Schedule of Events for Tuesday, 30 January

LJUBLJANA - Parliament is to resume the regular January session at 9 AM to discuss the closing balance of the 2005 budget and the changes to the economic zones act that aim to promote research and development by providing tax breaks.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk is due to attend a session of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council.

TRIESTE, Italy - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is due in the Italian border city of Trieste in the afternoon for a meeting hosted by the Slovenian ethnic minority (6 PM) and talks with Friuli Venezia-Giulia Premier Ricardo Illy (4 PM). The meeting hosted by several minority organisations is to discuss the development of relations between Slovenia and Italy and Slovenia's forthcoming EU presidency. Minister Rupel is also scheduled to meet the leadership of both organisations, the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ) and the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO); at 5 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Economic and Social Council, an industrial relations forum, is to meet at 2 PM to discuss the measure amending the health care and health insurance act and a proposal to sign on to the ILO Protection of Wages Convention. Trade unions, employers and the government reached agreement on amendments to health insurance legislation earlier this month following lengthy negotiations in which opinions clashed mainly on severed conditions for sickness benefits and the composition of the assembly of the Health Insurance Institute. The Economic and Social Council is to decide only about the remaining issue of hospital fees for drink drivers who have provoked an accident.

HELSINKI, Finland - Interior Minister Dragutin Mate is to wrap up his visit to Finland, where he is taking part in a three-day meeting of friends of Lapland at the invitation of his Finnish counterpart Kari Rajamaki.

EDINBURGH, UK - Public Administration Minister Gregor Virant is to pay a two-day visit to Scotland to attend Microsoft's annual Government Leaders' Forum. The event provides a platform for senior government officials, EU Commissioners and policy advisers from across Europe to consider the contribution that cutting-edge technology can make to education, governance and economic development.

LJUBLJANA - The council of the Cankarjev dom congress centre is to hold a session at 1 PM to discuss the institution's offerings in and financial plan for 2007.

MARIBOR - The Maribor-based newspaper publisher Vecer is to declare the winner of the Spade of the Year award for the most pungent statement at a ceremony scheduled for 6 PM.

HAMBURG, Germany - Slovenia will face Hungary in a match that will determine the ninth strongest team at the World Handball Championships. The game starts at 3 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - STA is to release a background prior to Wednesday's visit by Belgian Foreign Minister Karl De Gucht in Slovenia. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

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8:00 AM to 3:30 PM: Ela Petrovcic
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Matjaz Horvat

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