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This summary is provided by the STA:
Tonin announces purchase of German armoured vehicles Boxer
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin informed his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as she visited Slovenia that the government would purchase German eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicles Boxer for the Slovenian Armed Forces. The ministers called for greater cooperation and announced a mixed task force. They agreed that cooperation between Slovenia and Germany had been very good, highlighting wiggle room for strengthening cooperation in defence. Kramp-Karrenbauer was also received by President Borut Pahor.
Logar meets Blinken on sidelines of anti-Daesh ministerial
ROME, Italy - Foreign Minister Anže Logar took part in the ministerial session of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh in Rome, pledging Slovenia's commitment to enhanced cooperation against the militant group also known as ISIS. Logar also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Foreign Ministry said the meeting with Blinken confirmed the continuation of the strategic relationship between Slovenia and the US and the resolve to enhance cooperation in the face of global challenges. With Stoltenberg they noted Slovenia's increasing contribution to NATO.
Speaker advocates accelerating EU enlargement
BRUSSELS, Belgium - National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič said Slovenia would seek to accelerate the enlargement process during its presidency of the Council of the EU as he took part in the summit between the European Parliament and parliamentary speakers from the Western Balkans in Brussels, which noted the role of parliaments in the enlargement process. Speaker said the debate showed "the idea of the enlargement process is still very much alive and enjoys support in the broader parliamentary segment".
Parliament's interpretation of evidence destruction provisions unconstitutional
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court ruled that the interpretation by the National Assembly of the provisions of the criminal procedure act that instruct destruction of evidence obtained by means of covert surveillance if no criminal prosecution is initiated in two years after evidence is obtained is unconstitutional. In the case where objective circumstances existed that prevented the state prosecutor to file a request for criminal prosecution in time, the investigating judge should extend the deadline for the preservation of evidence for a maximum of two years, the court said.
Pahor nominates academician for Constitutional Court judge
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor nominated law professor Janez Kranjc, an associate member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU), for a vacancy on the Constitutional Court. Pahor's office described Kranjc as a highly esteemed law expert both at home and abroad. A professor at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana and Maribor, Kranjc has served three times as the dean of the Ljubljana Faculty of Law and chaired the European Law Faculties Association. He has won top state decorations in Slovenia, France and Austria and honorary PhDs from foreign universities.
PM Janša decorated by Slovenian World Congress
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janša attended on Sunday a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the first session of the Slovenian World Congress where a commemorative plaque was unveiled. He was presented with a distinction awarded to individuals and institutions whose activities strengthen the national consciousness of their compatriots. The Slovenian World Congress pointed out that even before Slovenia's independence, Janša had been establishing ties with Slovenians in neighbouring countries and around the world, making them feel that they belonged to the Slovenian nation.
Supervision ordered over police work at Friday's protest
LJUBLJANA - Police Commissioner Anton Olaj ordered supervision of the work of the Ljubljana Police Administration in policing Friday's alternative celebration of Statehood Day by anti-government protesters in Ljubljana's Prešeren Square. He has said there is suspicion as to whether all protesters were treated the same. This was after members of the far-right Yellow Wets were escorted away by police at the start of the rally, which attracted some 9,000 people by police estimates. PM Janez Janša called for an investigation into the incident on Saturday.
Govt to give EUR 845,000 advance to STA under certain conditions
LJUBLJANA - The government, acting as the STA's sole shareholder, asked its communication office to transfer a EUR 845,000 advance to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) for the expected expenses related to the performance of public service once the STA provides UKOM with access into business documentation for the last ten years and if a contract on public service is signed. The advance is to transferred within three days following the day the STA director allows authorised persons of the Government Communication Office (UKOM) to access the documentation and if the contract for 2021 is signed by then. The STA director said the STA would have sent all business information and documents to UKOM long ago had it demanded it in a legal way.
Compromise agreement on 2023-2027 CAP acceptable for Slovenia
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The EU agriculture ministers confirmed in Luxembourg a compromise agreement on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023-2027 that paves the way for a greener, more sustainable and fairer CAP. Slovenia's Jože Podgoršek said the proposal was acceptable, although it could have been better. He said it was a true compromise proposal given that no one was completely satisfied with it, and that all but four member states had supported the proposal.
Brestanica Thermal Plant inaugurates new gas-fired unit
BRESTANICA - The Brestanica Thermal Plant (TEB) inaugurated its seventh gas unit in an investment valued at EUR 26.4 million. Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Janez Janša said the investment further established the Posavje region as "Slovenia's major energy region". He finds it important that the new unit is environmentally acceptable and economically efficient. The 56-megawatt Unit 7 and the 53-megawatt Unit 6, which has been in operation since 2018, will replace three lower capacity units that are nearing the end of their lifespan.
Only 12 new coronavirus cases on Sunday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 12 new coronavirus infections for Sunday and no Covid-19 deaths, show the latest government figures. The 7-day average of new cases fell from 37 to 32 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population dropped by one to 35. The latest cases come from 648 PCR tests with the positivity rate standing at 1.9%. The number of patients in hospital decreased by one to 74 after six were discharged home, and the number of ICU cases also fell by one to 22.
Slovenian researchers publish in Nature Communications
LJUBLJANA - Researchers of the biospeleology group of the Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty published in the Nature Communications journal an article which, according to the principal author Špela Borko, shows for the first time that "descendants of the ancient explosions of evolution may also be found in Europe, if you look in the right spot - underground". In the article titled Subterranean adaptive radiation of amphipods in Europe, the researchers of the Department of Biology at the faculty reconstructed the course of evolution of 45 billion-year-old subterranean amphipod genus.
Bust to Slovenian director unveiled in Zagreb theatre
ZAGREB, Croatia - Bojan Stupica, a Slovenian actor, director and set designer, was honoured with a bust at the foyer of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Zagreb at an event that marked Slovenia Statehood Day and the 30th anniversary of independence. The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch, who also met representatives of the Slovenian cultural association Slovenski Dom (Slovenian Home) in Zagreb, who gave the initiative for the unveiling of the bust.
15th Mountain Film Festival kicks off
DOMŽALE - The 15th Mountain Film Festival started in Domžale near Ljubljana, featuring 33 films from 19 countries in four categories: mountaineering, climbing, mountain nature and culture, and sports and adventure. Until Sunday, the festival will bring a plethora of productions on wild animals and epic stories from the Himalayas. The programme includes many foreign award-winning films along with a number of Slovenian productions.
