News roundup - Saturday, 15 June

Pirc Musar says only Ukraine can decide what peace plan is acceptable

LUCERNE, Switzerland - Only Ukraine can decide what kind of peace agreement and what content is acceptable to it, President Nataša Pirc Musar said on arrival at the Ukraine peace conference. And even though Russia is not taking part in the summit, she is convinced of the necessity and expediency of holding a peace summit. "Our meeting is part of a longer process, during which the Russian Federation will certainly become part of the talks. There is no other way. We have to talk", she said.

Former minister takes the helm of DeSUS

LJUBLJANA - Vlado Dimovski, an economics professor, was elected the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) in an 86:8 vote at a congress. "A new cycle has arrived, we must act in unison and be conciliatory," Dimovski said in his first statement after the vote. Dimovski, 63, served as labour minister in two consecutive liberal democratic governments in 2002-2004. He had been a member of the Social Democrats (SD) but left the party in 2009. He joined DeSUS in March this year.

New regional VC fund targets deep tech investing

LJUBLJANA - Vesna, the first regional venture capital fund specialised in investing into deep tech projects and startups, has been launched. The fund currently has EUR 40 million available from the Slovenian Export and Development Bank, the Croatian Development Bank and the European Investment Fund. Another EUR 10 million is sought from private investors. The essence of Vesna is to turn basic research into commercial services, managing partner Nina Dremelj told the STA.

Tour of Slovenia: Aleotti holds on to GC lead as Bilbao wins queen stage

KRVAVEC - Pello Bilbao of Spain (Bahrain-Victorious) won the fourth stage of the Tour of Slovenia by managing to break away in the last 100 metres of the climb to Krvavec and get within 12 seconds of Giovanni Aleotti (Bora-hansgrohe) in the general classification. Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group-Bardiani CSF) and his teammate Giulio Pelizzario are 25 seconds behind.

Koper's oldest building restored

KOPER - The Koper Rotunda, also known as the Rotunda of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, opened after two years of restoration works that have turned the city's oldest building into an exhibition and event venue. The building is believed to have been erected in the 11th century, though no precise records of its origin exist. Renovation, financed by the city, the government and the Koper Diocese, started in 2022 and was officially completed on Friday.