News roundup - Wednesday, 20 September

Pirc Musar meets Zelensky in New York

NEW YORK, US - President Nataša Pirc Musar met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday. She assured him that Slovenia stood firmly by Ukraine, her office said. Slovenia's message is firm and clear: "We must stay united in the protection of international law. We firmly stand by Ukraine!" Pirc Musar said as she met Zelensky.

MPs pass bill to grant amnesty for breach of Covid rules

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a bill to grant amnesty for fines people received for breach of Covid rules during the pandemic. The bill provides for the reimbursement of fines imposed in proceedings initiated during the previous government's term on grounds that were later found to be unconstitutional. Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan said that the legislation was aimed at regaining people's trust in the rule of law, and the coalition considers this a step to right wrongs. On the other hand, the largest opposition party believes that the law will only lead to new injustices under the guise of addressing injustice.

MPs pass changes to Animal Protection Act

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the Animal Protection Act, which the coalition believes bring much-needed solutions to fight animal abuse, while the opposition points to numerous issues raised, among others, by farmers, veterinarians and the parliament's legal services. While some of the provisions have been changed in the legislative procedure, the most controversial one remained in place: the introduction of special "qualified reporting persons" that can check on animal welfare on farms.

Parliament cuts state coverage of religious workers' contributions

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the Religious Freedom Act that lowers the state coverage of social contributions for religious workers from 100% to 60%. While the coalition insisted that the changes addressed an unlawful situation, the opposition finds the changes amount to an inadmissible encroachment on the religious workers' rights. The changes increase the share of mandatory state coverage from 48% to 60% of average pay, but at the same time they abolish a decree adopted by the previous government, under which the state covers social contributions for religious workers in their entirety, in effect lowering the share from 100% to 60%.

MLM foundry needs new owner, economy minister says

MARIBOR - The state-owned foundry MLM needs a new owner, Economy Minister Matjaž Han said after visiting the Maribor-based company, a day after it was reported that yet another attempt at a sale had failed. The troubled company, which has received millions in over a decade, cannot count on any more state aid at this point. The minister also said that the SSH custodian of state assets remained open to any potential strategic partner for the company that has received over EUR 13.3 million in various forms of state aid since 2009.

Slovenia confirms humanitarian aid for Morocco and Libya

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will donate EUR 400,000 to Morocco and EUR 600,000 to Libya, which were respectively hit by an earthquake and heavy flooding, the Government Communications Office said. The aid for Morocco will be partially channelled through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent and partially through the Slovenian Caritas, while for Libya, the contribution will be transferred to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Slovenia among interveners in Ukraine v. Russia case before ICJ

THE HAGUE, the Netherlands - Slovenia is participating in the oral hearing in the proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case Ukraine v. Russia as one of the 32 interveners. This places Slovenia "in the circle of countries that advocate respect for international law and accept international obligations", the Foreign Ministry said. Slovenia is represented by Marko Rakovec, the head of the Directorate for International Law and Protection of Interests, who noted the integrity of the operation of the ICJ, the fulfilment of contractual obligations in good faith and respect for the importance of the Genocide Convention.

Fajon meets IAEA boss, Zelensky on margins of General Assembly session

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met a number of politicians on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, telling him that Slovenia remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine. She also met Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Grossi welcomed Slovenia's willingness to engage further on nuclear security issues in its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Foreign Ministry said.

Changes passed to depoliticise agriculture and forestry chamber

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Act which the initiators, a group of coalition MPs, claim would reduce the political influence in the operation of the chamber. The gist of the changes is that members of the bodies of political parties at the national level, MEPs, officials in the European Commission and the European Council, among others, cannot be candidates for members of bodies of the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry in the next elections in 2024.

Opposition MP involved in conflict of interest for years, says report

LJUBLJANA - Danijel Krivec, an MP for the largest opposition party, was in breach of incompatibility of dual offices for years before resigning as a council member of a municipalities-founded tourism organisation in the summer when the anti-graft watchdog opened proceedings against him, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. At the moment, the watchdog is considering a complaint against Krivec in connection with the work of Bovec municipal commissions, but it said it could not provide any further details.

Steklarna Hrastnik glassworks named Exporter of the Year

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Steklarna Hrastnik glassworks won the title of Exporter of the Year at the 10th Conference of Slovenian Exporters, hosted by the newspaper Finance. The glassworks recorded an exceptional growth in sales and profitability, the judging panel said. The glassworks employing more than 600 people saw sales go up by 75% in the last two years, recording EUR 99 million in sales revenue in 2022. A further 20% growth is planned this year. In the last six years, the company invested more than EUR 93 million in modernisation.

Vzajemna staff concerned about their future

LJUBLJANA - The employees of the mutual health insurer Vzajemna called for a bill to transform the company into a public company after abolition of the top-up health insurance scheme to be withdrawn. The transformation has already begun, and the adoption of the bill would pose a direct threat to the employees, the staff's representatives said. MPs are due to discuss the bill on Thursday after the government endorsed it on 20 July.

Spectrum auction for mobile private networks coming

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will shortly launch an auction of a spectrum in the 2300 Mhz and 3600 Mhz bands designed for mobile private networks. Smart companies and smart cities are the primary potential users. Companies, local communities and others will be able to use the spectrum to create high-quality mobile private networks with low latency, which will facilitate the transformation of industry and digitalisation of local communities, the Agency for Telecommunication Networks and Services said.

Posavje police strive to intercept migrants right at border

DOBOVA - Part of the police's roadmap to tackle a surge in illegal border crossings is to intercept migrants right at the border with Croatia in Posavje, an area in eastern Slovenia where the increase has been tangible. Ever since police presence there was boosted a few weeks ago, the situation has been improving. Intercepting migrants in the immediate vicinity of the border ensures that they do not enter nearby villages and cause tensions and concerns among locals, Bojan Tomc from the Novo Mesto Police Department said.

Military staff numbers growing gradually

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces are gradually alleviating the shortage of staff, with the number of new hires since January already exceeding that of the entire 2022, the Defence Ministry said. Last year, 186 new force members were hired, while this year the number has already reached 196, while another hundred candidates are in the hiring process. Among those hired were 17 people who only have primary education, which has only become possible recently as part of the efforts to make the military career more attractive.

Two substitute Freedom Movement MPs appointed

LJUBLJANA - After Freedom Movement's MPs Dejan Zavec and Martin Marzidovšek announced their resignation as the ruling party's MPs last week, the National Assembly confirmed at its regular session Dejan Süč and Jurij Lep as substitutes to take their seats in parliament. Zavec said he was resigning due to health reasons and Marzidovšek wants to take on new professional challenges in AI. Both outgoing MPs denied that they were leaving because they did not feel comfortable in the role of MPs.

Drago Jančar becomes first Slovenian to win Prozart Award

SKOPJE, North Macedonia - Slovenian author Drago Jančar won the Prozart Award at the 11th international literary festival Pro-Za Balkan in Skopje, North Macedonia. Jančar is an author with a sharp sense for modern narration and the skill to write original fiction in the Slovenian and Balkan literary environments. He is one of the most prominent Slovenian authors who has received an unparalleled number of awards in Slovenia and abroad.

Grošelj presents 33 climbs to highest mountains in a new book

LJUBLJANA - Viki Grošelj, one of the most successful Slovenian mountaineers, launched a book which brings an insight into 33 of his climbs to some of the highest mountains in the world, from Makalu in 1975 to Himlung in 2022. Grošelj, 71, said on the occasion that it is based on the extensive notes he had written about Slovenian, European and other mountains, which had to be considerably narrowed down to one "book, a review of more than 50 years of mountaineering". The foreword of the book, published by Buča, was written by legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner, which Grošelj sees as a great honour.

Letters exchanged by Tesla and J. P. Morgan published in Slovenian translation

LJUBLJANA - A book featuring a Slovenian translation of letters inventor Nikola Tesla exchanged with American investment banker J. P. Morgan and his son J. P. Morgan Jr. in the early 20th century to secure funding for his groundbreaking projects was published in Ljubljana. Its English title would read Nikola Tesla: Correspondence with J. P. Morgan & Co. This is the first time ever that this correspondence, which dates from between 1900 and 1939, has been published while it is also the first translation of the letters to Slovenian.

Technology and art merge at Speculum Artium

TRBOVLJE - Speculum Artium, a festival of new media art in Trbovlje, best known for its exploration of the cross-section between art, science and technology, will be held between today and Saturday, seeking answers to fundamental questions posed by contemporary art. The featured productions that explore the synthesis of artistic and scientific principles, socialization of new media production, dialogue between traditional visual and new media practice, and "revitalization of the degraded social space trough new media practice," say the organisers, the Trbovlje-based Delavski Dom.

American tourist killed in Soča rafting accident

NOVA GORICA - A 55-year-old American man died while rafting on the Soča river close to Trnovo, a village in Kobarid municipality, on Tuesday. Two others were injured as the group's boat steered off the right course into deep water, Nova Gorica police said. Two rafts carrying a total of 16 passengers and a guide each set off from Boka towards Trnovo at around 10.30am. The passengers were UK, US, Canadian and Belgian citizens and the trip was organized by a local rafting provider.