Schedule of Events for Friday, 12 January

BELGRADE, Serbia - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to pay a one-day working visit to Serbia. The visit, coming upon an invitation by Serbian FM Vuk Draskovic, is aimed at deepening cooperation and exchanging views on the situation in Serbia and in the wider region. Rupel is scheduled to meet Serbian President Boris Tadic (9:30 AM), Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica (11:30 AM) and Draskovic (1 PM). Rupel and Draskovic are to hold a joint press conference at 1:45 PM. (STA).

LJUBLJANA - The STA is to release a backgrounder ahead of Monday's big euro ceremony, at which a host of European leaders are to usher in the common currency in Slovenia. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Government PR and Media office is to present the preparations for the 15 January high-profile ceremony celebrating the adoption of the euro; at 1 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Institute of Economic research, a think-tank, is to present at 1 PM a book by economist Vladimir Lavrac on Slovenia's path towards the adoption of the euro.

LJUBLJANA - Labour Minister Marjeta Cotman is to meet representatives of student organisations to discuss the ministry's activities which touch upon student issues; at 1 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) is to present to the press at 10 AM its stance on the bill that is to regulate the granting of licences to private practitioners for publicly-funded health care.

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS), a Slovenian minority organisation in Austria, is to hold a press conference at 10 AM to speak about bilingual sings.

LJUBLJANA - The parliament's EU Affairs Committee is to meet behind closed doors at 2 PM to discuss Slovenia's position on the proposal to introduce a EU-wide customs code and on the directive proposal on improving the portability of supplementary pension rights.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian member of the European parliament Romana Jordan Cizelj is to speak about the recently unveiled EU green paper on energy; at 11 AM.

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: Matjaz Horvat
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Gregor Zamuda

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