Schedule of Events from 1 to 7 December

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.

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 - 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, and a press conference should ensue.

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, Parliament Speaker Borut Pahor and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Zbogar.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 is 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.

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.

TUESDAY, 2 December

BEIJING, China - Prime Minister Anton Rop is to head to China for an official visit that will last until Sunday. Economics Minister Tea Petrin is to accompany Rop.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Before leaving for China Prime Minister Anton Rop is to hold a working meeting with European Commission President Romano Prodi. EU reform, plans to establish a "quick start list" of priority transport project as part of the economic stimulus package and the appointment of commissioners from the new members are expected to be on the agenda of talks.

LJUBLJANA - The National Council is to take a decision on whether to call a referendum on the technicalities bill on erased citizens.

NAPLES, Italy - Foreign ministers of the current and upcoming EU member states, among them Slovenian minister Dimitrij Rupel, are scheduled to hold a two-day meeting with their counterparts from Mediterranean countries.

LJUBLJANA - The Government Corruption Prevention Office is scheduled to present results of a survey on the public's views about corruption.

KRANJ - Rubber producer Sava is scheduled to stage a press conference ahead of the opening of its Obi hardware store in Kranj.

LJUBLJANA - Non-governmental organisations active in the environment and the Environment Ministry are to hold a meeting.

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Writers Association is to present the Zupancic diploma for outstanding achievements in translation.

CAKOVEC, Croatia - The Slovenian women's handball team is to open its World Championships campaign against China. The team will play the Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Hungary on Thursday, Denmark on Saturday and Germany on Sunday.

WEDNESDAY, 3 December

LJUBLJANA - Works are set to begin on a new asylum-seekers centre in the Slovenian capital. Interior Minister Rado Bohinc is scheduled to present the role of the new centre.

CAVTAT, Croatia - A regional economic forum for SE Europe is to take place. Slovenian Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is due to attend.

LJUBLJANA - The social and economic council, a body incorporating the social partners, is to hold a session to discuss the proposed tax reform and the national employment action plan for 2004, as well as amendments to the pension and disability insurance act.

LJUBLJANA - The "Merry Day of Culture" will be put on as Slovenia celebrates the birth of its greatest poet France Preseren. Most Slovenian cultural institutions will have open days to mark the occassion.

LJUBLJANA - A press conference is to be staged by the Preseren Fund at which the winners of Slovenia's highest awards in arts, the Preseren Awards, will be made public.

KRANJ - A Spanish translation of France Preseren's poems is to be presented at a press conference.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Ministers of the current and upcoming EU member states responsible for competition are to meet.

KLAGENFURT, Austria - Minister for Structural Policies and Regional Development Zdenka Kovac is to hold talks with the Governor General of Austria's Carinthia province Joerg Haider on the creation of a EU region.

LJUBLJANA - Two-day defence consultations between Slovenia and Slovakia are set to take place.

LJUBLJANA - German Ambassador to Slovenia Hans Jochen Peters will hold a lecture on the German perspective of EU policies in SE Europe.

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce is due to present its awards for best innovations in 2003.

THURSDAY, 4 December

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO foreign ministers and their counterparts from the seven countries that will become members are to hold a regular half-yearly meeting. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is set to attend the two-day event.

LJUBLJANA - The government is scheduled to hold its regular weekly session.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU council on transport, telecommunications and energy is to hold a two-day session. Slovenian Transport Minister Jakob Presecnik is scheduled to attend.

LJUBLJANA - A delegation of the Italian senate finance and treasury committee is to pay a visit to Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - The vice-chair of the French national assembly foreign policy committee Francois Loncle and member of the committee Gilbert Gantier are scheduled to visit Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's flag carrier Adria Airways is to stage a press conference to present the current conditions in commercial aviation.

TRIESTE, Italy - Minister for Structural Policies and Regional Development Zdenka Kovac is to hold talks with the head of the government of Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia region Riccardo Illy on the creation of a EU region.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia/MALAGA, Spain - Basketball club Union Olimpija (Group A) is to take on Lottomatica Roma in the fifth round of the Euroleague. Meanwhile, reigning Slovenian champions Krka (Group B) are to play at Unicaja Malaga.

FRIDAY, 5 December

LJUBLJANA - Europe Minister Janez Potocnik and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Zbogar are scheduled to receive visiting Belgian Secretary of State for European Affairs Jacques Simonet.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary commission investigating the brutal attack on journalist Miro Petek is to hold a session.

ROME, Italy - A three-day conference to mark the conclusion of the the European Year of the Disabled is to begin. Slovenia is set to be represented by Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Vlado Dimovski.

LJUBLJANA - The 13th annual conference of the Doctors and Dentists Union is to take place.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary commission for relations with with Slovenians living abroad is to stage a public presentation of views on the proposed changes to the resolution on Slovenian autochthon minorities in neighbouring countries.

KRANJSKA GORA - Slovenia's casino chain HIT is to present the construction of Grand Hotel Prisank.