Schedule of Events for Monday, 15 January

EURO CELEBRATIONS

LJUBLJANA - A massive ceremony is to be held at the Cankarjev dom conference centre at 5 PM to usher in the euro in Slovenia on the day the Slovenian tolar ceases to be legal tender. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Italy's Romano Prodi and Belgium's Guy Verhofstadt are just some of the top European officials expected to take part. Jansa, Barroso and Juncker are expected to hold a press conference after the ceremony, at 6:30 PM. (STA/PHOTO)

LJUBLJANA - Banka Slovenije and the Finance Ministry are to hold a conference on the euro as part of the day of celebrations of the euro in Slovenia. The conference is to be opened with addresses by Slovenian central bank Governor Mitja Gaspari and the Chairman of the European Central Bank (ECB) Jean-Claude Trichet. The event is to see the participation of finance ministers and central bankers from several European countries. Panels are to be held on the economic climate in the European Monetary Union (11:15 AM) and the public perception of the euro in Slovenia (2:30 PM). (PHOTO)

LJUBLJANA - European Commissioner for Monetary and Economic Affairs Joaquin Almunia and Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk are to hold a press conference on the sidelines of events marking the arrival of the euro in Slovenia, at noon. (STA/PHOTO)

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition is to be opened on the history of Slovenian money at 4:30 PM ahead of the launch of the euro ceremony at the Cankarjev dom conference centre.

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Jansa is to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the main events. At 9 AM he is to meet ECB Chairman Jean-Claude Trichet; at 10 AM his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Gyurcsany; at 11 AM his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico; at 7:30 PM his Latvian counterpart Aigars Kalvitis; and at 8:15 PM his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis. Fico is to hold a press conference at 11:45 AM as part of his working visit to Slovenia. Both he and Gyurcsany, who will also be paying a working visit, are also expected to meet other Slovenian officials during the day. (STA/PHOTO)

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to hold separate meetings with visiting counterparts from Austria and Greece, Ursula Plassnik and Dora Bakoyianni, at 1:15 PM and 1:45 PM. Rupel is scheduled to hold a press conference after the meetings, at 2:15 PM.

LJUBLJANA - President Janez Drnovsek is to hold a meeting with visiting ECB Chairman Jean-Claud Trichet at 3 PM. (PHOTO)

OTHER EVENTS

LJUBLJANA - FM Dimitrij Rupel is scheduled to hold a press conference at 9:30 AM to speak about the 15th anniversary of the recognition of Slovenia's independence by the European Union. (STA)

DRESDEN, Germany - EU justice and home affairs ministers are to hold an informal meeting. Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate and Justice Minister Lovro Sturm are expected to attend the two-day event.

LJUBLJANA - Representatives of the social partners - the government, employers and trade unions - are to meet at noon for the latest round of negotiations on the social agreement. A statement for the press by chief government negotiator Dusan Kranjnik is scheduled for 3 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia, the country's biggest trade union confederation, is to hold a press conference at 10 AM to speak about a European petition calling for quality public administration services.

MARIBOR - The STA is to release a feature ahead of Tuesday's decision on the bid by Slovenia's second-largest city, Maribor, to host the Winter Universiade in 2011. (STA)

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: Ela Petrovcic
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Matjaz Horvat

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