Schedule of Events for Wednesday, 7 December

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU is to hold a ministerial meeting on the 2007-2013 spending plan after the British EU presidency outlined its proposal on Monday. The proposal envisages cuts in cohesion funds, which would affect new EU members. State Secretary for European Affairs Marcel Koprol is to take part on behalf of Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - British Ambassador to Slovenia Tim Simmons is to outline the latest EU budget proposal to the press at 11 AM.

LJUBLJANA - FM Dimitrij Rupel is to hold a press conference at 1 PM, outlining the Foreign Ministry's performance in the first year since the government was sworn in.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to be taking part in a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from NATO member states.

LJUBLJANA - At its weekly session, the government is to discuss the guidelines for social agreement for the 2006-2009 period. Press conference at 2 PM.

NORFOLK, US - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec is to continue his five-day visit to the US, where he is attending a meeting of the SE European Defence Ministerial (SEDM). A visit of the Norfolk military base is scheduled for Wednesday.

MONTREAL, Canada - Environment Minister Janez Podobnik is to attend a three-day ministerial part of the the UN framework convention on climate change and Kyoto Protocol signatories conferences.

LJUBLJANA - The council of the coalition New Slovenia (NSi) is to meet to elect a new deputy chair and secretary of the council. It is also to discuss the proposal of a resolution on the border between Slovenia and Croatia; regionalisation; and amendments to the constitution regarding "the erased". Statement to the press at 6 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary foreign policy committee is to meet behind closed doors at 9 AM to discuss classified government material, and then at 10 AM to debate an initiative for an agreement with the US to fight organised crime, drug-trafficking and terrorism.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary committee on EU affairs is to start a closed-door session at 1 PM, discussing a report on the 27 Oct informal meeting of heads of states and governments in Hampton Court. Chair Anton Kokalj is to speak to the press at 3 PM.

RADENCI - Mineral water producer Radenska is to stage a news conference at 1 PM to present its results from 2005 and plans for 2006.

LJUBLJANA - Turkish Chief-of-General Staff Hilmi Oezkoek is to conclude a two-day visit to Slovenia, where he is on the invitation of his Slovenian counterpart, Major General Ladislav Lipic.

LJUBLJANA - The computer-aided exercise of NATO and PfP programme members, Viking 2005, is to begin at the headquarters of the Slovenian Armed Forces 1st brigade, enabling Slovenian soldiers to train for a peace-keeping mission until 16 December.

LJUBLJANA - Translator Jolka Milic is to receive Lavrin Lifetime Achievement Diploma, given out by the Association of Slovenian Literary Translators. Milic has recently been honoured with another merit in Italy, namely the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

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