Schedule of Events for Thursday, 16 February

LJUBLJANA - The government is expected to adopt at its regular session amendments to the acts on municipalities and general practitioners, a bill on religious freedoms and amendments to the maritime code. A press conference is scheduled for 2 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Development Minister Joze P. Damijan and Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak are to attend the Innovativeness Festival, organised by the Public Agency for Technological Development. The event starts at 9 AM, with PM Jansa scheduled to address participants at 3 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA/VELENJE - Education Minister Milan Zver is to receive Montenegrin Minister of Education and Science Slobodan Backovic. Slovenia's assistance in the reform of the Montenegrin educational system is to top the agenda of the talks. Press statements are scheduled for 3 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The council of the Pension and Health Insurance Institute (ZPIZ) is to decide on the harmonisation of February pensions with wages, as stipulated by law, at a session which starts at 10 AM. (STA)

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Ministry of Finance and the Centre of Excellence in Finance, in conjunction with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are to host a two-day meeting of budget experts from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

LJUBLJANA - The coalition People's Party (SLS) is to hold a press conference at 9:30 AM to present its position on the prime minister's proposal for a bipartisan pact on economic and social reforms.

LJUBLJANA - A delegation of the Norfolk-based NATO Allied Command Transformation headed by Major General Angel Guinea is to visit the Defence Ministry for talks with ministry and army officials.

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro - Representatives of 18 top Slovenian companies are to travel to Belgrade to present their investment plans in Southeastern Europe.

LJUBLJANA - IT firm Hermes Softlab is to present business results for 2005 and plans for this year at a press conference scheduled for 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Polling firm GfK Gral-Iteo is to present the results of a survey on new challenges for Slovenian consumers and retailers; at 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

SLOVENIAN APPEARANCES AT THE TURIN GAMES

- Cross-country: women's 10 km classical (10 AM)

- Biathlon: women's 7.5 km sprint (noon)

- Figure skating: men's free programme (7 PM)

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

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM: Sebastijan Macek
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Gorazd Jukovic

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