US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA103

UNCLAS  LJUBLJANA 000103 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE 
JUSTICE PLEASE PASS OGE JLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, SI 
SUBJECT: COM CALLS ON SLOVENIA'S MINISTER OF PUBLIC 
ADMINISTRATION, GREGOR VIRANT 
 
1.  Summary.  On February 10, COM called on Dr. Gregor 
Virant, Minister of Slovenia's newly created Ministry of 
Public Administration.  Virant described his ministry as a 
consolidation of human resources, information management and 
eGovernment initiatives into one, central, transparent, and 
service-oriented unit.  He listed his priorities as removal 
of administrative barriers for both citizens and businesses; 
development of eGovernment with a  special focus on 
government-to-business services; development of a 
high-quality human resources operation, following successful 
corporate examples; and above all, a transparent and open 
administration.  Virant is currently shepherding 
controversial amendments to the law on Public Administration 
through Parliament.  He also described plans for creating an 
expert council made up of business and government focused on 
creating a "business friendly" administrative environment in 
Slovenia.  End Summary 
 
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NEW MINISTRY, NEW LAWS, "REINVENTING GOVERNMENT" 
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2.  Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, Pol/Econ Chief and Pol 
Specialist, met Virant just after his first session with the 
parliamentary committee overseeing public administration. 
Virant described the session as long, but useful.  He was 
very glad of the opportunity to correct some misperceptions 
raised by articles in the press and recent National Council 
(upper house of parliament) objections to the amendments to 
the law on Public Administration.  As Virant described it, 
while the law does bring the political process down one layer 
further into the bureaucracy (down to the USG equivalent of 
Assistant Secretary level), it will not result in forced job 
losses.  Rather, it allows new ministers to place people of 
appropriate qualifications, and in whom they have trust, into 
positions of importance within the ministries.  Incumbents 
will be offered the option of a position of similar rank 
elsewhere in the ministry or a severance package.  The new 
appointees will be vetted by the same Civil Service Council 
as all other hires for suitability and qualification for the 
jobs. The current law draws the appointee line at the USG 
equivalent Under and Deputy Secretary levels. 
 
3.  In response to Ambassador's queries about the creation of 
the new ministry and the planned simplification of 
bureaucracy, Virant explained that a Ministry for Public 
Administration had long been "dreamed of," and, now that it 
was a reality, he was confident, (with a civil service of 
around 34,000) it could function along the lines of a 
successful corporation.  He stressed a desire to be more 
business-friendly and invited the Ambassador's views on how 
he might be able to accomplish this.  COM explained that he 
heard credible complaints from both Slovene and U.S. business 
people regarding a lack of transparency for those wishing to 
establish a new business.  In addition, the whole tender 
process for public procurement was often lacking in 
transparency with winners seen to be predetermined. DCM added 
that the Embassy had received complaints about the lack of 
transparency and inconsistency of tax administration in 
Slovenia, to which the Ambassador added the suggestion that 
the language used for informing the public on tax issues be 
clear and understandable to the average citizen. Virant 
agreed that these were all areas where the GOS could improve 
its service and expressed interest in USG experiences in 
"re-inventing government."  He responded favorably to the 
suggestion that he engage with the American Chamber of 
Commerce in Slovenia and speak at one of the Chamber's 
monthly breakfast events. 
 
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CORRUPTION 
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4.  On efforts to combat corruption in government, the 
Ambassador praised the new practice of financial disclosure 
for public officials, noting, too, that Slovenia has received 
many accolades from the OECD, EU and others on its overall 
strategy to prevent corruption.  COM asked how, in light of 
the work it does and the domestic and international value 
placed on its work, the void would be filled if the current 
Commission for the Prevention of Corruption were disbanded as 
has been suggested in recent press reports.  Virant responded 
by stressing that there was no formal initiative to disband 
the Commission, but there was thought being given to 
transferring its oversight duties for financial disclosure to 
a parliamentary committee.  Virant also suggested that he 
would like to change the name of the law for the prevention 
of corruption to more accurately reflect its goal.  He would 
call it the "Law Regulating the Obligations and Restrictions 
 
 
of Public Officials."   He said the Freedom of Information 
Act would also be amended this year in order to make this 
information more widely available. 
 
5.  Virant asked the Ambassador about U. S. experiences in 
the realm of public corruption.  COM described the Office of 
Government Ethics, which has become a respected institution 
and viewed as a key element of a transparent U.S. government. 
 He emphasized that though an onerous requirement, all 
high-ranking public officials in the USG appreciate the 
importance of public financial disclosures. 
 
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COMMENT 
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6.  Virant, who served as a State Secretary in the Ministry 
of Interior in the previous government, is clearly 
enthusiastic about his new position and is losing no time in 
consolidating his ministry.  He is pushing for changes he 
believes will create a more efficient and transparent civil 
service bureaucracy in Slovenia.  While being clear about the 
need to conform to EU standards, Virant was very open and 
frank in his discussions with the Ambassador.  He seemed 
genuinely interested in U.S. experiences in government reform 
and receptive to our views about possible reforms in 
Slovenia.  We will take advantage of his openness to put the 
local AmCham leadership in touch directly, and we will also 
seek opportunities to offer Virant greater exposure to U.S. 
management and leadership models. 
 
7.  BIO NOTE. Virant was born 04 December 1969 in Ljubljana 
and holds a Ph.D. in law from Ljubljana University where he 
is also a senior lecturer.  He speaks fluent English and has 
studied at Glasgow Caledonian University. 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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 2005LJUBLJ00103 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 


 
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