Schedule of Events for Friday, 28 May

MAMAIA, Romania - Central European presidents, among them Slovenia's Janez Drnovsek, will resume their two-day summit at 9 AM, focusing on the future of the Western Balkans. They will debate issues of stability, the significance of common European policies and regional cooperation. Joining in the debate will be Erhard Busek, the coordinator of the SE European Stability Pact. Top European corporate executives are meanwhile expected to join the debate on business environment and investment. (STA)

VATICAN CITY - Prime Minister Anton Rop is due to meet Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, at 10:15 AM, whereupon the two sides will exchange the instruments of ratification of the Slovenia-Holy See agreement. After an audience with Pope John Paul II, scheduled for 11 AM, the PM is to address the press at 12:30 PM (STA)

KOPER - Interior Minister Rado Bohinc is due at the Koper Police Department in what will be the first in a series of visits to the PDs responsible for the control of the external border of the EU. After inspecting the border crossings, Bohinc is to establish, together with ministry and police officials, the state of readiness for the changes after the introduction the Schengen regime. A press conference is scheduled for 2 PM. (STA)

GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is due to join a two-day EU-Latin America and Caribbean summit. On the sidelines of the event, the FM is expected to hold several bilateral meetings, including with his counterparts from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

BAMAKO, Mali - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Zbogar is to take part in the ministerial meeting of the Human Security Network. The meeting of this informal group of countries is to focus on personal arms and light weapons. Slovenia's part at the 6th ministerial meeting of the Human Security Network will be mainly centred on issues regarding children's protection in armed conflicts.

BLED/BRDO PRI KRANJU/LJUBLJANA - A round-table debate of the PEN Writers for Peace Committee will discuss the topic "Peace: Good or Bad Compromise?" as part of the 37th International Writers Meeting. After the debate, the writers are scheduled to attend a reception hosted by President Janez Drnovsek at Brdo Castle at 1 PM, whereupon they are due to visit Ljubljana for a literary evening at Ljubljana Castle at 5 PM, featuring Greek poet Anastassis Vistonitis.

LJUBLJANA - Minister of Education, Science and Sport Slavko Gaber and Economics Minister Matej Lahovnik are due to outline the activities of the European Regional Development Fund at a press conference at 11 AM.

PORTOROZ - The 14th Slovenian Political Sciences Days, organised by the Slovenian Association of Political Sciences, will resume under the title "Slovenia in the EU: Capabilities and Opportunities". On the second day of the meeting, debates will focus on the Slovenian economy, Europeanisation of Slovenian political parties, public procurement and corruption, the EU defence and security policy and other topics. The conference will wrap up on Saturday with debates on Slovenian science, the Bologna reform and the role of national parliaments in the EU.

LJUBLJANA - A press conference is scheduled as part of the International Railway Congress Association-sponsored seminar; at 10 AM.

LJUBLJANA - A press conference is scheduled for 11 AM to present the 9th Slovenian Marketing Conference scheduled for 1 and 2 June at Portoroz.

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: Gorazd Jukovic

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