Schedule of Events for Wednesday, 3 March

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to begin a two-day visit to New Zealand at the invitation of his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff. Bilateral cooperation and trade are expected to top the agenda, as well as international issues, most notably international terrorism and the reform of the UN. (STA)

LONDON, Great Britain - Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is to conclude a two-day visit to Great Britain. He is scheduled to meet chair of the House of Lords EU enlargement committee, Lord Dubs. (STA)

CAKOVEC, Croatia - Perutnina Ptuj and its Croatian subsidiary Perutnina Ptuj - Pipo from Cakovec are to speak to the press at 11 AM after more than 1% of genetically-modified substances were found in sausages produced by Pipo. (STA)

PORTOROZ - A panel is to discuss how Slovenia's agriculture and the food-processing industry are to be affected by the country's EU entry, as the 31st meeting of the Slovenian Association of Cooperatives closes.

LJUBLJANA - PM Anton Rop is to host a meeting between the management of the paper and pulp producer Vipap Videm Krsko, Environment and Energy Minister Janez Kopac and Pergam Trade Union president Dusan Rebolj. A statement to the press at 10 AM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Social and Economic Council is to discuss the implementation of the social agreement in the period from 2002 to 2005; the session begins at 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's business excellence awards are to be conferred at 11 AM by PM Anton Rop and Economics Minister Tea Petrin, with a press conference held prior to the event. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Leadership of the coalition ZLSD is to discuss topical political issues, as well as the party candidates for the June elections to European Parliament. ZLSD leader Borut Pahor is to speak to the press afterwards, at 6 PM.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is to take part in a NATO crisis management exercise, CMX'04, to end on 10 March.

LJUBLJANA - The LDS council is to meet at 4 PM to discuss the planned health reform. A statement to the press is expected after the session.

KLAGENFURT, Austria - Representatives of the National Council of Carinthian Slovenians are to outline their view on Carinthia's minority policy over the past five years; at 10 AM. (STA)

LASKO - The National Tourism Association is to present, at noon, its participation in EU programmes.

LJUBLJANA - The Government Drugs Office is to present an international report on the implementation of declarations on drugs in 2003.

PTUJ - Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek is to speak to the press as part of his visit to the NE city of Ptuj at 1 PM.

BOLOGNA, Italy - Italy's Skipper Bologna is to take on Slovenia's Union Olimpija in the first match of the round of 16, group E; at 8.40 PM. (STA)

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: Ela Petrovcic
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Eva Horvat

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