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This summary is provided by the STA:
Friday's tests confirm 34 new Sars-CoV-2 cases, highest number since mid-April
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 34 Sars-CoV-2 infections on Friday in what is a doubling of Thursday's figure and a record high after 16 April. There were no new deaths and the number of people in hospital, none of which in intensive care, remained 16. The high number of new cases, discovered in 1,159 tests, comes after the daily figure mostly hovered around 20 in the past two weeks, an exception being a 30 cases spike on 3 July. PM Janez Janša tweeted that Slovenia was at a crossroads and that only consistent honouring of urgent restrictions, quarantine orders and hygiene rules in all circumstances could prevent mass infections, deaths and the collapse of healthcare - as well as a repeat of the lockdown.
Janša indicates border solution with Croatia far away, labels media changes minor
OTOČEC - While saying Croatia's ignoring of the border arbitration decision was not broached on Friday with counterpart Andrej Plenković, PM Janez Janša told TV Slovenija he was a realist and that the two countries would be able to make a step forward here once Croatia has an approximate plan for solving its border issue with other neighbours. Asked whether Slovenia's consent to Croatia's entry into the ERM II mechanism meant Slovenia would not hinder its southern neighbour on this path, Janša said recent history had shown how loud shouting about how the neighbouring country would be blocked etc. never brought any benefit. Also commenting on the proposed changes to media legislation, which include a EUR 13 million cut for public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, Janša said "these are only minor changes" that "should have been done long ago".
Minority organisations express deep gratitude to Pahor, Mattarella over Trieste visit
TRIESTE, Italy - The two umbrella organisations of the Slovenian minority in Italy, the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO) and the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ), welcomed ahead of Monday's return of the National Hall in Trieste to the minority the arrival of President Borut Pahor and Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella to the city. While being a tragic anniversary - 100 years since the home was burnt down by Fascists - Monday will also be a day "allowing us to transition from the perspective of memory to the perspective of the future", the SSO and SKGZ wrote, not joining those criticisng Pahor for also choosing to visit the Foiba of Basovizza monument to honour Italian victims of summary executions.
Foreign Ministry says atrocities like Srebrenica must not be allowed to repeat
LJUBLJANA - Srebrenica needs to stay in our memory as a warning to the international community that such atrocities must never repeat or be permitted again. Denying or relativising these tragic events is unacceptable, the Foreign Ministry wrote to mark the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. President Borut Pahor sent out a video address, in which he urged reconciliation. He history could not change, but the future could. Key for the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina is truth as opposed to denial, respect as opposed to hate, open dialogue as opposed to conflicts.
Janša insists letter to state prosecutor general was permissible and warranted
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša has rejected the claims of the State Prosecutors' Council that he was breaching state prosecutors' sovereignty and independence when protesting with the state prosecutor general about the absence of prosecution targeting anti-government protesters using the slogans and banners calling for "Death to Janšism". Janša disagrees the prosecutors' sovereignty is being encroached upon, arguing state prosecutors need to observe the general instructions on criminal prosecution policy drawn up by the body in charge of this. He is "even less so" convinced by the breach of independence claims, saying the state prosecution is not part of the judicial but of the executive branch of power.
Another mass grave discovered in Kočevski Rog
NOVO MESTO - Cavers exploring the karst caves in the Kočevski Rog woods in south-eastern Slovenia have found what appears to be another mass grave in what is an area containing the remains of several thousand people killed in summary executions after the end of World War II. The chair of the government commission for mass graves Jože Dežman wrote on Saturday that the chasm contains the remains of at least 35 people, while dozens more are expected to be exhumed. The karst chasms in Kočevski Rog contain the remains of thousands of bodies, especially those of members of the nearby Novo Mesto group of the Domobranci anti-communist home-guard who did not manage to escape abroad, Dežman said.
Railways operator to lay off 1,000 staff, CEO urges infrastructure fund
LJUBLJANA - The CEO of railways operator Slovenske Železnice sees a number of challenges ahead for the company after the coronavirus epidemic. The group plans to lay off 1,000 people this year, bringing their total number to 6,000 and is just now introducing new passenger trains into its fleet. He also says Slovenia needs a long-term infrastructure fund. Talking to the STA, Dušan Mes, who started his third term at the helm of the company this spring, said he also wanted to double the profit of the cargo arm, SŽ-Tovorni Promet with the help of a strategic partner.
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