Morning headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, March 5, 2022
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This summary provides STA:
The Army Readiness Report shows visible, albeit still insufficient, progress in 2021
LJUBLJANA – In 2021, the Slovenian Army made visible progress in terms of preparedness based on higher defense expenditures and personnel improvements, but there are still shortcomings and forces are not yet sufficiently prepared for full operation in wartime, according to the annual report on military readiness. Funding has increased, equipment has improved, but “the disparity in this area has been such that it could not be resolved in a single step,” said President Borut Pahor.
The Committee supports the resolution on the situation in Ukraine
LJUBLJANA – The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly approved a draft resolution on the current situation in Ukraine, submitted by deputies of all but one parliamentary group. The document condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, expresses solidarity with the Ukrainian people, supports humanitarian efforts and calls for peace-building efforts. The draft resolution, chaired by President Igor Zorčič, will be voted on in plenary on Wednesday.
Slovenia condemns the attack on the Ukrainian N-factory
LJUBLJANA – On Twitter, the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned “Russia’s attack on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which threatens health and safety throughout Europe.” At the same time, she called for an end to attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine’s nuclear safety agency said today that Russian forces had seized the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. A fire broke out before the capture and after the Russian attack, but it has already been extinguished.
Tonin suggests moving the defense spending target by five years
LJUBLJANA – Defense Minister Matej Tonin hinted that Slovenia may have to meet the goal of increasing defense spending to two percent of GDP by 2030, which is five years earlier than currently planned. “Given the current situation, given the decisions of the entire Alliance, and especially our European allies, it seems that we will have to revise our decision slightly and move the date of 2% defense spending from 2035 to 2030,” he said.
Janša tells Ukrainians that they are fighting for a just cause
LJUBLJANA – Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed the Ukrainian nation in a video broadcast by Ukrainian TV 24 Kanal, stressing that Ukrainians are “on the right side of history and fighting for a just cause”. “By defending your country, you are defending your core values, which are our common European and also universal core values,” he said.
Pahor rejects idea of no-fly zone over Ukraine, Logar says it would protect civilians
LJUBLJANA – President Borut Pahor rejected initiatives that NATO should establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine to help Ukrainian forces fight Russian planes, which were also flooded by Prime Minister Janez Jansa. According to him, this would mean a “large-scale war” and a completely “unpredictable development”. Foreign Minister Anze Logar, meanwhile, said such a zone would be the most effective way to prevent the bombing of civilian facilities. Logar attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on the situation in Ukraine in Brussels, after which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO members were against the no-fly zone over Ukraine.
According to the central bank, the Ukrainian war increases the risks for the Slovenian economy
LJUBLJANA – The war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia have so far had only a limited effect on the Slovenian economy and inflation, but the risks are increasing, says the Bank of Slovenia, the central bank of Slovenia. The Central Bank would upgrade this year’s forecast of the country’s GDP based on strong growth and new fiscal measures, but future economic trends are unpredictable due to the situation in Ukraine. Annual growth is likely to exceed the central bank’s 4% forecast in December, which could be raised to more than 5%, but the situation is quite unpredictable.
Zorčič is attending an informal meeting of EU speakers
BRUSSELS, Belgium – Parliament Speaker Igor Zorcic attended an informal meeting of EU speakers hosted by European Parliament President Robert Metsol, which was also attended by Ukrainian President Ruslan Stefanchuk. “The battle for Ukraine is also a battle for our values,” Zorcic said. He said that the Slovenian National Assembly was abolishing the friendship group with Russia due to solidarity with Ukraine, and that a resolution on the situation in Ukraine was in the parliamentary procedure.
The TV Slovenia news program got a new editor-in-chief
LJUBLJANA – Jadranka Rebernik was appointed full editor-in-chief of the TV Slovenia news program for four years, after acting as editor-in-chief for several months after Manica Janežič Ambrožič resigned in mid-October. RTV Slovenia CEO Andrej Grah Whatmough named Rebernikova, although her rivals supported her with 82% of the vote. The staff intend to challenge the appointment in the framework of established internal procedures.
In 2021, the net profit of the Sava Insurance Group increased by 35 percent
LJUBLJANA – In 2021, the Sava Insurance Group generated a record net profit of EUR 76.2 million, which is 35.1 percent more than the year before and 43.8 percent more than planned. Revenues increased by 7.6% to EUR 732.7 million, according to unaudited business results. Gross premiums written increased by 7.4% to EUR 729.9 million, mainly due to the Slovenian life insurance segment, which grew by 40% due to the acquisition of Vita. Other segments grew slightly lower.
NLB sees the takeover of Srberbank as a “win-win” situation
LJUBLJANA – After the Slovenian bank NLB took over the Slovenian subsidiary of the Russian Sberbank, the president of the NLB Blaž Brodnjak said that this was a “win-win” situation for both banks. He announced that Sberbank will be renamed N Bank and change its visual identity. The full integration is expected to last up to a year and a half. Brodnjak said that Sberbank was strategically matching well and described the takeover as an opportunity to further consolidate the market.
The SKB Group’s net profit increased by a third last year
LJUBLJANA – The SKB Group, which has been part of the Hungarian banking group OTP since the end of 2019, generated a net profit of EUR 46 million last year, which is 32% more than the year before. The bank attributes the increase to the general economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Net revenues amounted to € 122 million. Operating profit fell by 8% to EUR 55.6 million due to higher operating costs.
1,862 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in a slight decline from week to week
LJUBLJANA – A total of 1,862 cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday, which is slightly less than a week a week, according to data from the National Institute of Public Health. The reporting rate of 14-day cases per 100,000 population continued to decline, falling by almost 100 to 1,355, as did the number of hospitals. Six Covid-19 patients died.
Slovenian ski jumpers win a team competition in Norway
HOLMKOLLEN, Norway – The Slovenian mixed national team won the World Cup match in Holmenkollen, Norway, with more than 75 points ahead of Austria, the third consecutive mixed victory of Slovenia. They also won the previous World Cup match in Willingen, Germany, and the Beijing Olympics. The bronze went to Norway.