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This summary is provided by the STA:
SSH supervisors and CEO Žlak agree on early termination of service
LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) and CEO Janez Žlak reached an agreement on early termination of service, the SSH said in a press release. Žlak's term will expire on 31 August, allowing undisturbed operations and decision-making, the press release said. The supervisors thanked Žlak for a job well done and also asked the relevant nomination commission to launch procedures for the appointment of a new CEO. They also reviewed portfolio management results for the first quarter of 2022, which show that the profitability of portfolio was at 3.7%, two percentage points lower than in the same period last year.
Marta Kos Freedom Movement's candidate for president
LJUBLJANA - Marta Kos, vice-president of the Freedom Movement, officially announced her bid for the presidency of the republic. The first of the candidates so far to run with the support of a parliamentary party, Kos said she was "proud to be a representative of the progressive forces that restored people's dignity and hope for the future after two difficult years of backwardness." She said she would be unlike Borut Pahor, the incumbent who eschewed the role of moral authority. Prime Minister Robert Golob said it was time to "change how the office of the president is performed."
Institute of Public Health now in charge of pandemic management
LJUBLJANA - A new advisory group for Covid-19 at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has been formed, a move that Health Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan said meant the management of the pandemic has now been taken over by experts. The group will be headed by Mario Fafangel, the head of the NIJZ centre for communicable diseases, and features health professionals as well as an anthropologist, a communications expert, a mathematician and a sanitary engineer. Unlike during the previous government, the advisory group will work with the Health Ministry and if a ministry decision is different than what the group recommended, this will be clearly communicated, according to Bešič Loredan.
PM and FM affirm Slovenia's commitments to NATO
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon affirmed Slovenia's commitments to NATO ahead of their departure for Madrid where the NATO summit is starting. Holding separate press conferences on various topics, they both confirmed that radical changes in Slovenia's defence and foreign policies were not to be expected. Asked about whether Slovenia will talk the potential withdrawal from the purchase of 45 Boxer APCs, Golob said that "defence matters are not debated in front of the media".
Govt approves NATO accession protocols for Sweden and Finland
LJUBLJANA - The government approved motions for Slovenia to sign the NATO accession protocols of Sweden and Finland. A session of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee was called for Wednesday morning to discuss the two motions, the Government Communications Office said. The approval was given in a correspondence session just as a three-day NATO summit was starting. It is expected that the protocols will be signed there.
EU Commissioner nods to Slovenian MEPs on Austria's border checks
BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson responded on Monday to a public letter from five Slovenian MEPs on Austria's decision to extend controls at the border with Slovenia, according to a document received by the STA. In her reply, she agreed with the EU court that such checks can only be a measure of last resort and should be introduced for a limited period of time. She is determined to assess all options to reinstate an area without border checks among Schengen countries.
Slovenia pleased with Council conclusions on energy
LJUBLJANA - Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer welcomed agreements on general approaches to the directives on renewable energy and energy efficiency that energy ministers reached as part of the Fit for 55 package. "The agreements are a way for the EU to accelerate the achievement of its objectives," he said. "The EU must address challenges united, accelerate decarbonisation and diversification of energy sources in light of the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and respond properly to the energy price hikes," Kumer was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Minister holds online talks with Slovenians in Germany, US
LJUBLJANA - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon held online meetings with representatives of Slovenian associations in Germany and the US. He invited all of them to actively participate in the European Capital of Culture 2025 project and announced regular meetings on a monthly basis. Under the cultural project, which will be co-held by Slovenia and will provide opportunities for business cooperation, the largest gathering of the Slovenian diaspora, minorities and Slovenians who live in their homeland will take place, the minister announced.
Top court rejects Janša appeal against statute-barring of Patria case
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by former PM Janez Janša against the statute barring of the Patria defence deal bribery case. While Janša felt denied a chance to prove his innocence, the top court claims he had no legal interest, as statute barring is fully equivalent to an acquittal, meaning he is considered innocent. Publishing the ruling, Janša said: "After more than 15 years of the Patria saga the caricature of Slovenian rule of law ended with the pronouncement of innocence".
Covid cases surging, hospital numbers remain low
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia continues to record an increase in coronavirus cases as new cases hit a two-month high of 1,222 on Monday, up by more than 44% in a week. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid as their primary condition remains broadly flat, with 30 in hospital this morning, of which eight in intensive care. Mario Fafangel, the head of the centre for communicable diseases at the National Institute of Public Health, said that the situation was "serious and has to be monitored, but it is not as horrible as it may seem."
Men's handball team gets wild card for World Championship
LJUBLJANA - After failing to qualify for the 2023 Men's Handball World Championship, the Slovenian national team will get to play at the tournament hosted by Sweden and Poland after all, courtesy of a special invitation from the International Handball Federation (IHF). The IHF picked Slovenia along with the Netherlands among five European wild card applicants in a decision that is hailed by Slovenian Handball Association head Franjo Bobinac as a major honour.
