STA, 25 May 2021 - The ruling Democrats (SDS) have defended a draft resolution they plan to adopt at the upcoming congress and which warns about the possibility of civil war and leftist extremism, as the opposition stepped up criticism of a document they claim constitutes scaremongering.

"If anyone thinks advocacy of constitutionality and respect for the Slovenian constitution is controversial, there's something wrong with them," Branko Grims, a senior lawmaker for the SDS, told the press on Tuesday.

The SDS wants to preserve the constitutional order, democracy and security in Slovenia, and that is the only clear message of the resolution, he said.

The statement comes after several media leaked a resolution the party plans to adopt at its congress in June and which warns of the dangers of the opposition Left, extremists, leftists and the escalation of tensions. [See more here]

It says that Slovenia has been experiencing street violence perpetrated by extremists who are backed by leftist political forces and often have ties with foreign movements, describing the SDS a party that promotes democracy, the rule of law and high standards to protect human rights.

Grims alleged the Left plans "to drive businessmen into the sea with bayonets", noting that "those who agree with that and tolerate that are driving Slovenia into civil war".

He was referring to a manifesto widely circulated by government supporters on social media that was attributed to the Left but which the Left said was completely fabricated and had nothing to do with the party.

"The Left should prove what is true and what is not true," he said, adding that a Left MP had posted that manifesto on his Facebook page.

Asked whether such resolutions will not end up worsening political tensions, Grims said the political arena was being "heated up by leftists who have gone crazy on the streets of Ljubljana".

The resolution was already condemned yesterday, and the opposition parties stepped up their criticism today.

"The deeper he is in [trouble], the more radical his moves, his latest being scaremongering with civil war," Left leader Luka Mesec said about the SDS leader, Prime Minister Janez Janša.

He sees the resolution as a sign he and the party are afraid of the Left and were trying to demonise it.

"Unfortunately, we're in a country where the prime minister and his party depict a topsy-turvy world, where those of us who are on the front lines defending democracy are becoming perpetrators in the eyes of these people - the people who are actually demolishing institutions."

LMŠ leader Marjan Šarec said the SDS messed up everything and was now resorting to ideology, noting that such manifestos are primarily designed to consolidate the party.

"Talking about the possibility of civil war is utterly abhorrent. We know the situation is not the way they are trying to depict it. The fact is that 75% of the people did not vote for the SDS and the nation is far from split. The majority of the nation disagrees with the current state," he said.

Social Democrat (SD) president Tanja Fajon described the resolution as "absurd, dangerous and worrisome, because it does not warn against civil war, it is menacing".

"Janša is indicating a very dangerous course for the country's future ... he's putting himself above the Constitution," according to Fajon.

SAB leader Alenka Bratušek said her party could not believe that the SDS "can really be so crazy". The party is convinced this is a diversionary tactic to divert attention from the "disastrous state of public finances, public health and foreign policy".

SDS warns about leftists, extremists in draft manifesto

STA, 24 May 2021 - The ruling Democrats (SDS) warns of the dangers of the opposition Left, extremists, leftists and the escalation of circumstances in one of the five draft manifestos sent to its local branches ahead of the party congress, which is expected to be held on 19 June.

The SDS sent the drafts to the party's municipal and city committees, including a draft resolution titled For Defence of Constitutional Foundations of the Slovenian State, the news portal 24ur.com reported.

The draft warns of the above-mentioned dangers, pointing to an attack on Slovenia's democracy. It says that Slovenia has been experiencing street violence perpetrated by extremists who are backed by leftist political forces and often have ties with foreign movements.

The proposed manifesto analyses the political situation in Slovenia, describing the SDS as the only Slovenian party with everything in order and long-term political organisations in place. The party finds these to be the attributes of other serious parties worldwide.

What also sets the SDS apart from other Slovenian parties is the fact that it is capable of leading the country at any time, the draft reads.

There are too many impromptu parties in Slovenia, while the traditional ones are dying out, the SDS thinks. As the launch of new parties and new faces is mainly common for the left pole of the political spectrum, there are many cases of completely incompetent appointments at the governmental level with grave consequences, says the party.

The SDS meanwhile sees itself as a party that promotes democracy, the rule of law and high standards to protect human rights.

The party says that Slovenian democracy has not matured, noting that the situation has been worsening since the "extremist political party Left" made it to parliament in 2014.

According to the SDS, the Left's programme is the first by any party or movement that is directly at odds with the Constitution.

Moreover, the SDS says that the extremists' supporters could be found in EU institutions as well, particularly the European Commission and European Parliament, where they "plot against the [Slovenian] government and prime minister and accuse him of curtailing media freedom".

Noting that it will safeguard democracy and the Constitution, the party warns of the risk of the escalation in the polarisation, including the risk of a civil war.

Responding to the draft, the Left said that the SDS was again painting a picture that had nothing to do with reality.

"While they themselves with their government are bringing down the media, democratic institutions and courts, they portray themselves as democrats in the manifesto, as a party that would defend democracy. But facts speak for themselves," says the Left, warning that Slovenia is turning into an authoritarian regime.

"To depict themselves as saviours they naturally need scapegoats. That is why they pointed to the Left in the manifesto," the Left adds, describing itself as a thorn in the SDS's side that is not afraid of the ruling party's intimidation and manipulation and will do all it can to unseat this party, "which is growing into a criminal organisation", via an election as soon as possible.

Tanja Fajon, the leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SD), has also responded, saying that "the SDS is not cautioning against a civil war, but threatening with it to legitimatise in advance repression against those who think differently".

"There is only one option: peace. There is only one strategy: cooperation. There is only one solution for Slovenia: early election," she said.

STA, 25 May 2021 - Slovenia's vaccination centres are receiving fewer anti-Covid vaccines this week than they have ordered because there are not enough at the moment, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has told the STA. This is because supplies by producers other than Pfizer are still rather unreliable.

Slovenia is not ordering vaccines directly from individual producers, but through a joint EU public procurement mechanism.

Once the vaccines are in the country, NIJZ distributes them equally among all vaccination centres based on vaccination priority groups.

This week, vaccination centres will receive all the ordered vaccines for second jabs.

They will moreover receive 70% of the ordered mRNA vaccines, that is by Pfizer or Moderna, which are intended for first jabs of six priority groups. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine supplies are even scarcer, so the centres will receive only 20% of what they have ordered.

NIJZ provided the explanation to the STA yesterday after local community health centres in Ljubljana, Maribor and Koper said they had received much fewer vaccines than ordered for this week.

The Ljubljana vaccination centre received only a third of the amount it had ordered, while the Maribor vaccination centre received around 50%.

Simona Repar Bornšek from the Ljubljana Community Health Centre said they had ordered some 12,000 jabs for this week, but received only 35%, so they will vaccinate only those waiting for their second jab.

"We are some 8,000 shots short, for around three vaccination days," she explained on Tuesday, adding that "things are changing on a weekly basis, so I don't know if we should at all invite people to vaccination if we don't have the vaccines".

STA, 24 May 2021 - Senior Slovenian officials have condemned actions by Belarus after a Rynair flight was forced to land in Minsk. Prime Minister Janez Janša voiced support for sanctions, while President Borut Pahor and the Foreign Ministry called for an independent investigation.

Janša wrote on Twitter on Monday that he supported a proposal by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for an expansion of the agenda of today's summit of EU leaders. "Sanctions have to include everything the #Lukashenko #regime is using to legitimize itself. Sports events included."

We support a proposal of @MorawieckiM for #EUCO agenda to be expanded. Sanctions have to include everything the #Lukashenko #regime is using to legitimize itself. Sports events included. @Tsihanouskaya @franakviacorka https://t.co/Syv0cn7yQu pic.twitter.com/2tQK2CVZMa

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) May 24, 2021

Predsednik Republike Slovenije Borut Pahor obsoja ravnanje beloruskih oblasti in se zavema za neodvisno preiskavo dogodka.

(Foto: Beloruska opozicijska voditeljica Svetlana Tihanovska pri predsedniku Pahorju 4. maja 2021). pic.twitter.com/21P8FBajNC

— Borut Pahor (@BorutPahor) May 24, 2021

Pahor tweeted that he "condemns the conduct of the Belarusian authorities" and was in favour of "an independent investigation of the event."

The Foreign Ministry said on Twitter yesterday that the conduct by the Belarusian authorities was "absolutely unacceptable." "Slovenia calls for the immediate release of all passengers and independent intl investigation," it said.

Today #Belarus forcefully landed @Ryanair plane in #Minsk and imprisoned Roman #Protasevich, journalist, activist & close associate of @Tsihanouskaya. This is absolutely unacceptable. Slovenia calls for the immediate release of all passengers and independent intl investigation.

— SLOVENIAN MFA (@MZZRS) May 23, 2021

Speaking for the Kanal A commercial TV channel on Monday, Foreign Minister Anže Logar labelled the incident as state terrorism, as it violated practically all international customs and norms.

According to him, the EU must send a very resolute message that it would not tolerate something like this, including by increasing sanctions and considering closing air traffic above Belarus and preventing Belarusian aircraft from landing in the EU.

The international community must also ensure safety of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and all persons who strive for democratic processes in Belarus, Logar added.

In the wake of the diversion of a Lithuania-bound flight to Minsk and detention of one of its passengers, opposition activist and reporter Roman Protasevich, the Association of Slovenian Journalists (DNS) also condemned what it sees as unacceptable actions by the Belarusian authorities.

The association called for the release of the reporter and his girlfriend as well as the release of 28 other journalists and media workers who are currently in detention in Belarus.

According to data by the European Federation of Journalists, the number of detained reporters in Belarus has almost doubled in only a few days, the DNS warned, urging concrete measures by the EU to respond to the alarming developments.

STA, 21 May 2021 - Friday's anti-government protesters gave the government a week to resign or face a massive "uprising" to push for an early election next Friday. The ultimatum was issued as the latest weekly cycling protest coincided with an event staged by a movement for the Slovenian Palestinian community with many of the protesters waving Palestinian flags.

According to a report by the news portal www.rtvslo.si, the protest, converging on the square in front of the parliament building, drew a crowd of a few hundred by unofficial estimates.

The protesters announced that unless the government resigned, the protest on 28 May would be even more massive than the one staged on 27 April, which by police estimates was attended some 10,000 people.

"It's time for an early election! It's time to stop that train speeding into an abyss even before we start presiding the EU," reads the call issued by the group calling to today's protest.

They announced the protest next Friday would feature cycling protesters, trade unions, students, pensioners, young people, people from the academic and cultural spheres, environmental NGOs, marginalised groups, musicians and artists.

The protest merged with an event at which Palestinians shared their stories, calling for freedom for Palestine and condemning actions by Israel as "genocide". The protesters also protested against the Israeli flag being raised on the Slovenian government building.

Access to the government building was blocked by the police. There were also pushing and altercation between the protesters and the police and some protesters, mainly Palestinians, were apprehended.

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, 14 May
        LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced a new concept of basic training for the Slovenian Armed Forces, designed as a single entry point for those interested in either voluntary or professional service. For the whole 13 weeks of training, recruits will get a pay of roughly EUR 3,200.
        LJUBLJANA - Trade union confederations said they had decided to leave the Economic and Social Council (ESS) because the government had practically abolished social dialogue and thus deprived them of the seats at the negotiating table. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj regretted the decision.
        LJUBLJANA - An Israeli flag was hoisted along the Slovenian and EU flags on the Slovenian government building as an expression of solidarity with Israel, with the government "condemning the terrorist attacks and standing by Israel." President Borut Pahor and parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič expressed disagreement, and move was also criticised by the Palestinian ambassador to Slovenia and the Muslim Community of Slovenia.
        LJUBLJANA - Boštjan Vasle, the governor of Slovenia's central bank, said in an interview with the STA he thinks the key challenge of the post-Covid recovery will be to get the timing of the end of extraordinary monetary policy measures right. "We have to be mindful not to withdraw [the measures] too quickly."
        LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said Slovenia thought it was essential that the EU digital green certificate, which is designed to facilitate cross-border travel, be implemented by 1 July. If that does not happen, member states will be forced to resort to national solutions.
        LJUBLJANA - Economist Mojmir Mrak criticised for Mladina the content and the drawing up of the national recovery and resilience plan. He feels that the measures are not sufficiently oriented towards development and productivity, and that the government showed distrust towards experts and public in the process.
        POLJČE - A memorial plaque was unveiled marking a key meeting in May 1991 that set the guidelines for Slovenia's defence in the independence war that followed in June. PM Janez Janša said at the ceremony that all those at the meeting knew Slovenia declaring independence would result in a clash with the Yugoslav People's Army.
        LJUBLJANA - FM Anže Logar met his Andorran counterpart Maria Ubach Font, with the pair agreeing that the cooperation between Slovenia and Andorra could be enhanced in agriculture and high-tech as the areas with the most potential.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed amendments to the act on communicable diseases that bring fines of between EUR 400 and EUR 4,000 for those who ignore orders to quarantine. Police may issue quarantine orders on arrival in the country.
        
SATURDAY, 15 May
        IG - Slovenian Armed Forces Day was marked at a ceremony remembering the day 30 years ago when Slovenian conscripts started serving exclusively in Slovenia, with President Borut Pahor, the commander-in-chief, praising the army as a military pillar of national security. The event was attended by PM Janez Janša, Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Maj-Gen Robert Glavaš, chief of the general staff.
        LJUBLJANA - Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said in an interview with the newspaper Dnevnik that the European Commission was worried about the situation in Slovenia, chiefly about media freedom, noting that Brussels had never before treated Slovenia as a problematic member as it did now.
        LJUBLJANA - Media reported that several small radio stations with special status, as well as the newspapers Delo and Dnevnik, had lost the state's financial support provided under the Culture Ministry's annual co-funding scheme. Especially for the small radio stations this is bound to cause serious financial problems.
        LJUBLJANA - Certain easing of coronavirus restrictions kicked in, with up to 50 persons being allowed to gather for organised public events and rallies. Quarantine can be again short-stopped after five days in case of a negative PCR test.

SUNDAY, 16 May
        SAN FLORIANO DEL COLLIO - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch visited the Slovenian community in Italy's San Floriano del Collio, with locals assuring the government representative that "as proud Slovenians, they are not letting go of the Slovenian language and culture." As part of the visit in the Province of Gorizia, Jaklitsch met Mayor Franca Padovan and representatives of the local cultural associations.
        LUČE - PM Janez Janša was honoured by the Skala mountaineering club for his contribution to the promotion of the club's values and goals. The association said Janša had received the Kocbek Prize for his "visionary and selfless work, as well as his numerous initiatives and exemplary persistence on the way to establishing the club Skala".

MONDAY, 17 May
        BRDO PRI KRANJU - President Borut Pahor hosted a summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process featuring his counterparts from Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia and the presiding trio of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Marking the 10th anniversary of the initiative, the summit adopted the Brdo Declaration in which the leaders reaffirm their commitment to EU enlargement, and urge the EU to speed up the process to include the whole region in the bloc.
        LJUBLJANA/BERLIN, Germany - Prime Minister Janez Janša held a videoconference call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and vaccination. The pair also talked about Slovenia's EU presidency priorities, the Conference on the Future of Europe and the Western Balkans.
        LJUBLJANA - In an unprecedented event, the National Assembly failed to endorse the agenda proposed for the May plenary session, including a vote on the motion to impeach PM Janez Janša and on the proposal to dismiss Igor Zorčič as the speaker, with 42 MPs voting in favour and 42 against. In response, the centre-left coalition filed for a session to discuss impeachment, while the coalition requested a session to vote on most other items on the agenda, except for the vote on Zorčič and opposition bills. Both will be held next week.
        LJUBLJANA - Further easing of anti-coronavirus restrictions kicked in, as all secondary school and university students returned to in-person schooling, a limited number of spectators is permitted at sports events and opening hours for hospitality establishments were extended to 5am-10pm.
        LJUBLJANA - The college of deputy groups confirmed a new breakdown of seats in the working bodies of the National Assembly to assign seats in a total of 12 bodies to the four unaffiliated MPs. The centre-left opposition later continued to insist that the new breakdown did not reflect the actual balance of power between the coalition and opposition, noting the opposition was still eight seats short.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs took part in a session of the Schengen Forum, saying that Slovenia as the presiding country of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2021 would make an effort to strengthen the Schengen Area.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Parliament confirmed that Slovenia had cancelled a Slovenian art show that had been scheduled to be held in Brussels during Slovenia's EU presidency. Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said the decision was his because he had not been informed of the details in time.
        LJUBLJANA - The latest Vox Populi poll showed that the support for the Janez Janša government hit its lowest point so far as 70.2% said they thought the government was not doing its job well. Meanwhile, the ruling Democrats (SDS) remained in the lead at 18%, followed by the opposition SocDems, at 13%.
        LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services (KNOVS) announced it would file a criminal complaint against former PM Marjan Šarec, his ex-aide Damir Črnčec and former head of the SOVA intelligence agency Rajko Kozmelj on suspicion of abuse of office in hiring Šarec's acquaintance at SOVA.
        LJUBLJANA - The tourism company Sava Turizem said it generated last year EUR 55.2 million in sales revenue, which is 47% less than in the year before. It generated more than a quarter of the revenue from tourism vouchers.
        LJUBLJANA - The average gross pay in March was EUR 2,010, up 3.3% nominally and 3% in real terms compared to February. The average net pay for March was EUR 1,291, which was 3% higher nominally and 2.7% higher in real terms, the Statistics Office said.
        
TUESDAY, 18 May
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - FM Anže Logar called for EU unity and active engagement towards finding a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as he took part in a session of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council. A political solution based on negotiations is the only way to achieve just and lasting peace based on the two-state principle, he added.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak announced that a demanding legislative package to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and biodiversity will be at the core of Slovenia's EU presidency priorities in the field of environment in the second half of 2021.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec presented the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU presidency to her EU counterparts, saying Slovenia would strive for the young to be heard, for everyone to obtain quality education and for the European model of sports.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti met Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture and Youth Mariya Gabriel to present the relevant priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency. The innovative potential of culture and the competitiveness of European culture will be at the forefront, he said.
        LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar announced that student self-testing will be launched next Monday, but only for some secondary school students for now. Others, including older primary school pupils, could start taking swabs a week later or as soon as possible.
        LJUBLJANA - The trade union representing professional firefighters announced it was preparing for a strike after its calls for implementing the 2018 strike-averting agreement had been completely ignored by the government. The Defence Ministry said it intended to resume the negotiations as soon as possible.
        LJUBLJANA - The Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy, an NGO offering legal support to individuals and organisations that find themselves in legal proceedings because of their non-violent public activity, filed a criminal complaint against the head of the Government Communication Office (UKOM) over suspension of funding to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).
        LJUBLJANA - The government approved the Chinese-owned group Hisense Europe Electronics EUR 1 million in non-refundable funds for its TV production plant at the existing Gorenje operation in Velenje. "The project crucially contributes to regional development through creation of new and preservation of existing jobs," the government said.
        LJUBLJANA - The insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav reported a group net profit increase of 18% in the first quarter to EUR 26.6 million as gross written revenue increased by 7% over the year before to almost EUR 372 million. Gross claims paid amounted to EUR 171.3 million, down by 4% year-on-year, the company said in an earnings release.
        ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Slovenia's entry to the 2021 Eurovision song contest, a power ballad by Ana Soklič entitled Amen, failed to make it to the competition's final. Soklič was chosen to represent Slovenia this year as she did not get the chance to do that in 2020.
        .
WEDNESDAY, 19 May
        BERLIN, Germany - German FM Heiko Maas pledged Germany's support to Slovenia during the latter's presidency of the Council of the EU ahead of his meeting with Slovenia's Anže Logar. He highlighted the importance of the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans and the rule of law, while Logar said Slovenia would propose regular EU summits with Western Balkan countries.
        BELGRADE, Serbia - Migration in the Western Balkans, security and police cooperation topped the agenda as Interior Minister Aleš Hojs met his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vulin. The pair agreed that the key challenges were mainly the inability to return migrants to their countries of origin or transit countries, and abuses of the asylum system.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - After meeting European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee chair David McAllister and heads of political groups in the European Parliament, FM Anže Logar was critical of some Slovenian MEPs for what he described as "attempts to put Slovenia in a pillory", including in relation to the issues of media freedom or STA funding.
        LJUBLJANA - A civil initiative opposing the latest amendments to the waters act submitted almost 48,500 signatures in support of its initiative to hold a referendum on the law, which was passed at the end of March. The National Assembly must now meet to formally call a referendum in seven days.
        CERKLJE OB KRKI - The first stage of modernisation of the Cerklje ob Krki air base has been completed. Worth EUR 72.5 million, of which NATO contributed EUR 41 million, the project involved the construction of a control tower, apron and a helipad, and installation of an instrument landing system, lighting system and navigation and meteorological equipment.
        LJUBLJANA - Marta Grgič Vitek, the national vaccination coordinator, said that a quarter of residents at the minimum have had one dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 in all Slovenia's regions. In some regions the share is nearing 30%.
        LJUBLJANA - Doctors from a group called zdravstvo.si left a Health Ministry task force in charge of amending public procurement procedures in healthcare because their proposal to eliminate price anomalies in procurement of medical devices has not been welcomed.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenian banks posted a cumulative profit after tax of EUR 95 million for the first quarter, up 61% over the same period last year. Pre-tax profit rose by half to almost EUR 105 million, show central bank data.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's 22-year-old cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar confirmed he will be able to race at the Tour of Slovenia, which will take place from 9 to 13 June, as he prepares to defend his 2020 title in the Tour de France.
        
THURSDAY, 20 May
        BRDO PRI KRANJU - PM Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor argued for making discussion within the Conference on the Future of Europe as inclusive as possible, as they addressed an opening debate on the topic. The same view was aired by some other participants, who advocated for pluralism in the bloc.
        LJUBLJANA - Following the government's decision to withdraw Slovenia's troops deployed in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, the six Slovenian soldiers returned home via Italy, the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) said. Their return marks the end of Slovenia's mission in Afghanistan.
        POSTOJNA - Prime Minister Janez Janša and Defence Minister Matej Tonin visited the SAF main training grounds in Poček to take a look at the Slovenian part of the ongoing all-European military exercise Defender Europe 2021. Also reviewing the exercise led by the US forces was NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod D. Wolters.
        BRESTANICA - A Eurocopter Tiger helicopter of the Spanish Armed Forces hit an overhead power line during the military exercise Adriatic Strike, the SAF said. The helicopter had to make an emergency landing. Nobody was injured. The cause of the incident has not been established yet, the Defence Ministry said.
        BERLIN, Germany - FM Anže Logar concluded a two-day working visit to Germany by meeting representatives of the German parliament. He presented Slovenia's EU presidency priorities and the European perspective for the Western Balkans to the president of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble, the ministry said.
        LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar called for coordination of measures to form guidance for travel and crossing the borders within the EU, as he addressed a virtual informal meeting of EU health ministers. He also urged a fair global distribution of vaccines against Covid-19.
        NOVO MESTO - Drug maker Krka, which had a record 2020, saw group revenue decline by 14% in the first quarter of this year to EUR 395.8 million. Net profit rose by 1% to a record EUR 86.4 million. CEO Jože Colarič described the Q1 performance as "successful and according to our expectations".
        LJUBLJANA - Insurance group Sava saw group net profit rise by 128% in the first quarter to EUR 23.5 million, mostly as a result of past takeovers and positive operations in all of its segments. The profit represents over 44% of the target for the year.

STA, 21 May - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigators paid a visit to the media company Dnevnik on Thursday, the daily Dnevnik has reported. They made inquiries into Dnevnik's advertising, particularly in regard to an advert deal with the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

The investigators mainly inquired about Dnevnik's business deals with the STA - they wanted to know who is in charge of signing the deals and why deals with business partners are considered confidential or trade secrets, the daily said.

They quizzed Nives Roš, the head of advertising at Dnevnik, about the situation. Dnevnik editor-in-chief Miran Lesjak told the STA that the police had been initially interested in Dnevnik's advertising policy in general.

What followed were questions that focused on the company's business relationship with the STA - what were the circumstances that had led to this relationship, who was involved in writing the contract and why it is treated as confidential.

Lesjak said that Roš had explained to the investigators that all Dnevnik's advertising contracts were labelled confidential to protect trade secrets in the competitive media environment.

She also told the police everything she knew about the deal with the STA. Roš was not involved in writing the contract as the deal was signed years ago.

The police announced they would request access to relevant documentation, Lesjak said, noting that the deal with the STA was a common business practice. The police already have access to the contract, he highlighted.

Lesjak thus finds it hard to see the visit as anything but a way of exerting pressure on the media, in this case the STA and Dnevnik. The background of the story is clear - the police simply act according to instructions given by the government regarding the STA, he said.

Based on a report from the Government Communication Office, the government on 18 March tasked the Interior Ministry to examine whether the violations alleged therein contained elements of suspected criminal acts prosecutable ex officio and to act accordingly.

The ministry was also tasked to examine whether the STA supervisory board might have violated the companies act.

Moreover, the government proposed for the STA supervisory board to dismiss STA director Bojan Veselinovič, alleging violations in the fulfilment of the agency's legal obligations, which Veselinovič denies.

Ljubljana police investigators visited Mladen Terčelj, the chairman of the STA supervisory board, in mid-April in response to reports of alleged violations pertaining to the STA.

The government also called on the labour inspectorate in March to examine the agency and review its operations. Labour inspectors have found no infringements with respect to the employment relationships act or safety at work, including in response to the Covid-19 epidemic. They have issued a warning over a minor issue that has been tackled, the STA management said on Thursday.

STA, 20 May 2021 - After a decade-long investigation, corruption trial will start in the case of a EUR 1.4 billion generator project at the Šoštanj coal-fired power station TEŠ. Twelve individuals and two legal entities face charges on multiple counts. The arraignment is scheduled for Friday.

The defendants in the case face 24 counts in the indictment for irregularities in the construction of unit six at the TEŠ plant, known as TEŠ6. The alleged wrongdoings include abuse of office or breach of trust in business, money laundering and aiding and abetting.

On Friday, the first pre-trial hearing will be held in the Celje District Court, whereas the second is expected on 15 June.

Investigators started their inquiries in the case in 2010 with first house searches conducted in June 2012. A criminal complaint was filed in October 2014.

A month later, the prosecution filed a motion with the Celje District Court to launch an investigation against ten suspects, including Uroš Rotnik, who served as TEŠ director between 2003 and 2010, a period when the decision to build the new, 600-megawatt generator was made.

It then took years for a decision to open the investigation to be issued. Moreover, the decision only became final in 2018 when the appeals of the accused were rejected.

The investigators unearthed an alleged bribery scheme that caused damages exceeding EUR 250 million. The price tag of the TEŠ6 project had escalated to EUR 1.41 billion allegedly due to poor management, even though the initial estimate was EUR 650 million.

The indictment is one of the longest in Slovenia's history, numbering 1,332 pages and 43,000 attachments. The defendants face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

The indictment was served on all the accused in the case last year after months of delays and attempts to deliver the document to all of them, twelve Slovenian and foreign individuals, a Slovenian legal entity and a foreign legal entity.

The prosecutors brought the indictment against Rotnik, the key suspect, as well as Bojan Brešar, the former head of the TEŠ6 project, lobbyist Peter Kotar and his consulting firm Sol Intercontinental, Boštjan Kotar, director of CEE, the company that drew up the TEŠ6 main call to tender, and TEŠ employees Jože Dermol, Darko Weiss and Miran Leban.

Among those charged are also Frank Lehmann, former power plant sales manager at the Alstom Power group, Josef Reisel, former Alstom Austria executive director, financial expert Bogdan Pušnik, who allegedly helped Rotnik hide the origin of his assets, tax adviser Darko Končan and French multinational Alstom Power that is now part of the US corporation General Electric.

Rotnik allegedly made sure that Alstom bagged unlawful financial gains worth more than EUR 284 million. According to unofficial information, the former TEŠ chief executive had EUR 14 million in assets in 2013, which he had to account for with the Financial Administration. He is also said to have received EUR 870,000 in commissions at the minimum.

Rotnik was arrested in November 2014 together with Pušnik, the former head of the Medvešek Pušnik brokerage, on suspicion of a money laundering scheme as the pair allegedly made bogus loan contracts. Contrary to Pušnik, he was detained, but left the detention in December 2014 when the Supreme Court ruled that the decision on detention was unlawful.

In June 2015 Rotnik was again interrogated by the court on alleged wrongdoings not merely in the construction of TEŠ6 but also regarding units 4 and 5.

In 2016, he was also subjected to a parliamentary inquiry that sought to establish the political responsibility for the TE6Š fiasco. He told the inquiry that the project was transparent and had the green light of relevant decision makers in the country.

State Prosecutor General Drago Šketa said in May 2020 that the indictment comprised three parts. The first alleges irregularities in terms of the technological equipment of unit 6 worth EUR 250 million, the second deals with allegations about reconstructing the unit five boiler and the third focuses on the systemic equipment for units 4 and 5 worth EUR 280,000.

Šketa said that the prosecution completed the indictment a year after the investigation was finished. The investigation had been beset with delays as the pace of the proceedings at the Celje District Court had been too slow, he noted.

Former Justice Minister Goran Klemenčič had ordered the Celje Higher Court to compile a report due to the delays in the case. The findings blamed the district court rather than the police or the prosecution for the situation.

As key reasons for the delays the report cites absences of investigating judges due to sick leave, hearings of "questionable applicability", the fact that judges were overloaded with other less pressing cases, failure to ask for international legal aid and delays in response to appeals for urgency.

The TEŠ case, one of the longest-running criminal cases in Slovenia, becomes statute-barred in 2030.

STA, 19 May 2021 - A civil initiative opposing the latest changes to the waters act has submitted almost 50,000 signatures in support of its initiative to hold a referendum on the law, which was passed at the end of March. The National Assembly must now meet to formally call a referendum in seven days.

The opponents associated in the Drinking Water Movement criticise the law for prioritising private capital at the expense of people's health and water ecosystems.

Their representatives said on Wednesday that they had managed to collect almost 48,500 signatures before the 24 May deadline, while 40,000 would suffice.

The changes to the waters law were fast-tracked through parliament despite strong opposition from environmentalists and experts.

While the government says the changes to Article 37 narrow the possibilities for construction on the coast and river banks, the opponents claim the opposite.

Miha Stegel from the Danes civil initiative said today the changes were harmful because they facilitated mass construction of simple buildings on the coast.

The law also expands funds for maintenance of bodies of water from the state budget to also include money from the Water Fund, which Strgel also questioned.

"Cleaning rivers is currently funded from the state budget, the Water Fund is meanwhile meant for research and for ensuring drinking water," he said.

Responding to the delivery of signatures, the Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry said in a written statement that "the signatories were unfortunately misled".

They in fact gave their signatures to oppose drinking water protection, better flood safety and stricter conditions for construction in the mentioned areas.

It pointed out that the changes narrow construction options by eliminating the option of reducing the coastal area from 15 to zero metres.

This means the new law only allows construction of infrastructure that is deemed public good, such as recreation facilities or children's playgrounds.

What is more, such infrastructure can be built only if allowed by individual municipal spacial plans, the ministry said, adding there were several other safety measures to prevent a potentially harmful impact on waters.

The ministry had earlier said that by pooling money from the Water Fund, the funds for the maintenance of bodies of water will increase by EUR 17 million to around EUR 25 million this year.

Once the referendum is formally called, it must be held between 30 days and one year after being called.

The referendum proponents expect the campaign to be tough, said Uroš Macerl from Eko Krog.

"We expect many attempts to make citizens quarrel, divide them among ours and yours, left and right, red and white ... but I'm convinced citizens will prove we understand what a democracy means and what water means. This referendum will be a test of the citizens' maturity."

The new law will be rejected if a majority of those going to the polls vote against it, yet only if at least 20% of Slovenia's voters go to the polls.

STA, 18 May 2021 - The Muslim Community of Slovenia, one of the two organisations representing Muslims in the country, has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Janez Janša in which it describes the flying of the Israeli flag on the Slovenian government building as an "abuse of power" and support for "Israel's genocidal policy."

V znak solidarnosti z ?? na stavbi vlade poleg slovenske in evropske tudi izraelska zastava. Obsojamo teroristične napade in stojimo ob strani Izraelu. pic.twitter.com/glF3LMi2wt

— Vlada Republike Slovenije (@vladaRS) May 14, 2021

"The government has raised the flag of an occupying power in the name of its ideology, not in our name," the letter says, adding that support for Israel is even more worrying at a time when "the Israeli authorities are pursuing a policy of genocide and apartheid".

The Muslim Community believes that "Hamas has only a potential desire to destroy Israel", while on the other hand the Israeli state "is actually destroying the people and the society of Palestine".

Janša was reminded that the instigating moment of the latest events in the Middle East was Israeli forces storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third most important in the Muslim world, at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, an "unprecedented violation of basic human rights" in recent history.

The letter asked the prime minister "how he would have felt if the police broke into a cathedral where he and his family were peacefully attending a Christian religious ceremony".

"Do you really have such an insensitive attitude towards victims and do you not care how 50,000 Muslims in Slovenia feel?" added the letter signed by Muhamed Čerkez, the president of the committee of the Muslim Community of Slovenia.

The organisation is the smaller of the two Islamic religious organisations in Slovenia. It was established in 2006 after a split in the Islamic Community in the Republic of Slovenia.

"Our community believes that international conflicts must be resolved peacefully and non-violently. Both Jews and Palestinians have a right to exist. But above all, truth must have the right to exist," concluded the letter.

Izrael so tako kot ?? na sam dan razglasitve neodvisnosti leta 1948 napadle sosednje države. In nato še 3x. Tudi letos je #Hamas napadel prvi, raketiral civilne cilje v ?? in se ob tem skrival za lastnimi civilisti. Muslimanska skupnost s podporo teroristom dela veliko napako. https://t.co/5jlaeNYXfk

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) May 18, 2021

Prime Minister Janša responded on Twitter by saying that the Muslim community was making "a big mistake by supporting terrorists".

He said Israel had been attacked by neighbouring countries when it declared independence in 1948 and three more times after that. "This year as well #Hamas attacked first, shelling civilian targets in [Israel] while hiding behind its own civilians."

The Israeli flag was raised on the government building in Ljubljana last Friday as a sign of solidarity with Israel. The move came amid the worst conflict in the Middle East in seven years.

The Palestinian ambassador to Slovenia, Salahem Abdel Shafi, condemned the displaying of the Israeli flag. He told the daily Dnevnik that it was an outrageous and very worrying act and a display of one-sided, even racist politics.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador Eyal Sela said that Israel has the duty to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks as much as any other country.

STA, 17 May 2021 - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs took part in a virtual session of the Schengen Forum on Monday, saying that Slovenia as the presiding country of the EU Council in the second part of the year would make an effort for strengthening the Schengen Area.

The Schengen Forum is a platform with which the European Commission wants to deepen the political and strategic debate ahead of the presentation of a strategy on the future of the Schengen Area, scheduled for the beginning of June.

The participants of the second meeting of the forum discussed the best possible ways for undisrupted functioning of the Schengen Area while maintaining and further enhancing its security component, the Slovenian Interior Ministry said.

It added that the main tools for that were timely and effective implementation of the existing legal obligations on the one hand, and implementation of new technologies and innovation on the other.

Hojs welcomed the continuation of the debate and noted that effective and enhanced functioning of the Schengen Area would be one of the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency.

"We support the European Commission in its efforts to establish a better functioning Schengen system, which would be responsive to possible challenges and crisis situations," he added.

The introduction of new systems, such as the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) should greatly contribute to this, as well as boosting trust between member states, Hojs said.

This would in turn lead to the Schengen Area functioning without controls at internal borders.

"As a country with an external Schengen border we invest a lot of effort in timely implementation of new systems. The key is to find appropriate technical solutions that will shorten the border crossing procedure for police officers and passengers."

As for tools, Hojs pointed to Slovenia's idea from 2014 on the drafting of periodical reports on the functioning of the Schengen Area that would enable key shortcomings to be addressed at the political level.