NEWS

Prime Minister’s press conference

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 15th regular session. He opened by saying that today's session focused on the budget amendment for 2009. The Government will submit the proposed budget amendment to the National Assembly, which will discuss it at its regular session in March. In this regard, Prime Minister stressed that he hoped that the proposal would be adopted.

 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

According to Mr Pahor, the budget amendment strikes a balance between social and development elements. In drafting the budget amendment, the Government has taken account of the anticipated 0.6% economic growth and 1.1% inflation – a considerable slowdown in growth and moderating inflation, which reflects the current financial and economic situation. "It is important that we have not succumbed to the temptation to considerably increase the budget deficit. This rushed approach has not worked in some countries," said Prime Minister.

 

He declared the budget amendment for 2009 a success, pointing out that, in addition to the two packages of anti-crisis measures that the Government has adopted in the course of the first hundred days of its work, it has been drafted in the light of financial and economic uncertainty. He further noted that all these instruments were aimed at overcoming this uncertainty.

 

At today’s session, the Government also adopted a resolution to endorse, in principle, the proposal of the European Commission to solve the border dispute with the Republic of Croatia by mediation. This resolution is a response to the proposal by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, who called on the two countries to state whether mediation is acceptable to them. "In the Government’s view, meditation will help Slovenia and Croatia determine the land and maritime border between the two countries," asserted Mr Pahor.

 

On his recent meeting with the Croatian Prime Minister, Dr Ivo Sanader, in Mokrice, Mr Pahor said that, contrary to what some analysts had suggested, he considered the Mokrice meeting to have marked an important step forward. "The two countries agreed to establish more frequent contacts between foreign ministers and other representatives, as well as between Prime Ministers in the future," said Mr Pahor, underlining that, after a three-month standstill, that was certainly a step forward.

 

With regards to the 26th Winter Universiade 2013 Maribor, Prime Minister Pahor pointed out once again that the Government supported the project but expected it to be carried out in a rational way and in a financial framework substantially different from that previously envisaged.

 

At today’s press conference, the Prime Minister also expressed his opinion on the Government’s first hundred days. "The beginning of the Government's term of office was marked by the financial and economic crisis. We simply could not afford the privilege of the usual hundred days of grace," said Mr Pahor. He continued by pointing out that the Government had taken all the right steps at the right time, and adopted all necessary measures to combat the financial and economic crisis. A significant breakthrough was achieved in the area of personnel policy by establishing the Staff Accreditation Council, which sets a new standard in appointing candidates to important positions in the country and restricts the ambition to recruit in a politically partisan manner. Mr Pahor further drew attention to the more than 20 meetings with various social groups and institutions, through which the Government has provided a strong impetus towards social dialogue, of  importance for Slovenia’s development. A recently signed agreement on amendments to the collective agreement for the public sector resulted from such dialogue.