Schedule of Events for Monday, 1 December

MAASTRICHT, the Netherlands - The 11th ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that will take place in Maastricht on Monday and Tuesday is to be attended by Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. The conference will focus on strategy in combating threats to security and stability in the 21st century, foremost terrorism, while attention will also be paid to human trafficking. Slovenia is to assume a position in the OSCE's leading troika in the run up to its 2005 presidency of the organisation. (STA)

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Ministers from NATO and thier counterparts from upcoming member states, including Slovenia's Anton Grizold, are to hold their regular half-yearly meeting. The meeting will focus on the establishment of a new command structure and current campaigns, especially in Afghanistan and the Balkans. European defence plans, which are worrying the U.S., are likely to be examined as well.

LJUBLJANA - President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Douglas Bereuter is scheduled to be on visit to Slovenia. The guest will be received by Prime Minister Anton Rop (3:30 PM), Parliament Speaker Borut Pahor (1:15 PM) and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Zbogar (4:15 PM). A statement for the press will follow the meeting with Pahor. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - A Bosnian parliamentary delegation headed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nikola Spiric is to begin a two-day visit to Slovenia at the invitation of Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor. Spiric is to be received by Prime Minister Anton Rop. The main talks are to take place on Tuesday.

OBREZJE - Prime Minister Anton Rop and the head of the European Commission delegation to Slovenia Erwan Fouere are to be in attendance as an international road border crossing on the future external border of the EU is opened at Obrezje. The border has been built according to Schengen standards and is one of the biggest road border crossings on the future external border. (STA)

BRUSSELS, Belgium - A two-day session of the EU council on employment, social policies, health and consumers will begin. Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Vlado Dimovski is to be in attendance on the first day. The second day of the session will be attended by Slovenian Health Minister Dusan Keber.

ROME, Italy - Ministers of the current and future EU member states in charge of the public administration are to gather for an informal meeting to debate enlargement and reform of the EU and its effects on the public administration. Slovenian Interior Minister Rado Bohinc is due to participate.

VIENNA, Austria - Slovenian Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is scheduled to take part in a forum discuss the opportunities presented to Austria by EU enlargement.

LJUBLJANA - A two-day seminar on the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy is to be put on by the Institute for Macroeconomic Analyses and Development in collaboration with the British Embassy and the Chamber of Commerce. The event is to begin at 9:00 AM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Agriculture Workers Union is due to present progress in talks on tax reform it has held with the Finance Ministry at 10:30 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Railways are to stage a promotional train ride on its new tilt technology train that will begin servicing the Ljubljana-Venice route as of mid-December.

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Defence will present the results of a survey on young people's views about the military profession at 11:00 AM. (STA)

PASSARIAN, Italy - Foreign Minister State Secretary Andrej Logar is to head a delegation that will hold talks with officials of Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia region. The talks will be held in the framework of a standing commission debating joint developmental matters.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will observe World Aids Day. A charity concert (6:00 PM) and a round table (11:00 AM) are to be staged on the occassion in the Slovenian capital. Moreover, volunteers are to distribute 80,000 condoms, 32,000 promotional postcards and 20,000 red ribbons to observe the day. An exhibition of used needles returned by drug users in one month as part of a needle exchange programme will be put on by Fundacija Robert, a charity aiding AIDS patients and drug addicts. (STA)

VIENNA, Austria - A draw for the round of 16 competition of Champions League in men's handball is to be held. Slovenian clubs Prule 67 and Celje Pivovarna Lasko have qualified for play in the competition.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

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