Prime Minister Janez Janša had a working dinner this evening with the British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with the Saudi Minister of the Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, who is on a working visit to Slovenia.

State Secretary Aleš Irgolič has attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. Ministers exchanged views on the "Fit for 55" package, in particular on agricultural aspects of the revision of the land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation. The European Commission reported on the situation on agricultural markets in light of the war in Ukraine and presented its communication on safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems. Under AOB items, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, while the French Presidency provided information on the health situation and work at the Council with regard to highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Slovenian Flag Day is celebrated on 7 April. The flag was first unveiled by Slovenian students in Vienna in 1848, but it was on 7 April 1848 that the Slovenian patriot and student Lovro Toman first hoisted the Slovenian tricolour on Slovenian lands, at the site of the former inn Pri Zlati Zvezdi on Wolfova Ulica in Ljubljana.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project COVID-19 – Energy-saving renovation of the URI Soča facilities Orhideja and Vrtnica, and the project Energy-saving renovation of two buildings of the Novo mesto General Hospital (Mostek and Kamen). Both projects will contribute to improving patient experience and staff work environment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the vote of the UN General Assembly to suspend the Russian Federation’s rights of membership in the Human Rights Council.

World Health Day has been celebrated on 7 April since 1950, the date marking the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan met with the Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia, Faisal Al-Ibrahim. In the focus of their talks was a mutual interest in strengthening cooperation between Slovenia and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the economy.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the presentation of Janez Juhant’s book Lambert Ehrlich – Prophet of the Slovenian Nation at Cankarjev dom. In addition to experts on the book, Marko and Bernarda Inzko Fink also took part in the presentation.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was a speaker today in an online discussion of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on Fakty po Faktach, a show on Polish TV channel TVN24. There he spoke about efforts to end the war in Ukraine and strengthening security in Europe.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today attended a virtual high-level meeting on food and nutrition crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. He announced Slovenia’s humanitarian contribution worth EUR 50,000 in 2022, which will be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP) to meet the most urgent needs in the central Sahel.

Igor Jukič, Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation, took part in a meeting of EU directors-general for development cooperation. The discussion focused on the situation in Ukraine, ways to improve cooperation with partner countries in a changing geopolitical context, the Team Europe initiatives, the European Financial Architecture for Development, and global health.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan spoke at a round table discussion organised by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visiting students of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. He outlined the Foreign Policy Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in December 2021, and stressed the importance of multilateralism for global peace and security.

From 4-5th April 2022, a project partners’ meeting took place in Split, Croatia, as part of the project activities of the European Project Safe and Equal in EMErgencies – “SEE ME”.

On 31 March 2022, Drago Jančar presented his novel "I Saw Her That Night" to the Norwegian audience at the Norli Library in Oslo, titled "Jeg så henne den natten" in Norwegian.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for energy renovation of the building of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Novo mesto General Hospital. Thermal insulation of the facility’s external walls and roof, upgrade of the ventilation system and lighting, and replacement of the facility’s windows and doors will be carried out with support from the Cohesion Fund.

These days, Cankarjev dom is hosting a gigantic Carniolan honeybee. The so-called 3D Carniolan honeybee, a physical model of the worker bee Apis mellifera carnica, was put on display in cooperation with the Slovenian Beekeeping Association to mark World Bee Day on 20 May and the 11th year of urban beekeeping on the roof of the building.

The World Expo 2020, which started on 1 October, ended on the last day of March. During that time, the Slovenian Pavilion welcomed almost one million visitors and the business centre hosted more than 200 events.

Today was a historic day for Slovenia in Ohio. The Consulate General celebrated tomorrow's 30th Anniversary of the American recognition of Slovenia as independent state in the Statehouse in Columbus: