During the last days, Foreign Minister Logar led a coordinated diplomatic action aimed at reopening the Holmec border crossing. As part of the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Republic of Austria has decided to close down the border crossing.

At today’s informal videoconference, EU ministers of foreign affairs called for continued intensive efforts to repatriate EU citizens from third countries, and for consular cooperation between Member States. They underlined the importance of the free movement of goods and the possibility of transit within the EU for EU citizens returning via airports outside their home countries. The ministers agreed that the EU must strengthen its assisting role in third countries as part of its response to the pandemic, particularly in Africa, the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries. They also called for more proactive provision of information to EU citizens on the EU’s role and activities undertaken to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the regular meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers today. Due to the changed circumstances following the spread of the COVID-19 disease, NATO Foreign Ministers met via a secure video conference, for the first time in the history of NATO, with the COVID-19 crisis at the top of the agenda. They assessed further measures NATO and the allies can take to enhance the collective fight against the virus.

As a member of the Core Group of the MLA Initiative, which also includes Argentina, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Senegal, we regret to inform that after careful consideration and in response to the continuing developments surrounding COVID-19 pandemic, the Diplomatic Conference for the negotiation of the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, which was scheduled for 8–19 June 2020 in Ljubljana, is postponed until further notice.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar spoke on the phone with his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjárto, today. The ministers agreed to support the initiatives put forward by both national communities and ease the crossings of border residents.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently undertaking one of the biggest repatriation efforts in the history of both the Ministry and the state. Since the evacuation of Slovenian citizens from the cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama in the beginning of February, the Ministry is constantly and intensively seeking for new ways and solutions to bring home Slovenian citizens.

In 2020, Slovenia commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Slovenian-Paraguayan anthropologist, Dr Branislava Sušnik, whose life and achievements made an indelible mark on science and established links between Slovenia and the South American cultural area.

The Government has issued the Ordinance on the conditions of entry into the Republic of Slovenia from the Republic of Austria to contain and manage communicable diseases, which will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan participated in a videoconference of the EU General Affairs Council where ministers voiced their unanimous support for starting the EU accession negotiation process with North Macedonia and Albania.

Croatia has widened the list of countries whose nationals must remain in 14-day self-isolation upon entering the country.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemics, as of 21 March 2020 at 17.00, Turkey has introduced the entry ban on all foreign travellers who are nationals of any of the 46 countries on the list or have visited those countries in the last 14 days.

Pursuant to a decree of 22 March 2020, entry into Austria by land from Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia and Hungary is allowed without restriction for transit passengers, that is for those returning home to Slovenia without stopping.

To curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Germany has limited the number of open border crossing points with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark.

As of 12.00 on 20 March, Austria imposed a stricter regime on its border with Slovenia.

Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anže Logar, held a video conference call with his counterparts from Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Hungary to coordinate the measures aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

On 19 March at 12.00, Austria introduced border controls with Germany, imposing the same measures as those already applied on the borders with Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The measures have been foreseen to apply until 7 April 2020.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anže Logar, hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjárto, in Ljubljana today. The visit was aimed at establishing personal links between the ministers of two neighbouring countries in an emergency situation, when all European and other countries all over the world are facing the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar handed over the duties to his successor Dr Anže Logar. During the handover, Minister Logar outlined his first activities in office related to the exchange of information with neighbouring counterparts in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

During today's phone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar expressed solidarity with measures to prevent spreading of the Covid-19 virus and presented his condolences over the numerous fatalities caused by the virus in the neighbouring country.

At its meeting by correspondence, the Government adopted a decision to start carrying out border control checks in the vicinity of the border between Slovenia and Italy on 11 March 2020. This measure is aimed at reducing the risk of spreading the contagious disease SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) in Slovenia and at protecting the health of its population.