESTO - Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of Renault that cut production to one and a half shifts last November and then announced further cuts in January for April, will move to the announced single shift a month early.

WEDNESDAY, 23 February
        LONDON, UK - FM Anže Logar met his British counterpart Elizabeth Truss to sign a declaration of intent to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. They agreed that Slovenia and the UK are partners and allies, sharing common values and similar interests on many issues and policies. Logar also met the president of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, Alok Sharma.
        LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Timur Eyvazov over Russia's recognition of independence of the eastern Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk. The ambassador was informed of Slovenia's resolute opposition to Russia's actions along the Ukrainian border and unilateral recognition of the two regions.
        BOLOGNA, Italy - Education Minister Simona Kustec and her Italian counterpart Patrizio Bianchi urged the formation of a task force for cooperation in minority eduction that would address open issues.
        MARIBOR - The newspaper Večer reported that Maribor-based radio station Radio City had been acquired by companies Media Moment and Radio Factory, owned by Hungarian Gabor Deak. It said Deak is linked to the circles of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
        LJUBLJANA - The anti-graft watchdog said it had found breach of integrity by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, noting he interfered in the work of the Commodity Reserves Agency in relation to a purchase of ventilators from the supplier Geneplanet.
        LJUBLJANA - The police dealt with 693 cases of illegal migration in the first month of 2022, more than double the figure recorded in January last year. By far the largest number of illegal migrants intercepted last month were Afghans, which is to be expected given the situation in the country, the police said.
        LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Delo reported that the Kranj Local Court had issued convictions for five men involved in a Covid-19 vaccination fraud where one of them got vaccinated on behalf of the other four. One was given a sentence of ten months in prison, while the other four were fined.
        
THURSDAY, 24 February
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Arriving for an emergency EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Janez Janša urged the severest possible sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine as well as providing humanitarian, economic and military help to Ukraine. Together with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki it called on the European Council to grant Ukraine's accession to the EU by 2030.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's top officials and parties condemned in the strongest terms the Russian attack on Ukraine, with Prime Minister Janez Janša saying it was unprecedented military aggression against the country. President Borut Pahor called the attack a grave violation of international law and UN principles of peaceful resolution of disputes. In solidarity with Ukraine, the country's flag was hoisted on the Government Palace and the Presidential Palace.
        LJUBLJANA - Natalia Markevich, charge d'affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Ljubljana, thanked Slovenia for its support and assistance to Ukraine following Russia's invasion.
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor presented state decorations to Tatjana Rojc, the Slovenian serving as a senator in Rome, and minority officials Walter Bandelj and Ksenija Dobrila as well as Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza.
        LJUBLJANA - The Slovenia-based banking group NLB said it had posted a record profit of EUR 236.4 million in 2021, a substantial growth compared to the previous year, excluding effects from the acquisition of Komercijalna Banka in Serbia.
        LJUBLJANA - The Environment and Spatial Planning Inspectorate said that Slovenia had exported almost 150,000 tonnes of waste to third countries in 2021, some 25% less than in 2020. The amount of plastic waste was reduced by just over 40%.
        KRŠKO - Gen Energija, the company managing the Slovenian half of the NEK nuclear power station, got an interim head, as the company's long-serving director general Martin Novšak was dismissed. Until a new head is appointed financial director Gordana Radanovič will serve as interim head.

26 Feb 2022, 09:24 AM

STA, 25 February 2022 - As the EU adopted on Friday a second package of sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine, which target key sectors of its economy and include sanctions against President Vladimir Putin and FM Sergey Lavrov, Slovenian FM Anže Logar said this was the "strictest package of sanctions" that the bloc had ever adopted.

A new package of measures was adopted that will "significantly affect both the Russian economy and oligarchs and individuals who have participated in the aggression," Logar said after an emergency session of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The package includes both individual and sectoral measures, and is "the strictest package of sanctions the EU has ever adopted against any country," the foreign minister added in the video statement for Slovenian journalists.

At the in-person meeting, the EU foreign ministers formally approved the new package of sanctions against Russia that covers the financial sector, energy and transport, dual-use goods, control and financing of exports and visa policy.

Several Russian individuals have been added to the list of persons who are banned from travelling to the EU whose assets in the EU are frozen.

The list now includes President Putin and FM Lavrov in terms of the freezing of assets in the EU. This was endorsed by all member states, Logar said, adding that it was possible that family members were included in the next round of sanctions.

The second package of sanctions was agreed by the EU leaders at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday. It does not include the possibility of excluding Russia from the Swift payment system, which has been advocated by Ukraine.

Logar said that this had been discussed at length today, adding that the opposition to this measure was getting weaker.

"Several countries said they were aware of the consequences of this measure for their economy, but were nevertheless prepared to accept this damage given the importance of this historical event," he added.

The foreign minister said that "an even stricter package, with an even greater impact on the Russian economy", was being coordinated, and that talks to this end would continue in the coming days.

If a consensus is reached, the third package will include Swift - unless it is established that the international community can cause even more serious economic consequences for Russia in some other way, he added.

"Slovenia supports strict sanctions that have a deterring effect and that make it clear that such acts are unacceptable," said Logar in reference to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

PM Janez Janša meanwhile attended a virtual NATO summit at which it was decided that the alliance will deploy its rapid response forces on its eastern flank in what will be the first deployment of these forces for the purpose of joint defence.

Janša said on Facebook on the occasion that a decision would be made in the next few days about what Europe would be like in the future. "Only a victory of Ukraine and Putin's defeat can prevent a long period of new Cold War," he added.

According to Janša, three things should be done in order to truly help Ukraine and "win the war for Europe".

"NATO should close the airspace over Ukraine and deprive the Russian aggressor army of its strategic advantage, the EU should provide Ukraine with membership prospect and the democratic world should isolate Putin's regime with sanctions," he said.

25 Feb 2022, 14:21 PM

STA, 25 February 2022 - A panel of judges of the Celje District Court found Prime Minister Janez Janša guilty of defaming two journalists whom he called "washed up prostitutes" in a 2016 tweet. In a ruling that is not final yet, Janša got a three-month suspended sentence. He is also to cover the costs of the court proceedings.

The ruling comes after the Supreme Court quashed a guilty ruling over Janša's Twitter post in March 2016 reading "the FB page of the public house is offering cheap services by washed up prostitutes Evgenija C. and Mojca P.Š. One for 30 euros, the other for 35. #PimpMilan".

Today, the Celje court gave Janša two-month suspended sentences for defaming each of the two journalists, TV Slovenija reporter Eugenija Carl and Mojca Šetinc Pašek, who was the editor of the news desk at the public broadcaster at the time. But then handed down a combined suspended sentence of three months.

The president of the panel of judges, Alenka Jazbinšek Žgank, said Janša's tweet had been scornful and insulting.

Šetinc Pašek welcomed the ruling. She said Janša had indeed insulted her and Carl and smeared them both privately and professionally. "This tweet has marked me in a way," she said.

Her lawyer Stojan Zdolšek stressed the court had found the tweet was abject smearing that had nothing to do with criticism of journalist work. He is happy with the ruling although the case is not closed yet.

"We seriously suspect that the case will become statute barred in May, as the court is yet to write the ruling and hand it to the accused and his lawyer. Given Janša's past practice the court will not be able to hand him the ruling on time and the case will become statute barred."

Janša's lawyer Franci Matoz announced an appeal as he is convinced that the ruling could stand no trial and had no foundation. He said he and Janša were used to unfair rulings.

He said Janša had not committed the criminal act that he was accused of, so he expects the higher court to annul the ruling.

In their closing statements on Thursday, Zdolšek and Matoz disagreed over whether Janša had actually insulted the journalists.

Zdolšek argued the criminal act had been proven and that he had "committed a severe criminal act against the honour and good name of the two journalists".

Matoz, however, opined that an average Twitter user could not have known which journalists were being mentioned and that the pair had put the tweet in the spotlight themselves.

Janša was sentenced to a three-month suspended sentence by the Celje District Court in November 2018, but the Celje Higher Court ordered a retrial, which started in June 2021.

25 Feb 2022, 12:43 PM

STA, 25 February 2022 - President Borut Pahor offered a formal apology on Friday to the 25,671 people who were erased from Slovenia's register of permanent residents 30 years ago. He said this had been an unconstitutional act, a violation of human rights and apologised for all the "wrongs and suffering" it had caused.

"Please accept my sincere apologies on my behalf and on behalf of the state for the unconstitutional act of erasing you from the register of permanent residents, for the violation of your human rights and for all the injustice and suffering that this act caused you and your families," Pahor said at today's ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

The president also expressed deep regret at "the losses you suffered as a result of the erasure, in your relationships with your loved ones, in your property and in the opportunities that could have turned your life around for the better".

"Today we are also taking moral responsibility for the unconstitutional act of erasure, and we are committing it to our collective historical memory," he said.

"I regret that you had to wait far too long for action to be taken to redress the wrongs done to you, even after decisions were adopted by the courts. I am aware that the measures only went so far to address the issues and that many of you are still suffering the consequences of the erasure.

"I realise that an apology will not make up for what you lost by being erased. By no means," the president said.

"However, today, we are putting an end once and for all to an era of denial and a failure to acknowledge all the suffering and all the grave, tragic consequences of the erasure that are still ongoing."

The president clearly stated that the erasure of 25,671 people, including 5,360 children, from Slovenia's register of permanent residents had been an "arbitrary and unjust act, it was illegal, unconstitutional and discriminatory, and it constituted a violation of human rights".

According to Pahor, the erasure denied people the legal basis for the right to work, the right to healthcare and social protection, the right to higher education and the right to buy a home.

Many were expelled from the country, and many families were separated. Many fell ill, and some even died prematurely without access to healthcare services, he noted.

"Because the erasure was carried out quietly, without informing those affected, in the first years following the erasure they could not understand why they were suddenly, without explanation, no longer able to support their families, go to their parents' funeral, or return to Slovenia, to their homes, after visiting relatives."

Pahor said he wished he could conclude his apology with an assurance that this would never happen again. "The erasure, as well as other events in our vicinity, show us that the rule of law and human rights cannot be taken for granted, that they must be constantly watched over and constantly fought for."

He urged all national and local authorities, as well as civil society institutions that are able to do so within the scope of their tasks and powers, to keep the memory of the erasure and the erased alive, to protect the rule of law and human rights as "our constant and shared concern is that such a thing should never happen again".

He also called on all future governments and all relevant institutions to protect and enable the independence of the judiciary, independent institutions, guardians of democracy, to respect the independence of the media, and to provide space and mechanisms for civil society to function.

Irfan Beširović, head of the Civil Initiative of Erased Activists, said today was a new day for the erased. But he warned that all injustices had not been eliminated yet and that the erased still lived without a proper status in Slovenia.

"Finally, after 30 years of agony, humiliation, we have received an apology from the state," he said, thanking the president.

He believes the apology means a recognition of the erasure and its consequences. "It is not a victory, but for me personally it is a moral victory that we have witnessed it."

24 Feb 2022, 16:50 PM

STA, 24 February 2022 - Slovenia has condemned in the strongest terms the Russian attack on Ukraine, with Prime Minister Janez Janša saying it was unprecedented military aggression against the country and President Borut Pahor calling it a grave violation of international law and UN principles of peaceful resolution of disputes.

"Together with our @NATO and #EU allies we strongly condemn Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine. Russia must immediately withdraw its military and fully respect Ukraine's territorial integrity," Janša said on Twitter on Thursday.

"Introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Respect Obligations from Budapest Memorandum 1994," he wrote in another tweet, adding the hashtag #StandWithUkraine, in what is the Slovenian prime minister's response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was launched today.

Janša later warned that "many nations will now try to develop their own nuclear arsenal" in the light of the events in Ukraine that constitute a violation of the Budapest Memorandum. "The world just crossed to hot hybrid war with unprecedented consequences."

In the afternoon, the Slovenian prime minister spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on the phone.

Janša tweeted that they had discussed "the situation after the Russian aggression, which is aimed at beheading the Ukrainian state and establishing a puppet government."

"But Ukraine is fighting and needs all our help. The battle for Ukraine is a battle for the EU," the prime minister added.

As a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, the country's flag was hoisted on the building housing the Government Palace and the Presidential Palace.

Janša is expected to attend today's emergency EU summit on the Ukraine crisis in Brussels. His flight to Ukraine, which had been announced yesterday before the situation further escalated, has been cancelled, according to the Slovenian Armed Forces.

President Pahor also took to Twitter to "condemn in the most resolute terms the Russian aggression on Ukraine."

He added that it was a "severe violation of international law and the UN principles of peaceful resolution of disputes", and that Slovenia expressed solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine.

In a statement for TV Slovenija, Pahor said that, by recognising two self-proclaimed independent regions in Ukraine, and in particular by launching a military attack on Ukraine, Russia violated international order and undermined European and international security.

He called on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia to immediately terminate the hostile activities, suspend the use of military force and give diplomacy a chance.

"Putin can establish mutual trust only if he immediately stops military operations and give dialogue a chance," Pahor said.

The president expressed the concern that this hostility and aggression could spill over from Ukraine to Moldova and Georgia all they way to the Western Balkans.

Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič also resolutely condemned the attack, writing on Twitter that it was an unlawful, unjustified and reprehensible act. He added that the EU must remain united and make every effort to achieve a ceasefire.

The government meanwhile held a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation in the wake of "Russia's aggression against Ukraine", Janša later announced on Twitter. It also took decisions to confirm the current NATO measures and to activate the required standby services. Janša added that the decisions would be presented to the parliamentary defence and foreign policy committees as soon as possible.

Before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, during Wednesday's United Nations General Assembly debate on the situation in question, Slovenia strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognise the non-government controlled Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and deploy troops in the two regions.

Slovenian diplomat Miha Erman presented Slovenia's opinion on behalf of Slovenian Ambassador to UN Boštjan Malovrh, who chaired the General Assembly session. Erman said that Slovenia endorsed the EU's statement on the matter and welcomed the debate.

"These illegal actions undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and independence and constitute a grave violation of international law and international agreements, including the UN Charter and its main principles, and the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk agreements," Erman said, adding that Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and preserved.

Erman also noted the difficult humanitarian situation and said that Slovenia urged an unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for Ukraine. It is also very concerned about the many victims of landmines on both sides and human rights violations and abuses in Crimea, especially against Tatars, Ukrainians and minorities.

24 Feb 2022, 13:33 PM

STA, 24 February 2022 - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki called for Ukraine's EU accession by 2030 in a letter to the president of the European Council and their EU counterparts in the face of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. They urged prompt and brave decisions in what they termed as "battle for Europe".

In the joint letter to European Council President Charles Michel and leaders of EU countries ahead of the EU summit on the Ukraine crisis they said Ukraine should get the status of a candidate for EU membership as soon as possible and become a member in 2030 after meeting all the conditions.

The EU must be strong and united in the face of Russia's threat, introduce immediate sanctions but also "go much further", reads the letter seen by the STA on Wednesday.

The European Council would need to strategically assess the situation and take brave political decisions, they noted.

"We need to prepare an ambitious and tangible plan for rapid integration of Ukraine into the EU by 2030." The pair believe the same plan is needed also for Georgia, Moldova and Western Balkan countries.

The plan must be specific, with clearly defined steps, timeline and a membership guarantee by 2030 provided that all conditions are met.

The first phase must be a decision on immediate recognition of a European perspective for Ukraine and then Ukraine must obtain the status of an EU candidate country as soon as it requests for membership.

The fact that Ukraine at the moment does not control all of its territory must not be an argument against its EU accession. The EU has already shown how such situations should be tackled, Janša and Morawiecki said.

They did admit though that supporting Ukrainian EU accession would require substantial financial means.

However, this process can only have positive effects, as it would be in line with the EU's fundamental historic mission and its values and principles, while it would also give hope and motivation to Ukrainian people in defending their homeland, sovereignty and democracy.

As regards the effect that such a plan would have on relations with Russia, the two prime ministers stressed that the process of European integration was not directed against anyone and was in no way a threat to Russia.

The EU with new members would remain open to cooperation with the Russian people and if the Russian side agreed, to building the strategic partnership that was once set as a goal.

"It is time for swift and brave decisions. A battle for Europe is under way. History of the last two decades teaches us that if the EU does not expand, someone else does. Now we are paying the price of ignoring this."

The pair said that unless the EU learned from this, the cost of ignorance would only increase in the future.

23 Feb 2022, 14:14 PM

STA, 23 February 2022 - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša will be visiting Ukraine on Thursday and Friday for meetings with his counterpart Denys Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his office has announced.

Janša first announced his upcoming visit to Kyiv after speaking with Shmyhal on the phone earlier this month.

The visit aims for Slovenia to support Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic perspective and to reaffirm Slovenia's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, the PM's office said.

It added that the visit would also be an opportunity to enhance dialogue and deepen relations between the two countries.

"Slovenia supports territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and advocates de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the conflict in the east of the country. It also supports Ukraine's efforts to adopt the standards of Euro-Atlantic integrations, and calls for progress in particular in the fight against corruption, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary," reads the release.

The office noted the positive dynamics in bilateral trade, identifying the potential to enhance cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, digitalisation, energy efficiency and environmental solutions.

Data from the site www.izvoznookno.si, operated by the investment promotion agency SPIRIT, shows the volume of goods trade between Slovenia and Ukraine in the first eleven months of 2021 was close to EUR 283 million, of which EUR 219 million was Slovenia's exports. In the whole of 2020 trade amounted to EUR 260 million.

Almost half of Slovenia's exports to Ukraine last year was pharmaceutical products. The bulk of imports were wood, wooden products and charcoal.

The prime minister's office said the visit would also be an opportunity to review cooperation in development and humanitarian aid. On the occasion Slovenia will deliver material aid to the country.

The government on Monday approved a shipment of EUR 163,000 worth of sleeping bags, rubber boots, diesel generators, gloves and face masks to Ukraine in response to the country's appeal for help.

The situation in the country is tense after Russia on Monday recognised the independence of the self-styled republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country. There are concerns about the possibility of a broader Russian invasion on Ukraine.

Condemning Russia's recognition of the two separatist regions, Janša said the EU should offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Slovenia condemns this illegal move. The EU has to offer Ukraine full membership perspective," Janša said on his Twitter profile in the wake of Russia's move.

Several Western officials visited Kyiv in recent weeks to support Ukraine and a diplomatic solution to the crisis, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The pair have also visited Moscow. Foreign ministers of the Baltic countries are expected in Kyiv on Thursday.

23 Feb 2022, 12:03 PM

STA, 22 February 2022 - The Defence Ministry plans to renovate several military barracks. The costs of renovation of the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana and the General Rudolf Maister Barracks in Maribor have been estimated at EUR 130 million.

The renovation is to improve energy efficiency of the buildings, its functionality and the working conditions.

New logistic capacities of the warehouses are planned along with new workshops and garages and training infrastructure.

The project will be funded under the act on the provision of funds for investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces in the 2021-2026 period, which was passed in 2020. The money will also be secured from EU cohesion funds.

According to director general of the logistics directorate at the ministry, Uroš Korošec, the Ljubljana barracks have not been renovated since the 1970, when they were built.

At the Ljubljana barracks, energy efficiency improvement work and interior renovation will be conducted, three new garages will be built along with new rooms for the command, two additional accommodation facilities, and solar power plants. The sewage system will be renovated.

The project is estimated at some EUR 70 million and the work is to be completed by October 2023.

In Maribor, the renovation of the General Rudolf Maister barracks will include new command and accommodation facilities and the construction of new warehouses, energy facilities and a gym.

The project will cost some EUR 60 million and is to be concluded in 2024 and 2025. The new facilities are to be built in 2025 and 2026.

According to Korošec, works will be simultaneously conducted at the barracks in Bohinjska Bela and Brnik. Recently, the Bač training grounds was renovated for about EUR 4.1 million.

Korošec said the Slovenian army would also have permanent berths at the port in Koper as soon as the third pier is constructed.

23 Feb 2022, 11:11 AM

STA, 22 February 2022 - Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković has taken issue with the ruling Democrats (SDS) noting in a series of posts about its achievements that Ljubljana has been assessed as the safest city in Europe, saying that he does not know what SDS president and PM Janez Janša has to do with it.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, Janković said that he was happy that Janša "finally realised that Ljubljana is the most beautiful city in the world", but that he did not know what Janša had to do with it.

The statement refers to the Slovenian capital being named at the beginning of the month as the best destination in Europe in 2022 as part of the European Best Destinations project.

"This is how travellers from all over the world voted," the Ljubljana Urban Municipality said on its website, noting that as many as 92% of all votes intended for Ljubljana had come from other countries.

On that occasion, the SDS published a picture of the Triple Bridge in Ljubljana on Instagram, accompanied with the visual identity that the party uses on pre-election posters and a slogan.

Under the post, the SDS said: "More than half a million travellers from 182 countries voted for the best and safest European destinations in 2022. Our beautiful Ljubljana is in the first place!"

Janković took exception to this, wondering how the SDS could even imagine taking credit for Ljubljana being declared the safest city.

He noted the role of the ruling party in fencing off the parliament building during anti-government protests and using tear gas and water cannon on people, also in Tivoli Park.

Janković said that "Janša is afraid of the election, as he has no better ideas than copying the ideas of the Ljubljana municipality", in reference to the SDS allegedly appropriating a slogan six years ago.

He noted that when he had taken office as mayor during the first Janša government, Ljubljana had been stripped of EUR 57 million in budget funds a year, or EUR 800 million in the 15 years of his mayorship. "But the election will show the true result."

22 Feb 2022, 16:21 PM

STA, 22 February 2022 - Slovenian members of the European parliament have condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent, which they see as a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and a threat to peace.

"What many of us feared has now happened. This is a violation of international agreements by Putin and a threat to world peace. I therefore condemn Russian aggression," MEP Franc Bogovič (EPP/SLS) wrote on Twitter.

"The violation of the sovereignty of Ukrainian territory will unfortunately shatter the fragile peace seen in Ukraine over the past couple of years," he added as he shared PM Janez Janša's tweet, which also condemned Russia's actions.

MEP Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) also saw the prospect of violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity as unacceptable. "The European Parliament firmly rejects any attempts to weaken or undermine the principles of security in Europe," she tweeted.

MEP Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS) added that the response to what is happening in Ukraine will show "whether the EU is capable of doing more than passing empty resolutions and awarding prizes to Russian dissidents. Time is running out".

Her party colleague Milan Zver noted that Russia "severely violates international law and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and added that the "EU must react in unison and quickly with strict and targeted sanctions against Russia."

In the opinion of MEP Milan Brglez (S&D/SD), "the situation is too serious to point fingers, let alone weapons". The only possible response is for the EU to lead in a decisive manner with the aim of de-escalating the situation and reaffirming the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, he said.

Brglez's party colleague Tanja Fajon also warned that Russia's decision was "a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, a flagrant violation of international law and the Minsk agreements".

A joint response was issued by Klemen Grošelj and Irena Joveva (Renew/LMŠ), who expressed their expectations that the EU will adopt "an appropriate and credible set of joint measures against Russia, including sanctions".

However, they hope that all diplomatic means have not yet been exhausted. "We call on the EU to stand united and to prepare for a long-term solution to the biggest security crisis in Europe since the end of WWII, which will affect us all," they wrote.

The reactions from the European Parliament followed Monday's announcements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recognised Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities and ordered the deployment of the Russian army to the regions "to ensure peace".

22 Feb 2022, 09:42 AM

STA, 22 February 2022 - 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Foreign Ministry condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent entities. Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership. Slovenia is also ready to support the country's membership of the EU.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the Budapest and Minsk agreements. Slovenia condemns this illegal move. The EU has to offer Ukraine full membership perspective," Janša tweeted in the night.

href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minsk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minsk agreements. ?? condemns this illegal move. #EU has to offer ?? a full membership perspective. @ZelenskyyUa @Denys_Shmyhal #StayWithUkraine

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) February 21, 2022

The Foreign Ministry followed up with a tweet strongly condemning the move by Russian President Vladimir Putin and adding: "These hostile measures are flagrant violation of international law & obligations contained in Minsk agreements & will not remain without consequences."

The ministry reiterated Slovenia's "unwavering support" for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. It commended the Ukrainian government's leadership in the face of "this aggression, entirely & unilaterally escalated by Russia".

Meanwhile, a post on the Defence Ministry's Twitter profile said Minister Matej Tonin had a conference call with PM Janša, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek to exchange views on the situation and align Slovenia's position on the crisis.

"Slovenia is willing to support Ukraine's membership of the EU and enhance Slovenian troops' presence in eastern NATO member states," the ministry tweeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the two breakaway regions as independent "people's republics" last night, ordering deployment of Russian troops there to "maintain peace". He also ordered for the Russian Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with the two regions, which are part of Ukraine under international law.

Most of the international community condemned the Russian president's move and the UN Security Council has met to discuss the matter. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the international community to support his country.

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