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This summary is provided by the STA:
Govt declassifies 2011 document on Bosnia-Herzegovina
LJUBLJANA - The government declassified a 2011 document about possible further paths in the process of constitutional reform of Bosnia-Herzegovina, compiled by former Slovenian President Milan Kučan. The move comes after an alleged non-paper on border changes in the Western Balkans attributed to Slovenia had been circulated in the public. The current government has not been acquainted with such a document, but it has been able to confirm that there exists a 2011 document on possible further paths for a successful process of the constitutional reform of Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Considering that the content of the document has for the most part been publicly known for several weeks, the conditions required for this document to retain the classified status no longer exist," the release adds.
Dikaučič pledges to uphold autonomy of judiciary
LJUBLJANA - Marjan Dikaučič, the candidate for justice minister, said he would advocate autonomy of the judiciary as he presented his bid to the parliamentary Justice Committee. Dikaučič, an official receiver, would not comment on the setback in the appointment of European delegated prosecutors from Slovenia for the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). "As minister, I need to avoid any act or word that could contaminate the procedure," he said.
Interior ministers of Brdo-Brijuni Process talk cooperation in tackling migration
PORTOROŽ - Brdo-Brijuni Process interior ministers discussed on the final day of their informal meeting illegal migration, highlighting the need for better cooperation. Interior Minister Aleš Hojs named data exchange with Western Balkan countries and the use of EU databases as possible solutions. When it comes to migration management, the views by the countries somewhat differ, however they have come to joint conclusions, Hojs said. What is key is that cooperation between countries could lead to individual countries, particularly those less developed, getting EU funds to tackle the issue.
Several regions and countries removed from red list, including Croatian Adriatic
LJUBLJANA - The government changed the list of countries and territories placed in the red zone in terms of the Covid-19 epidemic to exclude, among others, the Croatian Adriatic area, Germany and the Czech Republic. The changes also include Turkey being moved from the dark red list to the red list. Also deleted from the red list are Switzerland, the Vatican, the Austrian state of Tyrol, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. The Portuguese territory of the Azores have meanwhile been red-listed. The new rules enter into force on Saturday.
Majority of coronavirus restrictions extended
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to extend the majority of existing coronavirus restrictions while slightly easing them in the cultural sector, where serving food and drinks will once again be permitted during cultural events. The remaining restrictions - the majority have to do with consumer-facing services - have been extended until 20 June. The government said this was done based on an assessment by the Health Ministry's coronavirus advisory group, which proposed the existing measures remain in place given the still high incidence of new cases. Slovenia recorded 195 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents was 154.
Zorčič: Gains made 30 years ago cannot be given up
LJUBLJANA - Thirty years ago Slovenia said a determined "yes" not only to sovereignty but also to progress, prosperity and human rights. "We cannot give that up today," parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič told the STA in an interview in the run up to the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence. With Slovenia approaching its second presidency of the EU, Zorčič said the success of its stint would be measured with criteria such as whether Slovenia has achieved headway on issues such as EU enlargement to the Western Balkans. Zorčič remains critical of the government's failure to abide by the law, singling out the law governing the STA and legislation governing the appointment of prosecutors.
Regulation detailing STA public service obligation adopted
LJUBLJANA - The government has adopted a regulation that details how the STA should perform its public service, and defines the scope of public service and its financing. The Government Communications Office (UKOM) is authorised to sign an annual public service agreement and verify compliance with the regulation. STA staff said regulation did not address the underlying issues relevant to the agency's survival and development, it raised new questions about the agency's autonomy, the balance between public and commercial revenue, and reporting requirements - all of which are already dealt with in the existing law governing the agency's operations.
UKOM head files criminal complaint against NGO representative and lawyer
LJUBLJANA - Uroš Urbanija, the head of the Government Communication Office (UKOM), filed a criminal complaint against Katarina Bervar Sternad of the Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy NGO, and lawyer Nataša Pirc Musar. He accuses them of making false accusations against him in May over suspension of the STA funding. He claims they had deliberately filed a criminal complaint against him that does not have any legal basis. Bervar Sternad and Pirc Musar did not comment specifically on Urbanija's step, with Pirc Musar saying that the complaint spoke for itself and Bervar Sternad noting that the matter was now up to the authorities.
Austrian author Josef Winkler wins this year's Vilenica Prize
LJUBLJANA - The winner of this year's International Vilenica Prize is Austrian author Josef Winkler, while the Slovenian author in focus of the 36th Vilenica festival to be held in September will be Milan Dekleva, the Slovenian Writers' Association announced. Winkler is a prolific writer who has received many awards for his work in Austria and Germany. Three of his works have so far been translated into Slovenian. Winkler said he knew quite a few previous Vilenica winners and was proud to be among them.
Huawei setting up logistic hub for central, SE Europe in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Chinese company Huawei announced it planned to set up a regional logistic hub in Slovenia for some 19 markets of central and south-eastern Europe. Thus, the flow of its goods through the port of Koper will increase and new storage facilities will need to be built near Ljubljana airport. The multiplicative value of the decision is dozens of millions of euros. According to Beata Bogadi, Huawei's customs compliance manager for Europe, the decision to set up a transit warehouse for Europe in Slovenia shows "how attractive Slovenia is in the logistic sense".
Mercator management gets another term
LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of retailer Mercator has granted another four-year term to the company's management board. All three Mercator managers are staying on, including the chairman Tomislav Čizmić and management board members Draga Cukjati and Igor Mamuza, Mercator said. This is on the one hand a recognition of accomplishments in the past four years as Mercator has been meeting key strategic targets, and on the other a guarantee for the continuation of management policy and stability of the company, said Fabris Peruško, Mercator supervisor and Fortenova Group CEO.
Day of Slovenia-UK Friendship celebrated
VINICA - President Borut Pahor and British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton marked Day of Slovenia-UK Friendship in Gornji Suhor, a village in the south-east where a British bomber crashed in 1945. They laid wreaths at the memorial plaque commemorating the crew, five of whom were rescued by local Partisans. Pahor and Morton emphasised the importance of a friendship that had been created in the most difficult moments.
Culture Ministry building defaced with swastikas
LJUBLJANA - The building housing the Culture Ministry has been vandalised as an unknown perpetrator spray-painted a number of yellow-coloured swastikas on its facade in the night to Thursday. An investigation is under way, said the Ljubljana Police Department. Responding to the defacing, the ministry said this act of vandalism was another in a series of attacks on the ministry and its staff that were carried out on a weekly basis.
Slovenia's Zidanšek loses in French Open semi-finals
PARIS, France - Tamara Zidanšek lost in the semi-finals of the French Open in Paris to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two sets (5:7 and 3:6) in what was only the second semi-final appearance for a Slovenian woman tennis player in the singles competition at a Grand Slam tournament in almost four decades and a half. Zidanšek is also expected to crack the top 50 on the WTA rankings rankings after the career result, as she is currently ranked 85th. She played in the finals of WTA tournaments twice - this year in Bogota and in Nürnberg in 2019.
Superstar Pogačar wins second stage of Tour of Slovenia
CELJE - Slovenian cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won the second stage of the Tour of Slovenia. At the conclusion of the 147-kilometre stage, he was the best rider so far in the climb to Celje Castle to finish almost a minute and a half ahead of the competition. With the stage win, the 22-year-old reigning Tour de France champion also took over the green jersey of the overall leader in the race around his native country.
