Tag: Slovenia

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Slovenia officially recognises Palestinian state

This decision is expected to bolster the global Palestinian cause but may also increase tensions with Israel….reports Asian Lite News

Slovenia has officially recognized Palestinian statehood, joining the growing list of European countries supporting the cause.

On Tuesday, Slovenia’s parliament passed the recognition with a majority vote, making Slovenia the latest European nation to take this step following Spain, Ireland, and Norway, who made similar moves in late May.

This decision is expected to bolster the global Palestinian cause but may also increase tensions with Israel.

Currently, more than 140 out of the 193 United Nations member states recognize Palestinian statehood. However, within the 27-member European Union, only a subset has made this recognition official.

The Slovenian parliament’s vote was notably unanimous, with 52 votes in favor and none against, as reported by Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenija.

The decision came during an extraordinary session after overcoming several procedural challenges.

Slovenia’s Foreign Minister, Tanja Fajon, celebrated the decision, declaring it a historic day for the country.

“The National Assembly of Slovenia has officially recognized Palestine, making Slovenia the 147th country to do so,” Fajon announced on social media.

She emphasized that this recognition reflects Slovenia’s commitment to peace and justice and positions the country on the right side of history, contributing to a two-state solution for lasting peace.

Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Robert Golob urged an immediate halt to hostilities between Israel and Hamas, emphasising the importance of peace.

Among EU member states, several have already recognised Palestine, including Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Malta is also considering recognition, while Britain and Australia are contemplating similar moves.

However, France has maintained that the timing is not conducive to recognition, echoing Germany’s stance on preferring a two-state solution through dialogue rather than unilateral approaches.

Denmark’s recent rejection of a bill to recognise Palestine adds complexity to the European consensus on the matter.

Notably, Norway, previously aligned with the US position, has shifted its stance, indicating a loss of confidence in the effectiveness of the existing strategy.

Israel launched a war on Gaza after Hamas, which governs the territory, led an attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics. Hamas also seized around 250 people as hostages.

At least 36,224 Palestinians have been killed and 81,777 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza health officials, Al Jazeera reported.

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-Top News Europe

Slovenia, Spain back recognition of State of Palestine

Spain, long a champion of Palestinian rights, last month agreed with the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take the first steps towards recognizing a Palestinian state…reports Asian Lite News

Slovenia and Spain agree on the need to formally recognize a Palestinian state as a way to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the leaders of the two countries said on Tuesday.

They must also act to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, they said.

“The most important thing is that we have addressed a whole series of questions – when, not if, but when is the best moment to recognize Palestine,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said at a joint news conference with Spain’s Pedro Sanchez.

Golob gave no timeline, saying the matter did not depend on Slovenia and Spain alone but on other international factors. But Slovenia would vote in the United Nations Security Council for full membership of a Palestinian state, he said.

Spain, long a champion of Palestinian rights, last month agreed with the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take the first steps towards recognizing a Palestinian state.

The efforts come as the death toll in Gaza from Israel’s offensive to crush Hamas neared 34,000. Much of the territory has been flattened by Israeli bombardments, leaving most of the people destitute while a famine looms.

Israel has said the four EU countries’ initiative would amount to a “prize for terrorism” that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the generations-old conflict. The latest Gaza war broke out after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct.7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostage.

Sanchez’s visit to Slovenia was part of a tour of several European countries to try to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Arab states and the European Union agreed at a meeting in Spain in November that a two-state solution was the answer to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The goal of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel has long been the basis for international peace efforts, but these have been stalled for a decade.

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-Top News Europe

Slovenian PM terms floods ‘worst’ natural disaster in country’s history

Prime Minister Janez Jansa.(photo:Twitter)

The army of Slovenia has joined the relief operation, sending troops to isolated districts in the north to assist…reports Asian Lite News

Slovenia is witnessing “the biggest natural disaster” in its history, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced, following severe floods that killed three people, damaged infrastructure worth an estimated 550 million euros (USD 500 million), and wrecked homes, bridges, and highways, Al Jazeera reported.

Golob said, “Luckily, last night was easier than the one before,” following a meeting of the nation’s National Security Council on Saturday. He also noted that two thirds of the small Alpine nation’s territory had been impacted.

The rivers quickly swelled and broke into homes, fields, and towns as a result of Friday’s massive rains. A month’s worth of rain, according to Slovenia’s weather office, dropped in less than a day.

According to experts, climate change is a contributing factor in extreme weather events. Wildfires broke out and parts of Europe experienced record temperatures during the summer.

Golob claimed that hundreds of homes and other buildings, as well as the road and energy infrastructure, were all severely damaged. Many of the thousands of people had to leave their homes and were rescued by helicopters or firefighters on boats.

The army of Slovenia has joined the relief operation, sending troops to isolated districts in the north to assist.

The main highway running across Slovenia was among the major routes that were still partially closed on Saturday due to water, Al Jazeera reported citing STA news agency.

Authorities warned people not to leave until the extent of the damage was determined because dozens of bridges have also collapsed.

Following the reporting of three weather-related fatalities on Friday, Slovenian media claimed on Saturday that a fourth person had been discovered dead in the nation’s capital, Ljubljana. The report hasn’t been verified by police yet.

Austria, which is Slovenia’s neighbour, reported flash floods on Saturday. In the southern province of Carinthia, about 80 people were compelled to leave their houses temporarily.

Officials said on Saturday that a landslip at the resort town of Shovi in northwest Georgia, known for its wide woods and mineral water springs, left at least 16 people dead and others missing.

The storms on Saturday are only the latest incident in a summer that has been marred by excessive heatwaves, flooding, and landslides around Europe, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

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-Top News India News World News

Lekhi joins Indian Embassy’s yoga session in Zagreb

Lekhi is on an official visit to Croatia and Slovenia from April 15-20 to further reinforce the momentum in India’s relations with these countries…reports Asian Lite News

Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday joined a yoga session organised by the Indian Embassy along with the Indian community and the “Friends of India” in Zagreb.

“Joined a yoga session organised by the Indian embassy along with the Indian community & the Friends of India in Zagreb this morning. Impressed by their enthusiasm. Happy to see India-Croatia relations growing & Indian spiritual wisdom contributing to peace, harmony and happiness,” tweeted Lekhi.

She is on an official visit to Croatia and Slovenia from April 15-20 to further reinforce the momentum in India’s relations with these countries.

Lekhi also visited Nikola Tesla Technical Museum and Zagreb City Museum in Croatia.

Sharing details regarding her visit to Museum, Meenakashi Lekhi tweeted, “Visited Nikola Tesla & Zagreb City Museum and got an impression of the rich scientific & historical heritage of Croatia. Nikola Tesla, indeed a person of global importance, given what he left behind for humanity, was also influenced by Indian philosophy.”

She also held discussions on genomics, economics, sports, history, and politics and discussed opportunities for collaboration between India and Croatia.

“Had a wonderful discussion on genomics, economics, sports, history, & politics with @draganprimorac2, Ms. Martina Dalic, @IgorStimac, @AlojzijeJ. Discussed the tremendous opportunities for collaboration between India & Croatia,” she tweeted.

During her visit, Lekhi will hold discussions with Croatia’s Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman, Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen and State Secretary for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release.

After her visit to Croatia, Lekhi will travel to Slovenia. In Slovenia, Lekhi will call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and meet the Deputy Foreign Minister, according to MEA press release. She will also interact with the Indian community and participate in an AKAM event at the University of Ljubljana.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the press release stated, “India has close and friendly ties with Croatia and Slovenia. The visit will further reinforce the momentum in India’s relations with these countries.” (ANI)

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Travel & Tourism

Slovenia sees tourism recovery

Slovenia’s tourism industry has seen a strong recovery this year, although the type of tourists has changed, reports Xinhua news agency…reports Asian Lite News.

The number of overnight stays by tourists in Slovenia jumped by about 8.5 times year-on-year in November 2021, the country’s statistics office said.

The November figures also surpassed those from the same month in 2019, the last pre-Covid year, according to statistics.

Slovenia’s tourism industry has seen a strong recovery this year, although the type of tourists has changed, reports Xinhua news agency.

Domestic tourists accounted for almost 70 per cent of all overnight stays this November, compared to only 37.4 per cent in November 2019.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourists’ overnight stays has halved versus November 2019.

However, compared to 2020, the situation this year was better, said the office.

“This November many more tourist arrivals and overnight stays of domestic and foreign tourists were recorded compared to November 2020 due to eased Covid-19 epidemic measures,” the office said.

Slovenia reported its first cases of the Omicron variant on December 14 this year, but the government didn’t choose another general lockdown, trying to avoid damaging the country’s economy.

Slovenian tourism was badly hit by the pandemic, which prompted the government to issue tourist vouchers for domestic citizens of up to 300 euros ($265).

These can be used for visits within Slovenia until the end of June 2022.

Before the outbreak of Covid-19, tourism represented about 10.6 per cent of the country’s GDP, but it fell to 6.5 per cent in 2020.

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