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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia’s efforts shift to humanitarian, development aid to Ukraine
LJUBLJANA – Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon indicated the country’s efforts regarding Ukraine would shift to the provision of development and humanitarian aid, after the previous government focused on sending military aid. “We have projects such as demining with which Slovenia can help Ukraine,” she said in the aftermath of two conflicting high-profile public letters questioning Slovenia’s positioning on Ukraine. Since the start of the war Slovenia has provided Ukraine humanitarian assistance worth EUR 3.2 million and around EUR 7 million worth of military aid, according to the Foreign Ministry.
New, cross-partisan appeal on Ukraine policy addressed to govt
LJUBLJANA – A new appeal about Slovenia’s stance on Ukraine has been sent to PM Robert Golob and FM Tanja Fajon by a number of public figures, including several ex-ministers. The cross-partisan appeal says peace in Ukraine can be achieved only through decisive support for Ukraine’s defence, not with a format of talks that led to the Minsk Agreements, as the signatories rejected the idea expressed in a letter last week co-signed by two former presidents that argues for appeasement with Russia. The coalition Freedom Movement and the Left expressed reservations about this and the previous letter.
Slovenian ambassador back in Kyiv
LJUBLJANA – Slovenia’s Ambassador to Ukraine Tomaž Mencin returned to the capital Kyiv, having left the city at the outset of Russia’s invasion, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said, describing the move as “an important message to Ukraine.” “I am satisfied that our ambassador returned to the Slovenian embassy in Kyiv today,” she told the press after talks with Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
SDS proposes resolution on prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine
LJUBLJANA – The opposition Democrats (SDS) proposed a resolution in support of a resolution by the European Parliament that is dedicated to the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine. MP Branko Grims said the crimes that were committed there showed clear signs of genocide, adding that this “naturally cannot remain without response or consequences”. The party has requested an extraordinary session of parliament on the matter.
Constitutional Court promised parliament’s help in boosting rule of law
LJUBLJANA – Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič pledged to advocate for Constitutional Court rulings to be put into effect as she received the court’s president Matej Accetto. The institution, which tells the other branches of government whether they have acted in compliance with the constitution, must be respected and protected, she said. Accetto said the court expected mutual cooperation from the legislature aimed at enhancing the rule of law.
Ethnic Slovenian elected mayor of Duino-Aurisina
AURISINA, Italy – Igor Gabrovec was elected mayor of Duino-Aurisina/Devin-Nabrežina, a municipality north of the city of Trieste bordering Slovenia, in Italian local elections on Sunday. He has become the seventh ethnic Slovenian mayor in Italy, the Trieste-based Slovenian newspaper Primorski Dnevnik reported.
Second-oldest known document in Slovenian found
LJUBLJANA – A recently-found manuscript from the 12th century has turned out to be the second-oldest known document in ancient Slovenian after the famous Freising Manuscripts. An analysis confirmed that the numerals from one to ten are written in an early Slovenian language, public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported. The recently-discovered Heiligenkreutz manuscript is kept at the monastery of the same name in Austria.
Sexual abuse in focus as Catholic dignitaries visit Vatican
VATICAN CITY, Vatican – The leadership of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference met with Pope Francis during their visit to the Holy See. Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was one of the main points of discussion in their meetings, including the one with the Pope. Apart from zero tolerance to sexual violence, the interlocutors also expressed the belief that victims should be in the focus of efforts, the Bishops’ Conference said.
AmCham debate finds private practitioners can upgrade public health system
LJUBLJANA – Private practitioners and concessionaires should not be seen as a threat to the public health system but rather as an upgrade, heard a debate hosted by AmCham Slovenija and featuring representatives of the corporate sector. Quality of services is what they said mattered more to patients than the ownership of health providers.
Patient organisations form union to promote their rights
LJUBLJANA – More than 20 patient associations have joined forces to establish the Union of Patient Associations of Slovenia choosing Štefanija Lukič Zlobec as the chair. “Our aim is to engage in dialogue and work with all stakeholders to improve the situation,” said the head of Spominčica, an association helping out with dementia.
Akrapovič posts over EUR 20m in 2021 profit
IVANČNA GORICA – Exhaust systems maker Akrapovič recorded EUR 150 million in revenue and EUR 20.1 million in profit in 2021, surpassing its pre-pandemic business results. Although the war in Ukraine still affects its business, the Ivančna Gorica-based company plans to expand production in Črnomelj, south-east.
Another Slovenian satellite ready for launch
KOUROU, French Guiana – The latest Slovenian satellite to be sent into space, the Trisat-R, has been delivered from Maribor to French Guiana, where it is scheduled to be launched on a VEGA-C rocket on 7 July. Its main purpose are measurements of ionising radiation in the medium Earth orbit to model the magnetospheric environment and better understand space weather.
Three artists receive presidential decorations
LJUBLJANA – President Borut Pahor bestowed state decorations on lyricist Elza Budau, choreographer and dancer Edward Clug and conductor Ervin Hartman. Budau and Cug received the Silver Order of Merit, and Hartman the Medal of Merit for his contribution to the development of wind orchestra music and music culture in Slovenia.
New documentary on leprosy in Sudan to bring about change
LJUBLJANA – A film about leprosy in Sudan by Slovenian human rights activists Tomo Križnar and Bojana Pivk Križnar premiered in Ljubljana on Monday. In an ensuing debate, the chair of the WHO executive board and a Foreign Ministry official commented on the failure of institutions to tackle the issue, arguing for cooperation between authorities and NGOs.
No excessive lead values found in gypsum-polluted soil
SLOVENJ GRADEC – A chemical analysis of soil treated with waste gypsum showed no excess values of heavy metals, the Agricultural Institute said. While the values of heavy metal in soil remain within the legal boundaries initial chemical analyses of the gypsum showed lead values that were 40 times higher than allowed. The results come three months after it was reported that farmers in Koroška had been misled to believe that the white matter sold to them was lime.
