US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA62

UNCLAS  LJUBLJANA 000062 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM, EB, OES 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR/ERRION 
USDOC FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OEERIS/SAVICH 
JUSTICE FOR AAG SANSONETTI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, PINR, SI 
SUBJECT: `I AM NOT A TROUBLEMAKER': COM MEETS NEW SLOVENIAN 
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER JANEZ PODOBNIK 
 
REF: 04 LJUBLJANA 884 
 
1.  Summary: In a January 24 courtesy call, new Minister of 
Environment and Spatial Planning, Janez Podobnik told COM about 
his plans for the Ministry, highlighting challenges of nuclear 
waste disposal and biotech. He also stated that there might be 
opportunities for US investors as Slovenia plans for a waste 
disposal incinerator and seeks to build wind-powered electrical 
plants.  In addition to environmental matters, the discussion 
covered some political ground since Podobnik is also president 
of coalition partner Slovene People's Party (SLS).  Podobnik 
noted that while the coalition was operating smoothly, it was 
difficult to be in "third place" (ie. the third party in a four 
party coalition).  On the subject of relations with Croatia, 
Podobnik, referring to his late-September 2004 arrest by 
Croatian police in a contested border region stated "I am not a 
troublemaker." Podobnik hopes and expects that the dispute and 
pending charges will be resolved in a diplomatic fashion. End 
Summary. 
 
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Ministry's Main Priorities 
-------------------------- 
 
2.  COM, accompanied by DCM, Econ Off, and Econ/Comm FSN, began 
the meeting asking Podobnik for his main priorities for the 
Ministry.  Podobnik replied that he would focus on the three 
areas corresponding to the focus areas of the Ministry: 
environment, spatial planning, and housing. On the environment, 
Podobnik said that his priority is to identify a location for 
an incinerator for the dual purpose of waste disposal and 
energy creation.  In addition, Podobnik said he will focus on 
preserving and maintaining the potable water supply since it 
represents a strategic resource in Slovenia. 
On spatial planning, Podobnik said he will strive to decrease 
potential barriers to foreign investors in areas where he has 
influence such as the location of infrastructure, including 
railroads, highways, and gas lines.  COM told Podobnik that the 
Ministry and the GoS should do everything they can to increase 
the speed and the transparency of the processes foreign 
investors must go through to begin operations in Slovenia. On 
housing, Podobnik plans to increase the volume of construction 
of low-income housing. 
 
------------------------------ 
Opportunities for US Investors 
------------------------------ 
 
3.  Noting Podobnik's comments on the incinerator, COM said 
that the U.S. is a global leader in the field of environmental 
technology and that we might be able to provide Slovenia with 
assistance in finding partners in this area.  Podobnik welcomed 
U.S. participation in both the incinerator project and in the 
forthcoming (albeit temporarily delayed) wind energy project. 
Podobnik told COM that in March 2005, the Ministry will 
organize an incinerator seminar in Slovenia.  He hopes to 
attract experts in the field, to hear success stories of best 
practices, and to attract potential investors.  Podobnik noted 
that in spite of Slovenia's small size, a project of this 
nature would reach far beyond its borders, as green energy is 
gaining in importance in this region of the world. 
 
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Nuclear Waste 
------------- 
 
4. (Background: The waste disposal solution for Slovenia's only 
nuclear plant in Krsko, near the Croatian border, has yet to be 
resolved despite more than 20 years of discussions.  Probably 
the largest environmental issue in Slovenia, nuclear waste has 
been stored at the facility site while the government searches 
for a more permanent solution.  Unfortunately, one does not yet 
appear on the horizon.)  When COM asked Podobnik about progress 
in finding a permanent solution for nuclear waste storage, 
Podobnik turned to Professor Dr. Marjan Vezjak, Director of the 
Office for International and European Affairs.  Vezjak stated 
that Slovenia, as many other European countries, will try to 
solve this problem inside the EU.  The goal of the Ministry is 
to identify at least one location for disposal of low and 
medium radioactive waste and have a solution for this problem 
by 2008. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
Wind Generated Power and Interest in AAG Sansoneti's Expertise 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
5.  Podobnik told COM that he strongly supports "green" energy, 
and that this type of power is part of the government's 
coalition contract.  The planned project of having a series of 
wind-operated power plants has stalled, however, due to the 
strong environmental concerns amongst the population and a 
negative environmental impact report from the Ministry's own 
environmental agency.  Podobnik asked the COM for advice in 
solving this problem.  COM replied that each case must be 
weighed on its own merits and that careful negotiations between 
the government, local authorities and NGOs could be key, with 
the understanding that compromises must often be made.  Marko 
Starman, State Secretary at the Ministry, (and an SLS political 
appointee and longtime Embassy contact from his time in the 
Ministry of Justice handling denationalization issues), noted 
that the Ministry's goal will be to increase the transparency 
of this project and deal with the situation in a way that will 
avoid lawsuits.  Starman expressed interest in cooperating with 
and getting advice from Assistant Attorney General for the 
Environment Thomas Sansonetti, with whom he met in November of 
2004. 
 
---------------- 
Biotech and GMOs 
---------------- 
 
6.  On biotechnology and GMOs, Podobnik stated that he believes 
Europe and, consequently, Slovenia, will form a balanced 
strategy. Podobnik is convinced that a good legal foundation is 
essential in dealing with this issue.  As a medical doctor and 
politician, Podobnik believes that skepticism, precaution, and 
control are needed in this field.  Noting that the biotech 
field lacks good practice in Slovenia as well as in the EU, 
Vezjak added that he believes the EU is leaning towards 
allowing GMOs in strictly determined limits only. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Political Agenda and Slovenian-Croatian Relations 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
7.  Switching form environmental topics, COM asked Podobnik for 
his perception of how the SLS is faring in the new government. 
Podobnik who is new to the Government, but a well-known figure 
in Slovene politics, stated that the SLS started well in the 
new government.  He also noted the SLS has very good 
connections with the municipalities as they rank number one 
among the parties in the number of city mayors.  Podobnik rated 
Prime Minister Jansa an excellent leader and said his 
relationship with Jansa is good.  Despite the positive feeling 
about the new government and the change in the political 
climate, Podobnik stated several times during the conversation 
that it is difficult being the number three coalition party 
member. (Note: After the October 2004 parliamentary elections, 
the SLS formed a coalition government with Slovenian Democratic 
Party (SDS) led by PM Janez Jansa, the New Slovenia Party (Nsi) 
led by Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk and the Slovenian 
Pensioners Party (DeSUS). End Note). 
 
8.  COM asked Podobnik for his perceptions of Slovenia's 
relations with Croatia.  In contrast to his easy manner up to 
this point in the meeting, Podobnik stated somewhat stiffly 
that the incident prior to the recent elections [when he was 
arrested by Croatian authorities on the Slovenia-Croatia border 
in an area long understood to be in dispute] was addressed by 
the Croatians in a "non-European manner," since Podobnik was a 
member of EU parliament at the time of the incident.  Noting he 
is not a  "troublemaker," Podobnik suggested this incident will 
be resolved diplomatically.  [Note. Most likely after a meeting 
between Justice Ministers in February. End Note]  Podobnik said 
that he is committed to strengthening relations between 
Slovenia and Croatia as the two countries share the Sava and 
Donava rivers in addition to the Adriatic Sea. Because of this, 
Podobnik believes the two countries will have many good 
opportunities to cooperate closely in numerous environmental 
projects. 
 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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 2005LJUBLJ00062 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 


 
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