News roundup - Wednesday, 17 July

Gas supply deal signed as minister visits Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer and a delegation from the country's largest gas supplier Geoplin met top Azerbaijani energy officials, with Geoplin and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan - SOCAR signing a memorandum of understanding on gas supply. The memorandum paves the way for further cooperation between the two countries in the gas supply and thus for the security of energy supply of Slovenia, Geoplin said. Kumer stressed that the visit consolidated the strategic partnership between the two countries and ensured the reliability of gas supplies.

Govt, public sector union sign deal, hope for final agreement in autumn

LJUBLJANA - The government and public sector trade unions signed a document laying down the points on which agreement has been reached in the public sector pay reform negotiations. Signing the document, the finance and public administration ministers and trade union representatives said this was an important step for future negotiations. The document stipulates that the new pay system would apply from 2025. It sets the ratio between the lowest and highest pay, rules for indexation to inflation, and transitional periods.

Support for von der Leyen from Slovenian MEPs unclear

STRASBOURG, France - A day before the European Parliament votes on the re-appointment of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it remains unclear how many Slovenian votes she may get. Only Matej Tonin (NSi/EPP) has said he would endorse her. Two leftist MEPs plan to vote against, two Renew MEPs have not made up their mind yet, while at lest one of four members of the EPP, Zala Tomašič, said she would vote against and indicated the other three Slovenian members of her faction would do the same.

Slovenia proposes three-step approach for peace in Gaza

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia's Ambassador to the UN Security Council Samuel Žbogar proposed a three-step approach to addressing the war in Gaza as he talked at open session of the Security Council dedicated to the situation in the Middle East called by Russia. The steps he proposed are immediate ceasefire, a relaunch of a political process to find a solution and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which would require strong Palestinian authorities.

Interior Ministry officials visit communities facing Roma-perpetrated crime

METLIKA/ŠKOCJAN - Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar and State Secretary Helga Dobrin visited Škocjan and Metlika after the municipalities reported an increase of crimes allegedly perpetrated by members of the Roma community and locals had floated ideas of organising militias. Poklukar said that the police force would be more active throughout the summer and autumn and pledged that all crimes will be thoroughly investigated.

Spartan to serve as replacement government aircraft

LJUBLJANA - The government decided that the new military C-27J Spartan will serve as a replacement government aircraft when the only government jet, a Dessault Falcon 2000EX, is out of service. It will only be used if it is not needed by the Slovenian Armed Forces. The Falcon has had to undergo repair six times this year and has left both the prime minister and the president stranded.

Petrol says margins raise not enough to cover costs

LJUBLJANA - After the government decided to raise retail margins for fuel sold outside the Slovenian motorway network, Petrol, the biggest fuel retailer in the country, said that the increased margin is still not enough to cover all costs related to the distribution of fuels and petroleum products, and does not include the costs related to mandatory addition of biofuel. "Our aim is to bring the margins closer to the EU average of around 20 cents per litre," the company said.

Govt introduces day dedicated to civil defence

LJUBLJANA - The government declared 28 September Civil Defence Day. The date carries a symbolic meaning as it commemorates the day in 1990 when a constitutional law was passed to implement amendments to the Constitution regarding national defence, a key document for defence planning.

Pesticide sales in Slovenia down in recent years

LJUBLJANA - Pesticide sales in Slovenia are decreasing for various reasons, shows the report of the national programme for sustainable pesticide use for 2018-2022. The data also shows that the water quality is not at risk due to the use of pesticides. Pesticide sales dropped by 32% in 2021 compared to the average sales in the period between 2011 and 2013, the Agriculture Ministry and the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection said.

Garnbret says she will not be tourist in Paris, aims for gold

PORTOROŽ - Slovenian sport climbing star Janja Garnbret will be defending her Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and even though the event itself will be different than in Tokyo in 2020, she is travelling to the French capital with the same goals and determination. "I'm going to Paris really focused, I'm not going there to play tourist," Garnbret has told the press as part of a media day. She will cheer for other Slovenians and go sightseeing in Paris only if her schedule permits.

Boxer Kozin to defend world title in August

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian boxer Ema Kozin will defend her WBC and WBO female super-welterweight titles against Norwegian boxer Cecilia Braekhus in Las Vegas on 10 August. "This is a great opportunity for Ema. We'll do everything we can to make sure she defends her titles. We expect a long fight in which anything can happen," Kozin's coach Rudi Pavlin told the STA.

Some prisoners allowed reprieve from heat in forests

LJUBLJANA - Groups of prisoners and juveniles from two prisons and a youth correctional facility were taken on organised hikes through forests or parks to seek shelter from the current heatwave, the Prison Administration said, adding that the trips had an invigorating effect on them. The prisoners allowed to go on hikes or short trips are serving their sentences either in the Dob pri Mirni and Maribor prisons, while the Radeče correctional centre is responsible for the juveniles.