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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia sending Boštjan Lesjak to Kyiv as chargé d'affaires
LJUBLJANA - Boštjan Lesjak will be Slovenia's interim chargé d'affaires in Kyiv, senior Foreign Ministry official Jernej Müller confirmed several unofficial media reports as he spoke on Radio Slovenija. Lesjak, a lieutenant-colonel, was previously an employee of the Defence Ministry, but has been now employed at the Foreign Ministry. On Sunday, PM Janez Janša said Slovenia will reinstate its diplomatic mission in Ukraine after Slovenian diplomats left due to the war. The Slovenian ambassador to Ukraine is currently stationed in Poland.
Janša: Russia's shelling of chemical facilities in Ukraine could lead to disaster
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša warned that Russia's shelling of chemical facilities in Ukraine could lead to disaster, but he does not believe the Russian army will use chemical or biological weapons on purpose for tactical achievements, because that would be "very unwise as it would cause a disaster of major proportions", he said on arrival at the NATO summit. Asked whether there was any evidence that Russia was shelling chemical factories, he said that one such case was publicly known but that it was not clear yet whether the plant had been a target or collateral damage.
Janša: Ending Europe's dependency on Russian energy irreversible process
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša urged ending Europe's dependency on Russian energy as soon as possible, as he arrived at the EU summit. "This unfortunately doesn't mean tomorrow. We support as fast a path as possible. This train is already on its way and has no return. This will probably happen later than we wish, but much sooner than Russia wishes," Janša told the press, adding that the European Commission would present some solutions today.
Pahor talks efforts to boost Slovenia-Qatar cooperation
DOHA, Qatar - President Borut Pahor met Khalifa Al-Kuwari, general manager of the Qatar Fund for Development, on the second and last day of his official visit to Qatar, and was the keynote speaker at the opening of a Slovenia-Qatar economic cooperation forum, his office said. The meeting with Al-Kuwari was dedicated to efforts to boost cooperation between the fund and the Slovenian humanitarian organisation ITF Enhancing Human Security.
Slovenia in talks to get gas from Qatar
DOHA, Qatar - Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec discussed ways for Slovenia to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas as he and Qatari Minister for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi discussed how to transport up to two ships of Qatari gas a year to Slovenia through LNG terminals in the northern Adriatic. While free terminal capacity must be secured first, Slovenia "took a great step forward to diversify our gas supplies as Qatar is interested in cooperation too", said Vrtovec, who accompanied President Borut Pahor on his official visit to Qatar together with Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak.
Govt confirms deployment of up to 200 troops in Slovakia
LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed plans to deploy up to 200 Slovenian troops in Slovakia as part NATO's enhanced forward presence on its eastern flank. The total includes support staff and staff serving at headquarters and rotations are possible. The decision, made at a correspondence session late on Wednesday, says the service personnel will participate in the battlegroup's peacetime activities, which includes exercises, training and other peacetime activities, including measures to protect the battlegroup forces.
Committee clears closure of Russia's science-culture centre in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee endorsed in a 9:1 vote the government's initiative to revoke the 2011 agreement with Russia on scientific and cultural centres in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under the proposal, the Russian Scientific and Cultural Centre in Ljubljana is to be closed. A Foreign Ministry state secretary told the MPs the centre was run by a Russia federal agency that was used to spread Russia's propaganda and fake news, whcih the government believed must be stopped.
Ukrainian refugees get rights to accommodation, work and education
LJUBLJANA - Refugees from Ukraine who apply for temporary protection in Slovenia will have the right to accommodation, financial assistance, access to the labour market and education under a decree adopted by the government based on the act on temporary protection of displaced persons. The decree also provides for the right to family reunification, free legal aid and to be informed on the relevant rights and obligations.
Hojs discusses migration, Ukraine in Denmark
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs visited Denmark to discuss the current migration situation with Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Mattias Tesfaye. The pair also condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine and called for solidarity with Ukraine. The EU's swift and united response was crucial in this situation, they agreed, and this is also reflected in the bloc's unity in welcoming refugees from Ukraine, the Interior Ministry said.
Albaugh declined permit to expand in Rače
RAČE - The Environment Agency (ARSO) issued a decision on 16 March denying US-owned chemical company Albaugh the go-ahead to expand four-fold production of phytopharmaceuticals at its location in Rače in NE Slovenia after a complaint from an NGO. The company initially asked for an environmental permit to expand as early as 2017. ARSO issued the permit in February 2021, but after an appeal by an NGO, the Administrative Court annulled the decision, returning the case to ARSO. The NGO, Rovo, welcomed the decision, while the company, which has 30 days to appeal, has not yet responded to the STA request for comment.
Self-isolating voters to cast ballot at home or by mail
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Voters unable to cast their vote in the 24 April general election in person due to Covid self-isolation will be able to vote at home or by mail, but have to submit an application to vote at home by 20 April, the National Electoral Commission decided as it met for a session. Last week, it decided that voters unable to cast their vote in person due to illness will be able to vote at home before an electoral committee provided that they submit a medical certificate with their application to vote at home. The deadline for this is also 20 April.
Our Land wants to focus on challenges, not ideological topics
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Our Land, a party formed by ex-Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec, held a congress to present its platform and candidates standing in the April general election. Pivec, ex-leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), said Our Land will put addressing challenges before ideological topics. The party's priorities will be Slovenia's decentralised development, education and health reform, the elderly, balanced infrastructure development, agriculture, security and energy independence. Pivec said that "Slovenia is a land with favourable conditions to raise the level of self-sufficiency".
Refugees from Ukraine can study at University of Maribor
MARIBOR - The University of Maribor has made it possible for students from Ukraine to enrol temporarily in its study programmes without tuition under the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme. They can also apply for scholarships that will cover their living expenses for the first few months in Slovenia. Students cannot be formally enrolled in the middle of the academic year, but the work done during this period will be recognised as part of the formal enrolment in study programmes for 2022/23, by which time the university hopes there will be nation-wide rules for refugees.
Over 130 Ukrainian refugees enrolled in Slovenian primaries
LJUBLJANA - 131 refugee children from Ukraine have been enrolled in 64 primary schools across Slovenia, Education Ministry data as of Wednesday shows. Addressing reporters at the government press conference, Minister Simona Kustec said the system to involve refugee children from Ukraine into the education process was distinctly inclusive. The ministry said schools were not reporting any difficulties in communication with the children or their parents, or their enrolment.
Public broadcaster staff complain of pressure by leadership
LJUBLJANA - Reporters at public broadcaster RTV Slovenija accused the management and the programming council of exerting pressure on them. "There is pressure on colleagues, we work in extreme circumstances, in impossible conditions," Helena Milinković, a journalist and head of the coordinating body of journalists' trade unions at RTV Slovenija, told a debate on Wednesday evening. She said journalists were being collectively punished for publicly exposing unbearable work conditions but would not be quieted.
Minister calls for improved situation of Slovenian minority in Hungary
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch told a session of the Slovenian-Hungarian commission overseeing the implementation of the agreement on special rights of their respective minorities the situation of the Slovenian minority in the Hungarian region of Porabje had improved over the last decade, but there were still differences in the level of rights, political representation and financing enjoyed by the Slovenian minority in Hungary compared to the Hungarian community in Slovenia.
Growth slows as 3,271 new cases of coronavirus confirmed
LJUBLJANA - A total of 3,271 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in Slovenia on Wednesday, at 6% a slower week-on-week increase than in the past two weeks. Hospital figures continue to decline, but seven people with Covid-19 died, show fresh government data. The latest case count brings the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population to 1,759, up by 46 from the day before.
National Radioactive Waste Agency gets interim head
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Petra Grajžl, the current head of the environment minister's office, as interim head of the national Radioactive Waste Agency (ARAO). She is taking over on 29 March, when the term of incumbent Sandi Viršek expires, and lead the agency until a new head is appointed but no longer than a year. The ARAO will be in charge of the construction of a special storage facility for low- and intermediate-level waste at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) in Vrbina.
Slovenia, US sign indefinite agreement on Fulbright Program
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and the US have signed a new memorandum of understanding on the Fulbright Program which provides the legal basis for the US government-sponsored international educational exchange programme in Slovenia, the US Embassy in Ljubljana announced. The agreement will be in force indefinitely after the previous one expired in December 2021. It was signed by US Ambassador to Slovenia Jamie L. Harpootlian and Slovenian Education Minister Simona Kustec.
Slovenia in multinational bid to get midwifery on UNESCO list
LJUBLJANA - The government gave its go-ahead for Slovenia to take part in a multinational bid to get midwifery listed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. Preparations for the nomination, which needs to be submitted by 31 March, are led by Germany, with the other countries involved being Columbia, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria and Togo.
