Overview of the week's top stories
since 29 September 2001

This week, interior minister Rado Bohinc signed a bilateral agreement with the European Union’s police force Europol by which Slovenia has become an associate member. The move was made in the hopes of increasing European coordination in the war on terrorism.

Together with Estonia, Poland and Hungary, the country has become part of the first group of candidate countries to enter into formal cooperation with the international police organization. Full membership in Europol is only offered to EU member states.

Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek reacted quickly to concerns this week that his health was in jeopardy. According to a medical opinion following a regular 6-month check-up posted on the website of the Office of the Prime Minister, 51 year-old Drnovšek may have lung cancer.

Tests must be conducted in two months before doctors will be able to render a verdict on whether the PM has cancer. Two years ago, Drnovšek was forced to abandon his post as prime minister for three months when a tumor was removed from his kidney.

Drnovšek quickly assured the nation that he feels fine and that his health will have no effect on the operation of the government.

Petek was attacked on 28 February in front of his house in the Koroška region and suffered a broken nose and fractures to his skull, jaw and cheek bones.

General Director of Police Marko Pogorevc responded the following day. Pogorevc stressed that he accepts the concerns expressed by the DNS and others "with understanding and respect" but insists that his police are doing everything possible to further the investigation.

Not everyone was satisfied with his statement, however. On 4 October, the leader of the Social Democratic Party Janez Janša announced that he had amassed the required 30 MP signatures to call a parliamentary inquiry into the case, which he hopes will at long last resolve the issue.

This was a busy week for activists. In Maribor, Gibanje za ljudi (Movement for the People) amassed some 300 people on Thursday at a march to protest the decision to locate the headquarters of the new Slovene Electric Holding in Ljubljana and not in Maribor, as well as several other issues.

Since August, a petition to have the seat of the Holding moved to Maribor prepared by Gibanje za ljudi has attracted almost 40,000 signatures.

The day before in Ljubljana, the Civil Association for Oversight of Institutions (CZNI) was not nearly as successful. Their demonstration in front of the National Assembly building managed to draw less than 50 people, though organizers expected up to 2000.

This demonstration was called to draw attention to CZNI’s complaints against the functioning of state institutions, particularly the court system. The protest was supported by Helsinki Monitor Slovenia, the Christian-Social Union, the Independent Syndicate of Ptuj and other groups.

The CZNI was founded last November because of faults in the Slovene justice system and because of a lack of civil oversight on the working of the state. The poor showing, however, may not indicate lack of public interest in the group’s cause. So far, CZNI has gotten some 18,000 signatures on a petition to end permanent mandates for judges.

The final preparations for the first formal session of the Slovene-Austrian joint historical commission were presented this week by foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel and his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferraro Waldner. The commission is expected to begin its work next Friday in Maribor.

The commission is charged with investigating the controversies in the history of the relations between the two nations, and preparing a final report which will represent a jointly agreed-upon narrative. The commission’s final report will have strong repercussions in both countries with regard to minority policies and other concerns.

The commission will execute its mandate independent of the two governments. It is composed of nine historians and three lawyers from each country, a total of 24 members.

At a press conference at Brdo pri Kranju, Rupel said that Slovenia is prepared to accept whatever findings the commission reports, and expects that Austria is prepared to do the same. Both countries’ parliaments will review and confirm the commission’s final report.

• A result of the current international climate following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the US, the Dalai Lama has canceled his European tour. The Nobel peace prize winner was to appear in Ljubljana on 20 October. Other stops in Croatia, the Czech Republic and France have also been canceled. The event was organized by the University of Ljubljana and the Society for the Support of Tibet, and reportedly cost some SIT 5 million (USD 21,000) to organize. The majority of the 4500 tickets, costing SIT 1000 to 10,000 (USD 4 to 40) had already been sold.

• 4 October marked the centennial of Ljubljana’s Zmajski most. The bridge was opened in 1901 as the "Jubilejni most," commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the rule of Austrian emperor Franz Josef I. Eighteen years later it was given its present name. The Zmajski most, designed by architect Jurij Zaninovich, is the only example of Secessionist architecture in the form of a bridge, and its four dragons bear special significance for Ljubljana, which holds the dragon as its municipal symbol. The placard on the side of the bridge dedicated to the Austrian emperor is believed to be the earliest public usage of the Slovene language in Ljubljana.

• Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic church in New York’s East Village celebrated its 85^th anniversary this week. The church was founded on 29 September 1916 by Slovene immigrants from Austria-Hungary. Aside from the congregation, businessmen and diplomats from Slovenia also attended the celebratory mass and a reception in the church hall. The church represents the core of the small Slovene community in New York City.