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This summary is provided by the STA:
Pahor and Parmelin call for strengthening of ties
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor hosted his Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin for official talks to confirm the friendly relations between the two countries. The presidents agreed that relations could be further strengthened at both international and bilateral levels, in particular in business, research and science. "We have to note that the relations are excellent and, in particular, that Slovenia and the Swiss Confederation trust each other in all aspects, political and business, and that we have proof of this in the past 30 years," Pahor told the press.
Slovenian, Croatian interior ministers discuss easing of border restrictions
PORTOROŽ - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and his Croatian counterpart Davor Božinović discussed strategies to facilitate border crossing between Slovenia and Croatia, for hauliers, tourists and daily commuters. "Both police forces are tasked to come up with a solution as soon as possible, both in Bregana and Gruškovje, to enable a faster flow of trucks crossing the Slovenian-Croatian border," Hojs said. A solution for Slovenian and Croatian daily migrant workers has already been agreed as an additional checkpoint will be opened near Brežice.
Danish-Slovenian actress Jette Ostan Vejrup wins Borštnik Ring
LJUBLJANA - Jette Ostan Vejrup, a Danish-Slovenian actress born in 1962 who is member of the Ljubljana City Theatre, is the winner of this year's Borštnik Ring, Slovenia's top accolade for lifetime achievement in theatre acting. The jury said that Ostan Vejrup's breakthrough into Slovenian theatre has undoubtedly expanded its boundaries. By experiencing Slovenian theatre as a foreigner, she enriched it with new stage experiences, offering Slovenian theatre-goers the possibility of comparison. Ostan Vejrup is due to receive the award on 27 June at the closing ceremony of Maribor Theatre Festival.
New rules for non-EU students in Slovenia raising dust
LJUBLJANA - Under the recent changes to the foreigners' act, non-EU students who want to study in Slovenia must prove to have at least EUR 5,000 per academic year available to obtain a temporary residence permit. Student representatives and universities argue that while being unclear, the new rules are also narrowing down Slovenia's higher education space. So far, foreign students have had to produce a written statement by their parents or legal guardians that they will provide for them during the studies in Slovenia. The government says only the manner in which students prove they have sufficient means has changed.
Coalition proposes regulation of medical equipment prices
LJUBLJANA - The coalition has proposed amendments to the act on public contracting in healthcare under which prices of medical equipment would be regulated with a system of reference prices in a bid to reduce prices and improve transparency. Joined by the opposition National Party (SNS), the coalition proposes the creation of a new government office which would set reference prices for all open calls for medical equipment based on data from Slovenian hospitals and selected EU countries.
Left files complaints against SDS, media, police commissioner
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left filed criminal complaints against the ruling Democrats (SDS) and "its media network" for suspicion of a systemic spread of non-truths, leader of the Left's deputy group Matej T. Vatovec said. The party also pressed charges against Police Commissioner Anton Olaj for suspicion of abuse of office. The charges refer to a forged Left manifesto that prompted the SDS to request a debate about the Left's platform, a motion that was denied by the speaker of parliament.
Intl journalist associations condemn Janša's rebuke to Mijatović
LONDON, UK - Several international journalist organisations condemned Wednesday Prime Minister Janez Janša's tweet that said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović was "part of #fakenews network". This came after her warning about deteriorating media freedom in Slovenia. The organisations agree with her assessment of the situation. Janša responded to the organisations' press release saying that "the manner in which @Dunja_Mijatovic is spreading lies about Slovenia is totally unacceptable".
Ministry says Mladić case verdict key for peace in region
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia sees the upholding of Bosnian-Serb general Ratko Mladić's life sentence as crucial for the survivors as well as family members of the deceased and the missing, the Foreign Ministry said. "Srebrenica remains firmly rooted in the collective memory of the people of ex-Yugoslavia and serves as a reminder to the international community that such atrocities will not remain unpunished. The negation, relativisation or even glorification of these crimes is unacceptable and despicable," says the ministry.
Slovenia and Kiribati establish diplomatic relations
NEW YORK, US - Slovenia and Kiribati have established diplomatic relations to strengthen friendly ties and cooperation based on equal footing and on mutual respect of their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The joint statement to that effect was signed on Tuesday at the Slovenian Mission in New York by the Slovenian and Kiribati ambassadors at the UN, Darja Bavdaž Kuret and Teburoro Tito.
255 infections confirmed as 7-day average continues to drop
LJUBLJANA - A total of 255 new cases of the novel coronavirus were recorded in Slovenia on Tuesday as 3,506 PCR tests were performed, for a positivity rate of 7.1%, down slightly compared to the day before. A total of 188 persons are in Slovenian hospitals for Covid-19, down seven compared to the day before, and 47 of them are in intensive care, four fewer than on Tuesday. One Covid-19 patient died. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was down by 16 to 212.
GEN-I plans investments worth EUR 1bn by 2030
LJUBLJANA - Energy group GEN-I plans investments worth a billion euro until 2030 in new technologies and digitalisation, including the construction of 1,000 MW of new solar power plants. "Decarbonisation of Slovenian energy sector is possible by 2040, without jeopardising the reliability of supply," general manager Robert Golob said. The new solar plants - roughly 20,000 of varying sizes are planned - would account for the realisation of a third of the goals that Slovenia has set for this period.
Slovenia's exports increase by 55.3% in April year-on-year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's exports increased by 55.3% in April compared to the same month last year, when economic activity was curtailed due to the epidemic. Trade with EU member states and the rest of the world increased and, although the situation is not back to normal yet, trade was also higher compared to April 2019. In April, Slovenia's imports were up 69% year-on-year . The total value of exported goods in April amounted to EUR 3.2 billion, while the value of imported goods stood at EUR 3.3 billion. The exports to imports coverage 98.4%.
Wood industry can count on EU funds
LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek has urged increasing the amount of wood Slovenia processes at home, saying this would result in synergies but could not be done overnight or without investment. He announced that the wood industry can count on EUR 67 million from the new EU budget and the recovery and resilience fund. He told the Days of Slovenian Wood the goal was to raise the amount of wood processed in Slovenia from two to three million cubic metres per year.
Report: Adria Airways' air operator's certificate no longer valid
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenia's Civil Aviation Agency has not granted Air Adriatic a request for another extension of a deadline to unfreeze the air operator's certificate (AOC) of bankrupt air carrier Adria Airways, and the AOC is thus not valid any more, the business newspaper Finance reported. Air Adriatic, a company owned by Izet Rastoder, bought Adria Airways' operating licences in January 2020 in an auction at the asking price of EUR 45,000. The most important among the operating licences was the AOC.
Postojna Cave reopens for visitors after more than 230 days
POSTOJNA - The Postojna Cave, one of the main Slovenian natural landmarks, will reopened its door after a 231-day closure, the longest in its history, due to Covid-19 restrictions. "We are opening the door with enthusiasm, though with responsibility," Postojnska Jama, the operator of the cave, has said. The refurbished Hotel Jama will start admitting guests again on 18 June, while Predjama Castle will be reopened at the end of June, as the access path is being reconstructed.
Former Slovenian Olympian arrested in US for bank fraud
NEW YORK, US - Slovenian Luka Klasinc, a 48-year-old former figure skater, has been arrested in the US and charged with bank fraud related to loans meant for small business owners struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Manhattan federal prosecutor Audrey Strauss, Klasinc attempted to secure almost US$1.6 million in loans. The federal prosecutors office charged him with bank fraud and identity fraud for attempting to acquire more than US$1.5 million in loans from the American treasury department to support his company that organises events related to ice sports worldwide.
