News roundup - Thursday, 13 June, until 3pm

Glavaš, Brieger discuss strengthening defence capabilities

LJUBLJANA - Lt-Gen Robert Glavaš, the chief of the general staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, met Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU Military Committee, to discuss the EU's ambitions for strengthening security and defence capabilities. "Slovenia's contribution to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations is highly appreciated," said Brieger, who believes there is a general awareness of challenging times that require trusted coordination more than ever. "The situation in the Western Balkans is calm but fragile," he added.

Slovenia joins condemnation of human rights violations in N Korea

NEW YORK, US - Ambassador Samuel Žbogar condemned on behalf of Slovenia at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday the long-standing, systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations in North Korea. Slovenia joined a special statement of condemnation issued by several countries ahead of the meeting. Žbogar said that unfortunately the situation in North Korea has not changed even ten years after the report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the country, which stated that the violations may constitute crimes against humanity.

Slovenia's industrial output growth among highest in EU

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output increased by 5.9% in April compared to March and by 7.4% year-on-year, Eurostat data shows. In the eurozone, it fell 0.1% in the monthly and 3% in the yearly comparison, while in the EU it was up 0.5% on March and down 2% year-on-year. Slovenia's growth was the fourth and third highest respectively in the EU. Slovenia trailed only Denmark (+17.4%) and Greece (+10.8%) in terms of the April year-on-year industrial output growth.

Construction of apartments up last year

LJUBLJANA - Around 14,100 apartments were under construction in Slovenia last year, of which around 4,900 were finished by the end of the year, or 15% more than the previous year. 6% fewer apartments were completed in single-apartment buildings, while 43% more were completed in multi-apartment buildings, the Statistics Office said. Last year, 8,022 buildings were completed, or 6% fewer than in 2022. The number of completed residential buildings fell by 2% and of non-residential buildings by 8%.

President discusses wars, post-war killings in Kobarid

KOBARID - Touring the region of Posočje in the west, President Nataša Pirc Musar made a stop in Kobarid on Wednesday to also discuss post-war killings, saying that she would strive to bring unity into Slovenian politics about an ossuary for the victims of post-WWII killings. Burial of their remains will be a key task of her term, she said, adding that the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year would be a good opportunity to close this issue.

Slovenian community in US celebrates Statehood Day

WASHINGTON, US - The Slovenian Embassy in Washington hosted a celebration ahead of Statehood Day, attended by government representatives and members of the Slovenian community. Communities in Cleveland and Minneapolis also held celebrations early, while in others parts of the US they will follow in the weeks leading up to 25 June, when the holiday is celebrated in Slovenia.

Writers urge Book Agency to fully finance Vilenica festival

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Writers' Association (DSP) addressed an open letter to the country's Book Agency (JAK) and the Culture Ministry urging them to fully fund Vilenica, an established international festival which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year and which can be credited with promotion of Slovenian literature. This year's festival is estimated to cost around EUR 152,000. While JAK provided EUR 75,000 for it last year, it has now approved only EUR 50,000.