Janša says double standards fastest way to disintegrating community

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša symbolically took over the presidency of the EU from Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva at the Statehood Day ceremony on Friday. He warned against using double standards and said that as the presiding country, Slovenia would fight for equal standards for everyone. Slovenia is taking over the presidency of the EU for the second time and has some experience with leading such communities. "We know what works and what does not, we know that double standards are the path to disintegration and we will fight for equal yardsticks for all." The ceremony featured the prime ministers of Austria, Croatia and Hungary, the foreign ministers of Italy and Portugal, and the president of the European Council.

Pahor makes appeal for new consensus, respect of diversity

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor made an appeal for a new national consensus in his address to the national Statehood Day ceremony on Friday, highlighting the importance of shared goals and cooperation. He said the country needed a new national consensus a "guiding idea" about the future around which consensus and unity can be built. Whoever manages to offer the most convincing vision and focuses on that vision without particular partisan or ideological aims should not worry about broad popular support. He also called for a respect of differences and diversity.

Speaker highlights need for dialogue, forward-looking actions

LJUBLJANA - National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič stressed the need for dialogue and a forward-looking politics as he addressed a ceremony at the National Assembly marking Statehood Day. Having an own state is not just about pride, it also entails commitment and responsibility for democratic development, progress and prosperity, he said. "We have to build it as a space of tolerance, a space of dialogue ... where those who think differently will not be enemies. It is time to start understanding the country as family silver passed down from generation to generation, not as prey."
Janša on Hungarian LGBTIQ law: Slovenia does not want to be part of new divisions

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša said in relation to the EU debate on the new Hungarian law on LGBTIQ that Slovenia and many other countries did not want to be part of any new divisions in Europe. Only Slovenia and Poland defended Hungary in the EU summit debate, according to Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Janša said that the debate was not about taking any positions and that there were no proposals of any texts. It was a sincere exchange of opinions that was at certain moments very heated. He said that if there was a problem with any law in any EU member state, there were legal mechanisms and procedures that the European Commission could launch.

Justice minister talks with European Commissioner Reynders

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič talked via videoconference with European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, with the topics including the stalled procedure to appoint European delegated prosecutors from Slovenia, the Justice Ministry said. This comes as Reynders reiterated his concerns over the fact that Slovenia has still not appointed its European delegated prosecutors (EDPs). Minister guaranteed Slovenia's further support for the EPPO project and announced the appointment of Slovenian EDPs immediately "when the procedure is concluded without any shadow of doubt".

US secretary of state congratulates Slovenia on independence anniversary

WASHINGTON, US - Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, congratulated the people of Slovenia on the anniversary of the country's independence on behalf of the US government, highlighting the country's role as a regional leader in the promotion of democracy and stability. "Since gaining independence three decades ago, Slovenia has emerged as a vibrant democracy and regional leader in promoting security and Euro-Atlantic integration in the Western Balkans.

Congratulations pouring in as Slovenia marks Statehood Day

LJUBLJANA - Congratulations to Slovenia were pouring in as the country is marking Statehood Day and the 30th anniversary of its independence. Congratulations to President Borut Pahor were sent today by the leaders of Italy, Austria, Croatia Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Japan, Belgium and Switzerland, the president's office said. Congratulations to Slovenia have also been published on social networks by the European Parliament, EU Council and European Commission. In some countries, landmarks were lit up in the colours of the Slovenian flag, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, a fountain in Athens and Telstra Tower in Canberra.

NGOs warn Slovenia about press freedom during presidency

LJUBLJANA - Several international NGOs promoting freedom of the press called on the Slovenian government to refrain during the presidency of the EU Council from attempts to undermine initiatives that aim to improve the conditions for freedom of the press in EU member states and in EU candidate countries. They said the presidency was an opportunity for every member state to take a leading role in governing the EU. "We strongly call upon the Slovenian authorities to stop verbal attacks on journalists, uphold the right to press freedom, and refrain from any actions that further negatively impact the media landscape in Slovenia, the European Union and its neighbourhood," the release adds.

46 infections confirmed on Thursday, no Covid-19 deaths

LJUBLJANA - A total of 46 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday in 2,161 PCR tests, the government said, with the seven-day rolling average of infections dropping by six to 48. There were no Covid-19 deaths yesterday. There are 74 Covid-19 patients in Slovenian hospitals, which is six fewer than on the day before, 26 of whom require intensive care, two fewer than on the day before.

Fewer births, more deaths last year

LJUBLJANA - The pandemic severely affected population statistics in Slovenia in 2020, as a high death rate was coupled with fewer births. Life expectancy declined by almost a year, Statistics Office data show. A total of 24,016 deaths were recorded last year, up by almost 19% compared to the 2015-2019 average. The main indicator of mortality, deaths per 1,000 population, reached 11.4, the highest on record. On an average day 66 people died, up by ten compared to the period 2015-2019, as the death rate peaked in November and December, at the crest of the second wave of coronavirus.

Romanian Orthodox Church establishes parish in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The Romanian Orthodox Church has established a parish in Ljubljana in order to provide spiritual care for the Romanian diaspora. "It is a moral obligation to take care of all Romanians, wherever they are," said Patriarch Daniel of Romania on the occasion. The new parish will be headed by Pavel Goreanu, who previously worked in Italy's Turin, the Romanian Orthodox Church said. Patriarch Daniel also thanked the Ljubljana Archdiocese for securing premises for the parish, which will be based in St. Peter's Parish Church.

Lent festival bringing in summer vibes in Maribor

MARIBOR - The Lent festival got under way in Maribor in what will be again an in-person celebration of the start of summer in Slovenia's second largest city. Due to Covid prevention measures, there will be no large venues, however the city's streets and squares will be again filled with music over the next nine days. More than 30 locations in the city will turn into festival venues during Lent that will continue to bring individual events over summer weekends even after it ends in early July. The festival will hence run until 3 September when the Opera Night concert will be held.