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This summary provides STA:

Slovenia strongly condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine

LJUBLJANA – Slovenia strongly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine, while Prime Minister Janez Janša said it was an unprecedented military aggression against the country. “Russia must withdraw its army immediately and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” he said. Speaking to reporters after a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal, Jansa said that the EU should ensure Ukraine’s full membership in the EU as soon as possible. President Borut Pahor described the attack as a serious violation of international law and UN principles on the peaceful settlement of disputes. Parliament Speaker Igor Zorcic said it was an illegal act, adding that the EU must remain united and work for a ceasefire. As a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, the country’s flag was hoisted at the government and presidential palaces.

Janša calls for the strictest sanctions against Russia

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Upon arriving at the EU emergency summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Janez Jansa called for the strictest possible sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. Jansa said that it was crucial that the Russian authorities “feel that the price they are paying for this aggression is really high”. Shortly afterwards, EU leaders adopted large-scale sanctions reaching the financial sector, energy and transport. Jansa also called for humanitarian, economic and military assistance to Ukraine.

Janša and Morawiecki call for Ukraine’s accession to the EU

LJUBLJANA – In a letter to the President of the European Council and other EU leaders, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki called for Ukraine’s accession to the EU by 2030. Before the EU summit on the Ukrainian crisis “Battle for Europe”. The EU must be strong and united in the face of the Russian threat, impose immediate sanctions, but also “go much further”, the letter said. Janša was supported by several EU prime ministers.

Slovenia is talking about sending troops to Slovakia

LJUBLJANA – Defense Minister Matej Tonin said that Slovenia was in talks with Slovakia to send up to 50 troops to help strengthen its military presence in the country following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine bordering Slovakia. Tonin pointed out that Slovenia already has about 50 troops in Latvia, who were sent after Russian operations in Crimea in 2014. Tonin deplored the Russian attack and said that Slovenia must morally and financially support Ukraine to withstand the pressure.

The Ukrainian Embassy thanks Slovenia for its support and assistance

LJUBLJANA – Chargé d’Affaires of the Ukrainian Embassy in Ljubljana Natalia Markevich thanked Slovenia for its support and assistance to Ukraine after the Russian invasion. She stressed the need for a “united and strong response to Russian aggression”. Only a united response can stop the aggressor, she said, adding that Russia “will not stop only at Ukraine. We need a quick response from the whole world, even with the strictest sanctions. Russia must be isolated in all possible ways.”

The expert says that Putin can not win the war in Ukraine in the long run

LJUBLJANA – Denis Mancevich, a former diplomat in Moscow, told STA that Russian President Vladimir Putin had started a war that he would not be able to win in the long run. He is convinced that it could turn out that the war in Ukraine could have a fatal effect on Putin’s presidency and the future existence of the Russian Federation. He does not think the world is on the brink of World War III, but says it is the worst security crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, which will have long-term consequences.

The President honored the Slovenes of Trieste and the mayor

LJUBLJANA – President Borut Pahor presented state awards to Slovenian senator Tatjana Rojc, representatives of minorities Walter Bandelj and Ksenija Dobrila and Trieste Mayor Robert Dipiazza. Rojc received the Golden Order of Merit for her contribution to deepening cooperation between Slovenia and Italy and support for the Slovenian minority in Italy. The other three recipients were awarded silver medals of merit.

The NLB Group is recording record profits for 2021

LJUBLJANA – In 2021, the NLB banking group achieved a record profit of EUR 236.4 million, which is a significant increase as in the previous year, without the effects of the purchase of Komercijalna banka in Serbia. “The results of our operations in 2021 show that we have successfully left the epidemic far behind and, more importantly, that we have emerged stronger than ever,” said NLB CEO Blaž Brodnjak. The Bank is closely monitoring the Russia-Ukraine conflict, although it is unlikely to have a direct impact on it.

The Krka share fell by more than 10 percent due to the Russian invasion

LJUBLJANA – The Krka pharmaceutical company, which operates in and with Russia and Ukraine, lost more than 10 percent in large quantities on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange on Thursday due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For more than EUR 4.4 million, Krka’s shares changed hands, including one block. SBI TOP lost 7.35% on EUR 7.9 million in total trading volume.

The government has passed a new anti-money laundering law

LJUBLJANA – The government adopted a new bill on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, after a previous attempt in the National Assembly was rejected at the beginning of the month due to concerns about invasion of privacy. The new bill is almost the same as the previous one, only with minor amendments. A provision was added to Article 159, which stipulates that an inspector may be denied entry into residential buildings if he does not have an appropriate decision of the competent court.

Gen Energy gets a temporary leader

LJUBLJANA – Gen Energija, the company that manages the Slovenian half of the Krško NPP, has been given an interim chairman, as Martin Novšak, the company’s long-serving general manager, has been relieved of his duties. Until the appointment of the new head of the financial director, the interim head will be Gordana Radanovič, the company announced. Gen Energija did not state the reasons for Novšak’s dismissal.

The investigation into the response to Covid adopts an interim report

LJUBLJANA – An opposition parliamentary inquiry into the government’s response to the Covid-19 epidemic has adopted an interim report citing several violations. The head of the investigation, Robert Pavšič from the Marjan Šarc List (LMŠ), said that the 100-page report would be forwarded to the investigating authorities in order to report several suspected criminal offenses. In one of the conclusions, they propose a plenary call to the government to resign immediately. The general elections in Slovenia will take place on April 24.

The decline in new daily coronavirus cases continues

LJUBLJANA – The number of new daily cases of coronavirus in Slovenia continues to decline in both daily and weekly comparisons, as the epidemic recedes. A total of 2,336 Covid samples were positive on Wednesday. The estimated number of active cases fell below 60,000 to 58,081. There are currently 473 covid patients in hospitals, 23 fewer than yesterday, of which 98 are in intensive care, the same as yesterday, the government said.

Retirement inflow lowest in 31 years

LJUBLJANA – The number of pensioners receiving contributions for compulsory pension insurance in Slovenia increased by only 0.01 percent last year, which is the slowest growth in 31 years. The data were presented when the new composition of the board of the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute (ZPIZ) adopted a draft report for 2021, which shows that the revenues and expenditures of the budget fund amounted to 6.2 billion euros. One council member linked the fall in retirement to covid-19 mortality.

Carnival celebrations should be held on a smaller scale

CERKNO / PTUJ – Traditional carnival celebrations in Slovenia, which mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring, have been largely canceled or greatly reduced this year due to covid-related restrictions. However, in the light of the recent easing of measures, some cities have nevertheless decided to continue with live events. The celebration will culminate with carnivals and parades over the weekend, ending on Shrove Tuesday.