Event Archive for April 2004

30 Apr - 1 May 2004 — Kranjska Gora, Nova Gorica, Gornja Radgona, Ljubljana, Hodoš
Highlights of celebrations around Slovenia on the eve of Slovenia's official entry into the EU
--Nova Gorica: European Commission President Romano Prodi and PM Anton Rop are to address those gathered in Nova Gorica, at a newly constructed square connecting the town to the Italian city of Gorizia. Parliament Speaker Borut Pahor is to deliver his address shortly before midnight. -- Kranjska Gora: Slovenian PM Anton Rop, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and instead of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi the Italian Minister of regional affairs Mr Enrico La Loggia, are to meet near Kranjska Gora, where the borders of the three countries come together, to mark the disappearance of borders following Slovenia's EU membership. -- Gornja Radgona: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to meet with his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero-Waldner at the border town of Gornja Radgona. Also attending the celebration are National Council President Janez Susnik and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Valentin Pohorec. -- Ljubljana: Celebrations marking EU membership are to be staged at various locations throughout the capital, with keynote speaker Janez Drnovsek. Ljubljana mayor Danisa Simsic and Former Europe Minister Janez Potocnik are to address the crowds just before midnight. -- Hodoš: Former presidents of Slovenia and Hungary, Milan Kucan and Arpad Goenz, are to meet at the border crossing Hodos.
Slovenia - the New Star of Europe /More information

29 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Regular weekly cabinet session
At its weekly session, the government is to discuss draft changes to the customs service act and a tax service bill.

29 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
EU Entry: Parliament to Hold Ceremony Marking EU Entry
The parliament is to mark Slovenia's 1 May EU entry with a ceremonial session. Beginning at 8 PM, the session is expected to be attended by around 250 guests, with Speaker Borut Pahor as the keynote speaker. The Slovenian and EU anthems are to be played, and an EU flag raised in the parliament next to the Slovenian one.

29 Apr 2004 — Luxembourg
Meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers
Interior Minister Rado Bohinc is to attend a two-day meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers which is to focus on anti-terrorism measures and refugees-related matters.

28 Apr 2004 — Jelšane
Official opening of Jelsane border crossing
Slovenian and Croatian presidents, Janez Drnovsek and Stipe Mesic, are to officially open the upgraded international border crossing Jelsane, one of the main entry points into Slovenia, at 12.30 PM. The ceremony is to be attended by head of the European Commission delegation to Slovenia Erwan Fouere. Drnovsek and Mesic are to give a joint statement to the press at 12.55 PM.

28 Apr 2004 — Berlin, Warsaw
Foreign Minister Rupel in Berlin and Warsaw
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to take part in an OSCE conference on antisemitism. He is to speak in the framework of a plenary session on legal and institutional mechanisms and government action. Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to attend the opening of the European Economic Forum in Warsaw.
Dr Rupel participates in the OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism

26 Apr - 27 Apr 2004 — Luxembourg
Meeting of the EU council for general affairs and external relations
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to take part in a meeting of the EU council for general affairs and external relations. The newcomers' preparedness to join the EU, the timetable for negotiations on the EU's constitutional treaty and the failed referendum on the reunification of Cyprus are to top the agenda.

23 Apr 2004 — Brdo pri Kranju/Ljubljana
NATO Secretary General to Visit Slovenia Friday
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is to arrive on an official visit to Slovenia today. He is scheduled to meet PM Anton Rop, President Janez Drnovsek, FM Dimitrij Rupel and Defence Minister Anton Grizold, and address the Slovenian Parliament. His visit is part of a tour of the NATO newcomers, which joined the alliance on 29 March.

22 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
News conference of the newly-established Slovenian Minority Coordination
The newly-established association Slovenian Minority Coordination, which associates minority organisations of Slovenians living in Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy, is to outline its activities at a news conference at 12 AM.

22 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Regular weekly cabinet session
The cabinet is to hold its weekly session to discuss among other items a programme on waste management.

21 Apr 2004 — Portorož
Three-day international conference on the Slovenian law and economy in the light of EU accession
A three-day international conference on the Slovenian law and economy in the light of EU accession is to open at 10 AM, organised by the Ljubljana and Maribor Faculties of Law and the European Commission Delegation to Slovenia. Attending will be PM Anton Rop, Parliament Speaker Borut Pahor, FM Dimitrij Rupel, the former Europe Minister Janez Potocnik, EU Ambassador Erwan Fouere and Director General of DG Enlargement Fabrizio Barbaso.
Dr Rupel participates in the international conference "Slovenian Law and the Economy upon EU Accession

20 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
PM and the cabinet in the parliament
Continuing the extraordinary session at 10 AM, the parliament is expected to pass the income tax bill and amendments to the bill on value-added tax. The questions session with PM Anton Rop and the cabinet is scheduled for 3 PM.

20 Apr 2004 — Graz
FM Dimitrij Rupel in Graz
FM Dimitrij Rupel is to appear as a guest of the Austrian-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce to talk about Slovenia and the EU.
Dr Rupel addresses Austrian-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce

19 Apr 2004 — Prizren
Defence Minister Anton Grizold is to pay a visit Kosovo to meet with Slovenian troops
Defence Minister Anton Grizold is to pay a visit to the troubled province of Kosovo to meet with Slovenian troops taking part in the peacekeeping operation Joint Guardian.

19 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana/Brdo pri Kranju
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende is to pay a visit to Slovenia at the invitation of Slovenian PM Anton Rop
The prime ministers are to deliver press statements at 6:20 PM. Belkenende is also to be received by President Janez Drnovsek.
The Dutch Prime Minister Presented the Priorities of his Country’s Presidency of the EU to the Slovenian President

16 Apr - 17 Apr 2004 — Tullamore
Informal meeting of foreign ministers from current and future EU members
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to attend a two-day informal meeting of foreign ministers from current and future EU members, which will be the last meeting of its kind before the EU expands on 1 May.
Foreign Minister Rupel participates in informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers

16 Apr 2004 — Vienna
Bohinc to Attend Vienna Meeting of Interior Ministers
Terrorism measures are to be discussed in a meeting of interior ministers from six of the current EU member states and five of the countries that are set to join the bloc on 1 May. Slovenian Interior Minister Rado Bohinc will be among the participants of Friday's meeting in Vienna.

16 Apr 2004 — Brdo pri Kranju
Austrian President Thomas Klestil in Slovenia
Austrian President Thomas Klestil is to pay an official visit to discuss bilateral topics with his Slovenian counterpart and host Janez Drnovsek. Drnovsek and Klestil are scheduled to speak to the press at 12.15 PM.

14 Apr 2004 — Brussels
Commissioner-Designate Potocnik to Be Heard by MEPs Today
Janez Potocnik, the Slovenian candidate for the European commissioner, is to undergo a hearing in the European Parliament.

13 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Palestinian FM on Visit to Slovenia Today
Palestinian FM Nabil Sha'ath is to begin a two-day working visit in what will be the first visit by a Palestinian foreign minister to Slovenia. Apart from meeting his host FM Dimitrij Rupel, Sha'ath is to discuss the Mideast crisis as well as several other topics with a number of top Slovenian officials. News conference at 4.10 PM
Foreign Minister of Palestinian National Authority to pay official visit to Slovenia (Information and programme)
Foreign Minister Rupel hosts visit of Palestinian Foreign Minister Shaath

13 Apr 2004 — Maribor
"Neighbours without Frontiers" - international conference in Maribor
Several Slovenian, Austrian, Croatian and Hungarian TV stations are to sign a document setting up a "media cluster" in what will be a first project of "cross-border television" of its kind in the region. The event - termed "Neighbours without Frontiers" - is to be addressed by PM Anton Rop at noon.

9 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Croatian Foreign Minister in Slovenia
Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul is due to pay an official visit upon the invitation of his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel. News conference is scheduled at 11.05 AM. Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and his Croatian counterpart are set to examine the state of bilateral relations, also focusing on the issues troubling them. Apart from Rupel, the Croatian FM is also scheduled to meet President Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister Anton Rop and Speaker of Parliament Borut Pahor.
Talks between Dr Rupel and the Croatian Foreign Minister
Information MFA
The Prime Minister meets the Croatian Foreign Minister

8 Apr 2004 — Ankara, Wicklow
Ministers abroad
- Minister of the Interior Rado Bohinc, who is continuing a two-day official visit to Turkey, is to sign with his Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Aksu a bilateral agreement on fighting drug-trafficking and international terrorism. - Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is to conclude a two-day working visit to Ireland, where he is attending "Communicating Europe", an informal ministerial conference organised by the Irish EU presidency.

8 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Regular weekly cabinet session
The government is to hold a weekly session at 10 AM to examine among other items the amendments to the companies act.

7 Apr 2004 — Pula
Three-way talks on the protective zone declared by Croatia
Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andrej Logar is to attend three-way talks on the protective zone declared by Croatia with his Italian and Croatian counterparts. Croatia's Hido Biscevic is to give a statement to the press, expectedly at 5.30 PM

7 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana (National Assembly, Cankarjev dom)
Ceremonies to mark Slovenia's NATO entry
Parliament is to hold a ceremonial session to mark Slovenia's NATO entry at 7 PM. The event is to be followed by the national ceremony at Cankarjev dom convention centre at 8 PM, with President Janez Drnovsek as the keynote speaker.
Central national ceremony marking Slovenia's accession to NATO

7 Apr 2004 — Wicklow, Ankara
Ministers abroad
- Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is to begin a two-day working visit to Ireland, to attend "Communicating Europe", an informal ministerial conference organised by the Irish EU presidency. - Minister of the Interior Rado Bohinc is set to begin an official two-day visit to Turkey, to meet his Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Aksu and sign an agreement to fight drug-trafficking, international terrorism and other severe crimes. Turkey's bid to join the EU and the Cyprus issue are also to be on his agenda.

6 Apr 2004 — Brussels, Dublin
Ministers abroad
- Defence ministers from the current and future EU members, among them Slovenia's Anton Grizold, are to wrap up a two-day meeting. - Transport Minister Jakob Presecnik is to wrap up a two-day visit to Ireland.

5 Apr 2004 — Dublin
Transport Minister Jakob Presecnik is scheduled to begin a two-day visit to Ireland
He is due to meet Irish opposite number Shanon Brennan for talks that will discuss the transport priorities of Ireland's EU presidency.

5 Apr 2004 — Bucharest
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is scheduled to pay an official visit to Romania
In a busy schedule, Rupel is due to meet his Romanian host and counterpart Mircea Geoana, as well as the President Ion Iliescu, Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, Deputy Prime Minister Ioan Talpes, President of the Senate Nicolae Vacaroiu and Europe Minister Alexandru Farcas.
Official visit by Dr Rupel to Romania

2 Apr 2004 — Brussels
Ceremony to Mark Accession of Seven New NATO Members
FM Dimitrij Rupel is to attend a flag-rising ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels upon the accession of seven countries to the alliance. Afterwards, foreign ministers of the 26-member NATO are to meet for a ceremonial session of the North Atlantic Council (NAC).

2 Apr - 3 Apr 2004 — Kildare, Ireland
Informal meeting of EU finance ministers
A two-day informal meeting of EU finance ministers is to begin, to be attended also by Slovenia's Dusan Mramor and central bank governor Mitja Gaspari.

1 Apr 2004 — Ljubljana
Regular weekly cabinet session
At its weekly session, the government will discuss changes to the mining act; the 2004 tourism policy and guidelines for 2005; and changes to the act on the criminal responsibility of legal entities.

1 Apr 2004 — Berlin
Ministers abroad
Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Vlado Dimovski is to visit Germany upon the invitation of German Health and Social Affairs Minister Ulla Schmidt. Dimovski is to discuss employment of Slovenian workers in Germany after Slovenia joins the EU. Europe Minister Janez Potocnik is to begin a two-day visit to Berlin. He is to speak about Slovenia and the EU at the European Commission's mission in Germany, and meet with Germany's government and parliament officials.