Schedule of Events for Monday, 28 August

BLED - The two-day "Caspian Outlook 2008" conference is to end with panels discussing political dynamics and economic trends in the Caspian region, political reform and development sustainability in the South Caucasus and EU neighbourhood policy. The event is organised by the Foreign Ministry and the Institute for Strategic Studies. (see below for details) (STA/PHOTO)

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev will be continuing his official visit to Slovenia. Aliyev, who will also attend the "Caspian Outlook 2008" conference, is to speak to the press together with his host, Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek at noon. (STA/PHOTO)

BLED - As Slovenia is getting ready to take up the chairmanship of the IAEA Board of Governor, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed El Baradei will be visiting upon the invitation of PM Janez Jansa. He is to discuss the preparations with Jansa and Slovenian Ambassador Ernest Petric, who is to chair the Board of Governors. No statement to the press scheduled.

NOVA GORICA - The Interior Ministry is to speak to the press at 11 AM as biometric passports start being issued in Slovenia on 28 August. Moreover, lots will be drawn for 100 people who will get a new passport free of charge. STA will release a feature about the new passports. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Janez Drobnic is to address the press at 11 AM presenting a series of 14 debates on the social inclusion of people who are hard to employ. He will also present other labour market measures.

PORTOROZ - Shareholders of the holding group Istrabenz are to meet for an AGM, with the management to speak to the press about the AGM's decisions and the company's projects. Press conference at 1 PM.

KRSKO - Vipap Videm Krsko is expected to phase out its cellulose pulp production, with some 350 workers losing their jobs. The company intends to speak to the press about the move during the course of the week.

LJUBLJANA - The management of the Slovenian Tourist Board is expected to appoint a new director general after Barbara Guncar stepped down in May and Dimitrij Picigo was appointed acting director.

CELJE - The city of Celje is to present the winner of this year's Veronika Prize for best collection of poetry, which will be conferred on Tuesday.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

SOME OF THE EVENTS AT THE CASPIAN OUTLOOK 2008 CONFERENCE (STA/PHOTO)

9:30 AM: panel on political dynamics in the Caspian region: present challenges and the future, to be attended among other officials by Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel and Slovak FM Jan Kubis.

11:45 AM: PM Janez Jansa meets Georgia's Deputy PM George Baramidze, who is also minister of European affairs.

noon: European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner speaks about political reform and development sustainability in the South Caucasus.

12:20 PM: PM Janez Jansa meets acting OPEC Secretary General Mohammed S. Barkindo

2 PM: FM Dimitrij Rupl to give a statement to the press.

4:30 PM: panel on European neighbourhood policy, to be attended by European Commissioner for External Relations, Georgia's Deputy PM George Baramidze, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian, Lithuanian FM Petras Vaitiekunas and the EU's special representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

4:30 PM: panel on economic trends in the Caspian region, to be attended by the EBRD president Jean Lemierre and Latvian Economy Minister Aigars Shtokenbergs.

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

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM: Eva Horvat
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Matjaz Horvat

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