STA Coverage on Monday, 8 July

BUCHAREST - Slovene President Milan Kucan is set to kick off his week-long three nation tour of SE Europe, with the first stop being a two-day visit to Romania. The president is to hold talks with his Romanian counterpart Ion Iliescu, which are to be followed by a press conference at 5.30 PM. The countries are set to sign three bilateral agreements, including one on the avoidance of double taxation. Kucan is also expected to take part in the laying of a foundation stone on the site where Slovene pharmaceutical company Lek is to build a new manufacturing plant.

REYKJAVIK - Slovene Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek is to launch a two-day official visit to Iceland, where he is to meet with Icelandic counterpart David Odsson, President Olafur Regnar Grimmson and the Speaker of Iceland's Parliament - the oldest in the world - Halldor Blondal. Talks Drnovsek is scheduled to hold with the top Icelandic officials are to focus on Slovenia's bid to become a member of NATO, while issues of bilateral co-operation, the EU and the situation in SE Europe are also expected to be touched upon.

LJUBLJANA - Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoi is due to pay an official visit to Slovenia. Shvydkoi, who is to arrive to Slovenia late on Sunday, is scheduled to hold talks with Slovene host and counterpart Andreja Rihter, while he is also due to visit the lakeside resort of Bled and a number of Slovene cultural institutions as part of his stay.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary committee for Slovenes living abroad will stage the second meeting of Slovenes from around the world.

VRHOVO - Minister for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy Janez Kopac, along with the general manager of the Holding Slovenske elektrarne Drago Fabijan, technical director of the Holding Ladislav Tomsic and the general manager of Savske elektrarne Borut Miklavic are to present the project of constructing a chain of hydro electric plants along the lower Sava river in SE Slovenia. The press conference is to be followed by the signing of a license agreement for the utilisation of the energy potential of the Sava river.

LJUBLJANA - A review of the Slovene press.

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