Slovenia fully supports EU efforts on Ukraine
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša expressed "full support for EU efforts for de-escalation" after EU leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine. He lauded the EU's unity on the issue, which he said would make it harder for Russian President Vladimir Putin to play his game. Defence Minister Matej Tonin meanwhile announced Slovenia would help Ukraine with equipment such as mobile kitchens, heated tents and dual-use equipment, but no weapons. In the first phase, Slovenia will donate sleeping bags, boots, diesel generators and gloves in the total value of EUR 62,000.
Slovenia's defence spending still among lowest in NATO
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is still among the NATO countries with the lowest defence spending. It ranks 25th in terms of efforts to have 2% of GDP allocated for defence and 26th when it comes to defence investments, Defence Minister Matej Tonin said after a NATO ministerial. This year, Slovenia will allocate 1.3% of GDP for defence and in 2023 and 2024 this will rise to 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively. As for the goal of having 20% of defence money spent on investment, Slovenia increased the share from 5% to 17% last year. This year, this is to rise to 22%.
Slovenian troops remain in Mali for now
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Matej Tonin said that Slovenian soldiers remain in Mali for now and continue training Mali troops, after France announced its troops would withdraw from the country. Tonin noted that a formal decision on the EU mission there has not yet been adopted yet. He finds it hard to accept that the EU would now leave to give room to the Russian Wagner group. "A few Russian mercenaries should not undermine the EU's efforts in Mali."
Pahor declines call to prevent "political" appointments of diplomats
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor turned down a call by the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) not to sign a decree appointing new ambassadors ahead of the general election. He said that postponement of the appointments as part of regular rotation would be unjustified and harm the country's foreign policy interests in the international community. Pahor said that the appointments were necessary as the terms of the current ambassadors were expiring. The procedure in "not tied to the electoral cycle, which is good."
Slovenia interested in hosting regional OshKosh maintenance base
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Matej Tonin said Slovenia was interested in hosting a regional maintenance base for US-made OshKosh armoured vehicles as he held talks on Thursday with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. Slovenia bought three dozen OshKosh vehicles last year and Tonin noted countries in the Western Balkans were among the buyers as well. Slovenia has the know-how and experience. A regional maintenance centre would also be a good opportunity for the Slovenian economy, he said.
New US Ambassador Harpootlian presents credentials to Pahor
LJUBLJANA - The new US Ambassador to Slovenia Jamie L. Harpootlian presented her credentials to President Borut Pahor after the US Embassy in Ljubljana was headed by the chargé d'affaires for more than a year. "My goal is to be a bridge to work every day to open avenues for working together and strengthening our partnership to support our common vision for peace, prosperity and a healthier planet for all people," the new ambassador was quoted as saying by the US Embassy.
Orban due in Slovenia next week
LJUBLJANA - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is to make an official visit to Slovenia on Monday as part of which he is to meet his counterpart Janez Janša in Lendava, the newspaper Večer and TV Slovenija reported citing unofficial sources. Janša's office has not responded to the STA's question about the visit. Večer says Janša and Orban are due to sign an agreement on economic cooperation. The paper also links the visit to the upcoming elections in both countries.
Covid-19 figures keep improving
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's coronavirus curve keeps falling both in terms of new cases and hospitalisations. A total of 4,542 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday, just over a third of the figure reported a week ago and slightly fewer than the day before. The 14-day notification rate per 100,000 is now below 5,000. The number of patients hospitalised because of Covid-19 fell to 513, of which 108 are in intensive care. Another 14 fatalities were reported among patients who had tested positive for coronavirus.
Call issued to separate politics from corporate governance
LJUBLJANA - The Directors' Association and the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) issued a call to political parties for a social consensus on corporate governance to be reached. They believe the time is right to make commitments to separate politics from the governance of state-owned companies. KPK president Robert Šumi said they wanted to note this was one of the most important issues for the future governance of the state.
Health fund director worried about additional expenses
LJUBLJANA - Tatjana Mlakar, director general of the ZZZS public health insurer, noted the new obligations imposed on the ZZZS do not have long-term financial coverage, expressing her concern in an interview with the STA that this would result in a reduction of rights of insured persons. Under the 2022 financial plan adopted last December, a EUR 149 million shortfall of revenue over expenditure is planned, but given the new permanent financial obligations, the deficit is expected to be even higher.
Cargo-partner launches expansion of Brnik logistics centre
BRNIK - Ground was broken for an expansion of Cargo-partner's logistics centre in Brnik, not far from the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, an investment worth almost EUR 12 million that is slated for completion in November and will create 20-30 new jobs. The expansion will increase warehousing capacity from 25,000 to 39,000 square metres and reflects rapidly increasing volumes and Slovenia's potential in logistics and transport.
Slovenian company building Europe's biggest hemp factory
KOMENDA - Slovenian company PharmaHemp has started building an EUR 11 million facility to produce and process hemp products in Komenda, north of Ljubljana, in what it says will bring together the broadest range of services in the field of hemp in Europe. The 3,320-square metre hemp factory will be "the most modern and technologically-advanced infrastructure for the processing and production of raw materials and products from hemp", the company announced.
Got approves EUR 2m for Rogaška observation tower
LJUBLJANA - The government on Wednesday approved up to EUR 2 million to subsidise the construction of an observation tower in Rogaška Slatina, the community in eastern Slovenia known for centuries for its natural spas. The 106-metre high Crystal Tower, which is to be the tallest such structure in the country, made headlines before being endorsed in the December 2020 referendum. Valued at EUR 3.7 million, the investment is slated for completion in early 2023.
German poet Jan Wagner to receive Pont literary prize
KOPER - German poet Jan Wagner received the Pont Euro-Mediterranean literary prize at a ceremony in Koper that included a presentation of his poetry collection Self-Portrait with a Swarm of Bees. The award is presented by the Science and Research Centre Koper and the publisher Beletrina for literary achievements that "transcend borders and look for bridges between different social groups and cultural and religious communities".
Ferk Saioni 9th in Olympic women's Alpine combined
BEIJING, China - Maruša Ferk Saioni finished 9th in the women's Alpine combined at the Beijing Olympics, the last career Olympic appearance for the 33-year-old. The event saw a double victory of Swiss skiers. The Slovenian was 6th in the downhill part of the competition. Overall, it is the best of her 16 appearances in four Winter Olympic Games.
