Schedule of Events for Friday, 4 November

LJUBLJANA - Roger Briesch, vice-president of the European Economic and Social Committee, is to speak about the Lisbon Strategy at a session of Slovenia's Economic and Social Council scheduled for 10:30 AM. The Council is also to debate a bill on collective agreements and a bill on companies.

LAS VEGAS, the US - Slovenia's largest gaming chain HIT and Harrah's Entertainment, the world's biggest casino operator, are to sign a memorandum of understanding on a EUR 800m joint venture involving the construction of a large gaming centre in Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - Together with the Trade Union of Pensioners, the Association of Free Trade Unions (ZSSS) is to outline its view on the consequences of a flat tax rate for pensioners; at 9 AM.

LJUBLJANA - The Trade Association at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) is to discuss at 10 AM changes to the trade act which envisages the closure of some shops on Sundays.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary EU affairs committee is to meet behind closed doors at 2 PM to discuss a session of the ECOFIN scheduled for 8 November in Brussels.

LJUBLJANA - FM Dimitrij Rupel is to speak to the press at 11:30 AM after meeting representatives of Slovenian humanitarian organisations taking part in post-earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan.

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Lovro Sturm, the head of the government commission for religious communities, is to meet at 11 AM Daniel Mariaschin of the Jewish organisation B'nai B'rith, who is to visit Slovenia on behalf of the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO).

LJUBLJANA - A conference on the development of local democracy is to be organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Government Office for Local Government, opening at 9 AM.

LJUBLJANA - As part of the month against addiction, the Public Health Institute is to present the latest data on drug addicts and anti-drugs programmes at a news conference scheduled for 11 AM.

PIRAN - The director of the Office for Drugs Milan Krek is to address the 8th conference of national action groups combating drug addiction, with a press conference following at 1:30 PM.

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

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