Schedule of Events for Tuesday, 16 December

PARIS, France - Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is to start a two-day visit to France. He is to discuss the next EU financial plan for 2007-2013, the economic growth and the common foreign and security policy with French officials. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The government is to hold a session at 3.30 PM to discuss the tax reform. A press conference is scheduled for 6 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Russian Ambassador to Slovenia Vyacheslav Dolgov and chairman of drug maker Krka Milos Kovacic are to give lectures on political and business relations between Slovenia and Russia at 5 PM. Earlier in the day, at 9 AM, the results of a survey on Slovenian companies' strategy on the Russian market will be presented. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Walter Kolbow, Deputy Defence Minister of Germany, is to begin a two-day working visit to Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - The MPs are to continue their regular December session at 10 AM, discussing among other issues the bill to avoid conflicts of interest and fight corruption. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Labour Ministry is to hold a conference with partners from the European Social Fund as part of preparations to draw money from the European structural funds. Starting at 8.30 AM, the conference is to be addressed by Labour Minister Vlado Dimovski and attended by Regional Development Minister Zdenka Kovac and EU ambassador to Slovenia Erwan Fouere.

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andrej Logar is to sign a Slovenian-Russian agreement on diplomatic offices.

LJUBLJANA - An annex to an agreement on a joint scholarship programme, "Valvasor - Chevening", is to be signed by Culture Minister Andreja Rihter and British Ambassador to Slovenia Hugh Mortimer at 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - France Drenovec, adviser to the central bank governor, and Janez Fabijan, who is in charge of financial statistics at the Bank of Slovenia, will present the October balance of payments figures at a press conference at 1 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Stock Exchange is to present the 2003 trading statistics and plans for the future, including the trading opportunities on the German Xetra system, at a press conference at 1 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Director of the Slovenian Tax Administration (DURS) Stojan Grilj is to present the e-tax system to the press at 9.30 AM.

KOPER - The Port of Koper is to give a press conference at 1 PM on 2003 business results and plans for 2004. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Managers of the Acroni and Metal steelworks companies, Vasilij Preseren and Peter Prikerznik, are to present business results and plans for future at 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Railways are to present the 2003 business results to the press at noon.

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to hold a traditional New Year's reception for foreign diplomats.

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Handball Association is to hold a press conference ahead of the European Championships at 1 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

In case of further queries please contact duty editor at +386 1 241 0109:

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM: Sebastijan Macek
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Eva Horvat

Comments and suggestions may be sent to: english@sta.si