Schedule of Events for Thursday, 8 February

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia celebrates Culture Day in memory of Romantic poet France Preseren (1800-1849), who is considered Slovenia's most influential man of letters. Numerous cultural institutions across the country will offer free admission to mark the national holiday.

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The centenary of culture cooperation among the Slovenian minority in the Austrian province of Carinthia is to be marked at a ceremony scheduled for 7 PM. Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti is to be the speaker of honour at the event.

PTUJ - The Slovenian theatre portal, SiGledal, is to be launched at an event scheduled for 11 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti is to receive the Preseren Prize and Preseren Fund Prize laureates at noon.

LOKA PRI MENGSU - The Slovenian-run Centre for European Perspective will host an international conference titled "Inter-cultural and Inter-religious Dialogue: Building Bridges of Understanding and Cooperation". The event, which starts at 9:30 AM, will bring together leaders of ethnic and religious communities, government officials and international experts with a view to improving inter-cultural cooperation in Kosovo. A press conference is scheduled for 1:45 PM (STA/PHOTO)

SEVILLA, Spain - NATO defence ministers are to start a two-day informal meeting focusing on the alliance's operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as NATO's military transformation. Slovenian Defence Minister Karl Erjavec will be taking part.

NUERNBERG, Germany - Slovenian Minister of Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Marjeta Cotman is to participate in a conference on the European social model.

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

11 AM to 7 PM: Ela Petrovcic

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