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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia's stance on Ukraine war to be discussed in parliament
MARIBOR - Slovenia's stance on the war in Ukraine will be shaped by the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, PM Robert Golob said during his Maribor visit in response to a letter by several prominent academics and politicians urging the new government to take a stance encouraging Ukraine and Russia to engage in serious peace talks. His goal is to have Slovenia's position shaped by the time he will be leaving for the EU summit late next week. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told public broadcaster RTV Slovenija that getting Russia back to the negotiating table remained the common goal. "Slovenia's foreign policy should focus on humanitarian and development aid," she added.
First of seven Koper-Divača rail track tunnels broken through
DIVAČA - The first of the seven tunnels on route of the new, 27-km railway linking the port town of Koper with the Divača railway junction was broken through. The hole-through ceremony for the Mlinarji tunnel was attended by the Slovenian and Turkish infrastructure ministers as the track is being built by Slovenian company Kolektor CPG in cooperation with two Turkish partners. Slated for completion in 2025 and due to open in 2026, the new track is valued at almost EUR 1 billion, but officials indicated today that its price tag could increase by up to EUR 100 million due to rising prices.
PM Golob indicates polycentric development of Slovenia
MARIBOR - PM Robert Golob visited Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, underlining the only right way forward for the country is polycentric development. He believes the eastern half of the country needs a capital that would equal Ljubljana, adding that Maribor has a lot to offer. He singled out the Energy Agency, which is based in Maribor, as an example of good practice of a decentralised state. Golob was accompanied on his first working visit to any Slovenian town as prime minister by Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh and Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food Irena Šinko.
Speaker calls for respect of supervisory institutions
LJUBLJANA - Parliamentary Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič called for respecting the credibility and independence of supervisory institutions as she received Court of Audit President Tomaž Vesel. If this respect is undermined, democracy and its immune system are undermined, she warned and announced greater cooperation with the Court of Audit. Vesel, who is leaving as the court's president after nine years this week, welcomed the openness to new forms of cooperation.
Coalition says it's ready to realise plans, opposition pledges constructive but firm action
LJUBLJANA - The new centre-left coalition expects the political situation to de-escalate now that the new parliament has started its work, and the level of the debate to be raised. Coalition deputy groups noted for the STA the importance of cooperation in tackling challenges and stress they are well prepared and will work together to implement their plans. The two conservative parties that moved to opposition after the 24 April general election have meanwhile promised not to abuse parliamentary tools at their disposal, but will use them when necessary, also to fight against the coalition's "misconceptions".
Minister continues to trust state secretary Skočir
LJUBLJANA - Environment Ministry State Secretary Matej Skočir, who was mentioned in a media report as a key player at the Economy Ministry in controversial purchases of ventilators at the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, continues to enjoy the trust of Environment Minister Uroš Brežan, the ministry told the STA. This is after Tarča news show revealed on Thursday parts of the criminal complaint filed against former Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek. Skočir said in writing for Tarča that he "did not have a major or decisive role" in the matter.
ECB session drives up yield on Slovenian 10-year bond to nearly 3%
LJUBLJANA - Thursday's session of the European Central Bank and the announcement of the first interest rate raising after 11 years has also pushed up the yield on the Slovenian 10-year bond - to 2.92%, a new high after the 2013 and 2014 banking system bailout. The secondary market yield on the Slovenian 10-year bond was hovering between 2% and 2.30% in recent weeks in the face of high inflation in the EU and the prospect of monetary policy restrictions.
Slovenia failed to notify Brussels of pandemic-related border checks
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The European Court of Auditors has found in a special report that Slovenia did not inform the European Commission of the introduction of border checks on EU borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021 and the Commission did not check compliance with Schengen rules. The report on the right of free movement in the context of the Covid crisis says that EU countries submitted 150 official notifications of border checks within the EU between March 2020 and June 2021, with 135 of them relating exclusively to the pandemic.
Freedom Movement makes gains in Delo poll
LJUBLJANA - The Freedom Movement gained 4.6 points to 31% in the June poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo to extend its margin ahead of the Democrats (SDS) to 9.5 points, despite the opposition party reaching its high watermark. The SDS gained 3.4 points from May to 21.4% in what is the highest showing for Janez Janša's party since the 2018 election. Delo says that future polls will show whether the polarisation around the biggest two parties has become a trend. The Robert Golob government was meanwhile given a positive score by 28% of those questioned, against 37.3% who disapprove of its job.
No Covid-19 deaths since Friday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 209 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia over the weekend, a 30% increase over the weekend before. No patient with Covid-19 has died since Friday, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry does not release fatality or hospital figures at the weekend, but data released today shows 21 patients were hospitalised for Covid-19 as their main condition this morning, including three in intensive care. Data from the National Institute of Public Health shows the 14-day incidence per 100,000 people is at 174, one down from a week ago, as the 7-day average case count rose by 43 to 281.
Prekmurje village with ties to Primorska marks its centenary
LENDAVA - Benica, a village in the north-eastern region of Prekmurje were people from the coastal Primorska region were relocated in the 1920s to consolidate the Hungary-Slovenia border, is marking 100 years of its founding. The locals have also marked 80 years since people from the village were sent to a concentration camp in Hungary during WWII. The anniversary events were hosted on Saturday in Pince Marof by the Primorska and Istrian People in Prekmurje Association and the Pince Marof-Benica Local Community.
Exhibition in Ljubljana marks Srebrenica genocide anniversary
LJUBLJANA - A video exhibition in which the survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide tell their stories is being launched at the Ljubljana Muslim Cultural Centre to kick off a month-long programme commemorating the 27th anniversary of the massacre. The exhibition Srebrenica - Our Story, Oral History is part of the permanent collection of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre. The opening ceremony will feature the author of the exhibition Hasan Hasanović and three young people from Srebrenica.
Slovenia draw with Serbia to wrap first part of Nations League
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian men's football team drew 2:2 with Serbia wrapping up the June slot of the Group 4 play in League B of the UEFA Nations League in Stožice Stadium on Sunday evening. Slovenia have two points from four matches and are on the bottom of the table ahead of the final two encounters in September. Slovenia will play at home against Norway on 24 September and will be hosted by Sweden on 27 September. The last-placed team in the group will be relegated to the third-tier League C.
