Schedule of Events for Thursday, 8 December

LONDON, UK - PM Janez Jansa will be meeting British PM Tony Blair, whose country holds the EU presidency, to discuss the latest EU budget proposal. Jansa has said Slovenia was not happy with the British proposal. A press statement is scheduled for 5 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Parliament begins an extraordinary session dedicated to the 2006 and 2007 budgets at 10 AM. The budget implementation bill and a decree on the sale of state property are also on the agenda of the session, which is expected to close on Friday. (STA)

LJUBLJANA/IZOLA - European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg is to meet Agriculture Minister Marija Lukacic, representatives of fishermen and fishing inspectors during a visit to Slovenia. Press conference by Borg and Lukacic at 2:50 PM. (STA)

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers of employment and social policy are to discuss a working time directive which would put a cap on the 48-hour working week. Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Janez Drobnic, who is to represent Slovenia at the meeting, rejected the proposal as unacceptable at the latest meeting in June.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Foreign ministers from NATO member states, including Slovenia's Dimitrij Rupel, are to finish their regular semi-annual meeting. Rupel is to talk to the press at 3 PM.

WASHINGTON, US - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec is to meet Minnesota congressman James Oberstar as part of his five-day visit to the US.

LJUBLJANA - Minister of Local Government and Regional Policy Ivan Zagar is to talk to the press at 11 AM to present the department's biggest achievements after one year in office.

LJUBLJANA - The Museum of Contemporary History is to host an exhibition on deportations of Slovenians during WWII. The exhibition by the Society of Slovenian Exiles 1941-1945 is to be opened by President Janez Drnovsek at 1 PM. (STA)

MEXICO CITY, Mexico - Slovenian Ambassador to the US Samuel Zbogar is to present his credentials to Mexican President Vicente Fox, as the Slovenian Embassy in Washington is also in charge of Mexico.

LJUBLJANA - Government secretary general Mateja Tamara Fajs is to present statistical data on the government's work this year; at 1 PM.

LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije, the fixed-line telco, is to hold a press conference at 10:30 AM to talk about telecommunications security.

LJUBLJANA - Bread and pasta maker Zito is to talk to the press at 1 PM to outline plans for the future.

TRIESTE, Italy - The European Short Course Swimming Championships are to begin, with 500 swimmers from 37 countries competing for medals. Represented by 19 contestants, Slovenia has high hopes, with six-time European champion Peter Mankoc, Blaz Medvesek and Emil Tahirovic the team's main trump cards.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

In case of further queries please contact duty editor at +386 1 241 0109:

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM: Gorazd Jukovic
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Eva Horvat

Comments and suggestions may be sent to: english@sta.si