"Dr Danilo Türk is well known in the international space as well, therefore no special and costly introductions are required. Rumours about millions our country has supposedly spent are inaccurate, and until now the state had no expenses with his candidacy," Minister Erjavec said. Based on the information he acquired, Türk has a fair chance of succeeding with his candidacy, but the Security Council of the United Nations has the final say.

Education crucial for fight against terrorism
Erjavec touched upon the topic which was also one of the central topics at the session of the EU foreign ministers: fight against terrorism after the attacks in Paris and Brussels. Erjavec warned his colleagues that exacerbation of measures for fight against terrorism "should not be introduced at the expense of human rights, and fundamental freedoms". "I stressed the fact that terrorism can't be prevented by repression only, and that more should be done for education, improvement of social conditions for the young, who present potential targets for recruitment to radicalism. Settling of the crisis which is the reason for terrorism will be crucial – and I am speaking of the crisis in Syria, Iraq, Libya, the phenomenon of the Islamic state, and last but not least the criminal activity of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria," Minister states.

Sanctions against Russia remain, for now
The foreign ministers discussed the relations with the Russian federation and decided that the economic sanctions introduced by EU against Russia will remain in force until the implementation of the Minsk agreement, which was signed in September last year. "At introduction of the economic sanctions against the Russian federation I paid most attention to the consequences for our economy. I can say that we were successful in that regard, as the level of economic exchange remained the same as in the past," Minister emphasized.

The influence of the drop in rouble exchange rate on Slovenia was more noticeable
He adds that "a great drop in rouble exchange rate presents a great problem for Slovenian companies". But at the same time Erjavec reassures that so far no Slovenian company had to lay off employees because of the sanctions. "Quite the opposite, last December I chaired the Intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation with the Russian federation, and new businesses for Slovenian companies in the amount of 500 million euros were agreed upon," Erjavec said.

Tanja Kozorog Blatnik
Translated by G. K.