Slovenian PM stated that competent authorities had already been gathering information about the allegations that the US eavesdropped on phone conversations of Slovenian citizens between 2005 and 2008. How to proceed will be decided once the PM receives a report, which the competent authorities are expected to finish shortly. Given the sensitive nature of the matter, Cerar refused to comment on the situation: "We need to establish the facts first, and once we have the findings we’ll assume a standpoint."

Wiretapping is omnipresent, one is never too careful
Slovenian Foreign Affairs Minister announced he had been instructed by the PM to talk to the officials who might know what was going on. The first to be invited for a conversation with the minister will be the US ambassador in Slovenia. Erjavec explained that his ministry had not been informed about the confidential European operation Eikonal, and emphasized that Slovenian security services also had not come across any such information. However, says Erjavec, it’s a well-known fact that wiretapping takes places everywhere, which is why one can never be too careful. "This shows that sooner or later such things may come out," he added.

Minister not surprised by wiretapping affair
According to Erjavec, a parliamentary investigation is very unlikely to solve the problem of eavesdropping. "What’s more important is to be careful and take precautions that such things cannot happen. Apparently the awareness in Slovenia is not high enough," estimated Slovenian foreign minister, adding he is not surprised that wiretapping took place. Matjaž Nemec (Social Democrats), a member of the committee for the surveillance of intelligence and security services, has called on the committee’s president Branko Grims to convoke an extraordinary session immediately.

Sa. J., MMC; translated by K. Z.