NEWS
Prime Minister’s press conference
Speaking at a press conference today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, outlined major resolutions and decisions adopted by the Government at its 10th regular session. By way of introduction, the Prime Minister explained that, in line with yesterday’s agreement between presidents of the parliamentary parties on cooperation in preparing and implementing measures aimed at overcoming economic and financial uncertainty, the Government had not discussed the package of savings measures at today’s session. Instead, the package was today sent to all parliamentary parties, which have been given one week to make comments on the package and submit them to the Government.
(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)
“This is a serious test for Slovenian politicians’ ability to respond to the current challenges as a team. Given the Government’s competences and responsibilities, its role, as well as that of the opposition, will remain the same. However, despite our different roles, we should strive to work as a team and join forces with a view to overcoming the economic crisis and fulfilling the expectations of the citizens of Slovenia,” stressed the Prime Minister.
At today’s press conference, the Prime Minister also confirmed that the Government had adopted negotiating positions on amendments to the collective agreement for the public sector and the Public Sector Wage System Act, and conferred a mandate on the Minister of Public Administration to start negotiations. This evening the Minister, Mrs Irma Pavlinič-Krebs, will inform trade unions of the adopted negotiating positions, which will be made available to the public tomorrow. With the aim of achieving certain objectives to make the public sector wage system more sustainable, the Government will tomorrow launch official negotiations.
In light of the financial and economic uncertainty, the Prime Minister asked the ministers to provide a review of individual agreements and other arrangements concluded between individual ministries and external contractors. “We wish to put things in order in this area too, and to that end we will draw up regulations and set standards,” stressed the Prime Minister. For this purpose, the Government today also agreed that the Ministry of Public Administration would begin to draw up legislation governing cooperation between external contractors and the Government or public administration.
As regards the relations between Slovenia and Croatia, the Prime Minister regretted that, despite several attempts over the past few days, he had not yet spoken with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. “My endeavours have been sincere. My office staff has contacted the Office of the Croatian Prime Minister several times, asking to arrange talks with the Croatian Prime Minister. Regrettably, no such talks have occurred in these three days,” said the Prime Minister, stressing that, despite all the problems encountered so far, there is still a great opportunity for the two countries to resolve the issue they have been dealing with for 17 years now. “It is our hope that, in 2009, the two countries would make a new and sincere attempt to resolve the border issue, or that the manner of resolving this outstanding issue would give hope of it being resolved within a reasonable time,” concluded the Prime Minister.