Slovenia and Portugal announced at the January meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council their joint initiative for marking the exact geographical origin of honey.

Just before the new year, Slovenia entered into a partnership with the American NBA club Dallas Mavericks, where one of the players is our outstanding basketball player Luka Dončić.

As part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week held on 11–18 January, Minister Cerar took part in the Future Sustainability Summit today. At the panel titled “Technology vs. Policies: What will unlock climate action?” the Minister underlined the importance of a steadfast fight against climate change, which requires a broader economic and social transformation.

The Guardian published its top 20 alternative global destinations worth visiting in 2020.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar attended the Green Group ministerial round table in Abu Dhabi in addition to other participants from Singapore, Iceland, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates and Cape Verde. He also met the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar took part in the Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, convened by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, due to increased tensions in Iraq and Libya.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar called for all possible activities to prevent further escalation of tensions and violence in the Middle East. Slovenia remains a trustworthy member of the Global Coalition against Daesh and continues with its participation in the operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. The next contingent of Slovenian Armed Forces instructors will be deployed to Erbil by 1st February.

On 9 January 2020, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Strategy for the Co-operation of the Republic of Slovenia with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) until the end of 2022. The proposal of the Strategy is based on the experience gained during the first nine years of the Slovenia's membership in the OECD, current priorities of the Organization, and interests and the needs of the Republic of Slovenia arising from the national development priorities of the country. The purpose is to make better use of the benefits of Slovenia's membership of the OECD.

At it's session, the Government adopted the wording of the proposed Court of Audit Act, which facilitates the auditing of the correct and prudent use of public funds and increases its efficiency. The act also expands the range of entities that may be audited by the court.

Slovenia condemns the Iranian missile attack on Iraqi military bases where the Global Coalition against Daesh forces are stationed at the invitation of the Iraqi government, and calls on all parties involved to refrain from any activities that could lead to further escalation in the region.

The Woman Engineer of the Year title for 2019 went to Aida Kamišalić Latifić, a researcher and professor at the Maribor Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, as the award ceremony was held on Wednesday in the Cankarjev Dom arts centre. Kamišalić Latifić came to Slovenia as a Bosnian war refugee in 1992.

Today, Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar attended an event organised by the Institute for Strategic Solutions, where the new edition of the Adriatic Journal: Strategic Foresight 2020 was presented. Prior to the event, Minister Cerar held an informal meeting with the former Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karin Kneissl, where they discussed the formation of the new Austrian government, the cooperation between the two countries in the year of neighbourly dialogue, the regional situation and the state of affairs in the Middle East.

On 7 January 2020, the Republic of Slovenia successfully refinanced the bond maturing on 27 January 2020 by issuing a new €1.5 bn 10-year bond.

The Slovenian Foreign Minister, Miro Cerar, attended an event held by the Institute for Strategic Solutions (ISR), where the latest edition of the institute’s annual publication, The Adriatic Journal, titled Strategic Foresight 2020 was presented.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated Baa1 (positive) / AA- (stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs International Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and UniCredit Banka Slovenija to lead manage a new EUR 10-year benchmark due January 2030 in regulation S format (dematerialized registered form). This transaction is expected to be launched in the near future, subject to market conditions.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated Baa1 (positive) / AA- (stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs International Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and UniCredit Banka Slovenija to lead manage a new EUR 10-year benchmark due January 2030 in regulation S format (dematerialized registered form). This transaction is expected to be launched in the near future, subject to market conditions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses grave concern over the heightening of tensions between the US and Iran. It condemns the recent acts of violence and armed attacks in Iraq, as these may trigger further disturbances engulfing the entire region. The Ministry calls on all parties involved to de-escalate tensions and preserve peace.

For a number of years now, during the first week after the Christmas holidays, when school vacations take place in Croatia and many Croatians come to ski in Slovenia, two Croatian police officers helped ensure security at Slovenian ski resorts in cooperation with their Slovenian colleagues. This year, one is helping out at Rogla and the other in Kranjska Gora.

Healthy plants are a source of life, they support ecosystems and provide food.

The Ministry condemns any acts of violence and armed conflicts witnessed in Iraq over the past weeks. Such actions heighten the risk of tensions escalating in the entire region.