News roundup - Friday, 19 May

Presidents support resuming talks between Slovenian minority and Italian govt

ROME, Italy - President Nataša Pirc Musar outlined to her Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, as she started a visit to Italy, the Slovenian minority's efforts to call a meeting of a body dealing with Slovenian minority issues at the Italian Interior Ministry. The Italian president supported the proposal, said Pirc Musar's office. Migration, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Western Balkans were also on their agenda. Pirc Musar also met Qu Dongyu, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), to discuss the importance of bees and other pollinators. She also opened an exhibition marking World Bee Day at the FAO headquarters.

Golob: Areas affected by heavy rain to get funds immediately

SLADKI VRH - Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the Šentilj municipality in north-east, which was severely affected by heavy rainfall and landslides. He announced the state will immediately provide aid and funds to the affected areas. "The state will immediately provide help," he said as he spoke to the press in the town of Sladki Vrh. Golob said he was aware that no Slovenian municipality alone had the necessary funds to take up such a large burden, which is why the state must step in. He said all municipalities asking for help will be treated equally.

Heavy rains wreck havoc in agriculture in north-east

LJUBLJANA - The situation on agricultural land is catastrophic, especially in the north-eastern regions of Pomurje and Podravje, with some areas in south and central Slovenia also experiencing severe problems, the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) said in a message sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. "The situation on agricultural land, especially in Pomurje and Podravje, is catastrophic, with heavily water-soaked land, some of which is still flooded. Thousands of hectares of agricultural land was or is still flooded," the KGZ added.

Ukraine decorates Šarec, Črnčec for their help to the country

LJUBLJANA - Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovenia Andriy Taran decorated Defence Minister Marjan Šarec and State Secretary Damir Črnčec for their contribution to the strengthening of relations between Slovenia and Ukraine and their help and assistance in Ukraine's defence. Taran bestowed on behalf of the Ukrainian Defence ministry the Mark of Esteem on Šarec and the Medal for Supporting the Armed Forces on Črnčec. "Today's award ceremony is an expression of gratitude of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Taran was quoted as saying by the Defence Ministry.

NGOs call on govt to stop deportations of asylum seekers

LJUBLJANA - Asylum seekers and NGOs staged a rally to call on the government to prevent the planned deportations of two asylum seekers. The practice of handing those seeking international protection over to Croatia needs to be scrapped immediately, they said. The rally was a response to certain NGO's warnings in recent days that the Interior Ministry intends to return a large number of asylum seekers to Croatia in the next few days. The government said all asylum applications were handled on a case-by-case basis.

Leaders discuss crisis management at international conference

BLED - A number of experts and leaders in politics and business convened an international conference on crisis management hosted the the IEDC Bled - School of Management and Bloomberg Adria. Setting priorities and focusing on their implementation was highlighted as a key to success. Former Finnish prime minister and manager at Nokia Esko Aho said it was key that those in charge are aware that crises demand changes in existing strategies and concepts. Prime Minister Robert Golob said was very important to stay focused, which is much harder to do in politics than in business.

Slovenian diplomacy has become a strong structure, minister says

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian diplomacy has over the year evolved into a professional, strong structure "that we can and must be proud of", said Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon at an event marking the Slovenian Diplomacy Day, observed on 22 May. "In the 30 years of independence, Slovenian diplomacy has evolved into a professional, strong structure that represents and protects our national interests in the increasingly complex world," said Fajon.

Debate in parliament deems regulatory framework for peer violence adequate

LJUBLJANA - According to police assessments, the number of reported cases of peer violence in Slovenia has slightly increased in recent years. However, the Justice Ministry does not see the need to lower the age threshold for criminal responsibility, which stands at 14, a joint session of the pertinent parliamentary committees heard. Representatives from other ministries agreed that the existing regulatory framework is appropriate and that a greater emphasis should be placed on prevention.

Number of Brnik airport passengers up by over a half y/y

BRNIK - The number of passengers travelling through the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport increased by 51% in the first four months of the year, show data by operator Fraport Slovenija. While overall passenger traffic remains under the pre-pandemic levels, some routes have exceeded the 2019 figures. In April alone, over 95,000 people travelled through Brnik airport, an increase of 36% year-on-year, and the number is expected to exceed 100,000 in May.

Police marks 30 years of Interpol membership

TACEN - The Slovenian police celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Interpol membership at an event at the Tacen Police Academy. Attended by Slovenian and foreign officials, the event heard about the importance of Interpol and its development throughout its 100-year history. Addressing the event, Borut Selan, head of the country's International Police Cooperation Department, described the cooperation between Slovenia and Interpol as a success story.

Steklarna Hrastnik launches digitalisation project

HRASTNIK - Steklarna Hrastnik glassworks launched a EUR 4.6 million project to digitalise production. General director Peter Čas said that the funds will enable his company to go digital in several fields: in innovation, organisation, and management of operations and markets. The company will introduce new and upgrade existing technologies and applications, as well as new business models for different markets. It will also develop machine learning models to optimise production.

Forty new public rental apartments available in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - A new apartment complex offering 40 public rental apartments was inaugurated in Dolgi Most in the southwest of the capital. This is the last of the three housing complexes built by the National Housing Fund in the Vič borough next to Brdo and Gerbičeva, the funds' head Črtomir Remec said. The new apartments in Dolgi Most are 38-79 square metres big and apart from the bathroom are not equipped. They are also suitable for persons with disabilities.

Six thousand students dance quadrille in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Around 6,000 final-year secondary school students are estimated to have danced the quadrille in 20 Slovenian towns at noon as part of the European Quadrille Dance Festival. The most, 2,500, danced in the capital of Ljubljana, followed by around 1,000 in Maribor, the country's second largest city. Project coordinator Rudi Kocbek said that alongside the Slovenian kids another 12,000 danced in 25 towns in the five countries.