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Slovenia News Bulletin

Overview of the week's top stories since 18 July 2003

by brian J. požun

The week in review:

Culture Ministry abandons Media Fund plan

Slovenes en route to Iraq?

Slovenes and Russians honor war dead at Vršič

Primorska University statute enters into force

And in other news…

Government halts Slovenske Železarne privatization

University of Ljubljana lacking translation and interpretation facilities

Number of foreigners with permanent residence rises slightly

Slavic Studies Congress to begin next week in Ljubljana

Laibach returns with new album, book, tour

Siddharta returns with new Slovene- and English-language albums

Culture Ministry abandons Media Fund plan

According to Nataša Ručna, writing in the 4 August issue of Finance, plans to create a highly controversial Fund for the Pluralization of the Media are already falling apart. Ručna cites Ministry of Culture spokesman Vojko Stopar as saying that the Ministry, which is preparing one of the two versions of the Media Fund proposal, no longer intends to present its proposal to parliament.

Stopar explained the about face by citing analyses of public and expert opinion. The Ministry instead will propose that pluralization be carried out on the basis of public tenders, which is already covered by existing legislation.

The Media Fund plan hit front pages last month, when not only the parliamentary opposition but also the government announced plans to create a fund intended to give politicians wider access to the media.

Political pluralization of the media has been a long-standing demand of conservatives. SDS and NSi spokesmen have not reported whether they too will abandon their intention to propose an amendment introducing a Fund for the Pluralization of the Media.

Both media owners and journalists oppose the creation of the Media Fund, believing that it will not only restrict freedom of the press, but also violate laws on competition. The Media Fund proposals are part of amendments being prepared to the Law on Media. Those amendments are expected to be finalized next month.

Slovenes en route to Iraq?

According to Islam Online and Mladina, 82 Slovene troops may be dispatched to Iraq. In September, Polish units will take control of the southern sector of Iraq with 2500 troops, with the remaining 6500 troops coming from 22 other countries, among them Slovenia.

The southern sector consists of the provinces of An-Najaf, Karbala, Babil, Wasit and Qadisiyah. Aside from the Polish troops, other large contingents are to come from the Netherlands (3200 troops), Ukraine (1644), Spain (1321), Italy (1130) and Thailand (866).

Slovene troops would join other smaller contingents from Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Romania.

More information (in Englsih) can be found at Islam Online, here: http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-08/06/article02.shtml

Slovenes and Russians honor war dead at Vršič

A memorial service, a traditional expression of Slovene – Russian friendship, took place once again on 27 July at the Russian Orthodox chapel at Vršič. The chapel was built in 1916 as a memorial to Russian prisoners of war who died in an avalanche while performing forced labor for the Austrian army. A state ceremony with representatives of both the Slovene and Russian governments has been held at the chapel every year since 1992.

Aleksej Leonidovič Kudrin, Russian finance minister and assistant Speaker of the Duma, told those gathered, “I am sincerely grateful to everyone who cares for this monument to our joint past,” according to Delo.

Speaker of Parliament Borut Pahor said that the event shows great respect for human life, and has become an important feature of Slovene – Russian relations.

At a reception hosted by President Janez Drnovšek at Brdo pri Kranju later that day, Kudrin thanked Slovenia for its support in Russia’s efforts to join the World Trade Organization. He later told 24 ur, "I first participated in this event ten years ago. And at that time I was surprised as to how close these nations are, how many traditions we have in common and how carefully the people here honor the memory of the fallen Russians."

The ceremony was organized by the Russian embassy in Slovenia, the town of Kranjska Gora, the Slovenia – Russia society, and Lek.

Primorska University statute enters into force

On 30 July, the statute of Primorska University entered into force. The statute forms the foundation for the university’s operation, and was adopted on 15 July by the acting Senate and administrative committee of the university. After many years of planning, the university is set to accept its first students this fall.

The statute defines the university’s organs, which are the rector, Senate, administrative committee and the student council.

The statute also defines criteria for an academic institution to join the university. For now, the university’s composite parts are the faculties of humanities, management and pedagogy (all based in Koper), the Institute of Tourism (Portorož), the Institute of Health (Izola), the Scientific Research Center (Koper) and the Primorska Institute for Environmental and Technical Studies (Koper).

And in other news…

The government halted privatization of several Slovenske Železarne (Slovene Steelworks) branches this week due to lower-than-expected bids. Iztok Kremser of the national privatization commission told a press conference that the low bids reflect the recession in the global steel market. The government began the privatization of the enterprise nearly two years ago, hoping to secure nearly USD 43 million for a majority stake.

According to an Associated Press report, the University of Ljubljana was only able to accept one-fourth of applications into its translation and interpretation program, due to a lack of facilities. Milojka Popovič, an interpreter trainer at the university told the AP that there are only four booths where students can practice simultaneous interpretation, which is far from enough. Just ten students were admitted to the program this year, even as Slovene is preparing to become an official language of the European Union.

According to first-quarter 2003 data released by the National Statistics Office this week, the number of foreigners with permanent residence stands at 18,936, while a further 25,973 foreigners are living in Slovenia on a temporary basis. More than 500 foreigners received permanent residence since the end of 2002. The statistics are based on the state of the population on 31 March 2003.

The 13^th International Slavic Studies Congress begins in Ljubljana on 15 August. More than 800 participants from 36 countries are expected, making this the largest such event in the world. The Congress is organized by the international and local branches of the Slavic Studies Committee, with support from the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts and Cankarjev Dom.

The rock band Laibach, perhaps Slovenia’s most famous export in the 1980s, is back with a new album and European tour. The band will release its album WAT on 8 September. The day before, 7 September, a new book about the group by Alexei Monroe will be published. Laibach’s last album, Jesus Christ Superstars, was released in 1996. The tour schedule can be found at www.laibach.nsk.si/

On 13 August, rock band Siddharta will release it’s much anticipated third studio album, RH-, on the KifKif label. The album consists of 15 Slovene-language songs, though a special English-language version of the album is to follow on 1 September, which will have two extra tracks.

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