Brian Požun

A delegation from the Bosnian-Croat Federation, led by government representative Edhem Bičakčić, was in Ljubljana on a two-day official visit this week. Bičakčić met with, among other government leaders, Slovene Foreign Minister Dmitrij Rupel. Rupel expressed the belief that Slovenia, as a Central European country and a candidate for EU accession, has a responsibility to assist the development of peace, democratization and economic recovery in South Eastern Europe. He cited the example of Slovenia's International Foundation for De-Mining and Assistance to Victims of Landmines. Bičakčić agreed that political and cultural ties with Slovenia are satisfactory, but expressed the desire to see economic ties return to pre-war levels as quickly as possible.

Also this week, Parliament passed a national program of social security measures to the year 2005. The new program represents a significant restructuring of the government's social policies. The new legislation takes into account current concepts of development and assistance to individuals while moving from passive to active, preventive policies.

Portorož professor Iztok Ostan, together with students and supporters, began a protest march this week. The group was walking from Koper to Ljubljana (apx 100 km) to deliver a petition with over one thousand signatures to Janez Podobnik, the head of Parliament. The petition listed the demands of the Civic Initiative for the Regulation of the Pedagogical Process in Institutions of Higher Education. The Initiative demands that the existing pedagogical process be harmonized with the law and that infringements be treated in accordance with fixed rules. Also, they maintain that the main activity of universities should be education, not making profits or arguing over salaries.

The City Council of Ljubljana passed an extensive package of laws this week. Among them was a set of new recommended standard costs for housing, which form the basis for deriving the cost of developing vacant lots. The new standard costs are three percent higher to account for inflation. Also in the package of laws is a decree concerning the substitution of zoned usage of lots, which states that fees for rezoning will be decided by the city's administration, not the City Council.

Festival Ljubljana, which administers the renovation of the Ljubljana Castle, was recently allotted 100 million (USD 500,000) to ensure completion of much of the work by the end of the year. Full completion of the renovation and maintenance work is expected within five years. Currently, work is underway on the walkways to the Castle and their lighting. Festival Ljubljana also announced a summer cultural program this week. Plans include the 48th International Summer Festival and Theatre at the Castle, a two-week event where 11 Slovene productions will be staged.

Brian Požun, 31 March 2000

Previous news reviews for Slovenia

Sources

Delo

Večer

Dnevnik

Ljubljanske Novice

24ur.com

SIOL Novice

Slovenia Business Weekly