WEBVTT

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Hello. Here to present the decisions
made at the 154th government meeting

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is Interior Minister
Boštjan Poklukar. -Hello.

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Today, the government covered
the extension of border controls

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on the Croatian
and Hungarian borders.

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Under Schengen rules,
we're obligated to inform

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EU institutions that Slovenia
intends to extend its controls

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on its borders with Croatia
and Hungary.

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I presented the reasons for this
at our meeting.

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They're already well-known:
the deteriorating security situation

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in the Middle East, the war
between Russia and Ukraine,

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and the complicated situation
in the Western Balkans,

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as well as the high incidence
of terrorism in the EU.

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In Slovenia, that terrorist threat
is on an intermediate level.

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These reasons were decisive
in Slovenia's decision

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to extend its controls
at border checkpoints

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with neighboring countries.

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During the summer vacation season,
the controls

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won't affect transiting travelers

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returning from Croatia via Slovenia

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to other EU countries.

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We'll approach this as we have
in recent years.

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Our experience tells us how
to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

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However, we'll take action
against our target groups,

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such as smugglers of illegal
immigrants and other foreigners,

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who are being taken across
borders by criminal enterprises,

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including cases where we
take action after finding

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suspicious passengers or cargo.

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At the Interior Ministry,
we've received

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a formal diplomatic note from Italy,
which has also opted

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for this measure
and made an announcement,

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so Italy will also extend
its border controls.

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However, the agreements between
interior ministers,

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including my talks
with the Croatian and Hungarian

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interior ministers, as well
as Italy's interior minister

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with me, are still in effect.
Residents living on the border

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aren't experiencing major problems
with border crossings and controls.

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The Slovenian police
are doing a fabulous job

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controlling the migration flow.
They've arrested

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and processed
multiple smugglers,

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who led foreign citizens
across national borders.

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You were recently informed
that several police forces

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in the Western Balkans, as part
in a well-organized operation,

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broke apart a smuggling ring

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that was taking foreign citizens
across borders

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from the Western Balkans
to Italy.

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Slovenian police are very
effective in this regard.

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Illegal migrations along
the Western Balkan route

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are down substantially
this year.

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So far this year, we've seen
just over 5000 foreign citizens

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who have been detained
by Slovenian police

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during illegal border crossings.
In the same period last year,

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there were almost 15,000
such persons,

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so there's a large decrease
in the number of illegal crossings.

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The cooperation of three countries,
Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy,

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as part of our trilateral agreement
between the interior ministers,

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is very effective.

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The decision to raise the question
of illegal migration

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at the European Commission,
the Council of Ministries,

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has also been effective
and we're now seeing

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an exceptionally low level
of illegal crossings

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on the Western Balkan route.

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I'd like to applaud the work
of Slovenian police officers

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who're working to reduce
illegal migrations.

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Thanks to its collaboration

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with other countries
and interior ministries,

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Slovenia is doing a good job.

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Slovenia is abiding
by international regulations

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and its asylum legislation.

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When anyone requests asylum
in Slovenia,

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that process is initiated.

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Despite the low number
of illegal crossings,

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these persons tend
to leave Slovenia

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before the process is concluded,

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typically in less than 24 hours,
and move on

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to other destination countries
in the EU.

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I'd also like to comment
about yesterday's threat

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made against the courts.

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I regret and condemn
such threats

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made against independent
institutions such as the courts.

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They're a form of pressure
on the courts and judges.

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They have a negative impact
on the level of democracy

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in the country, but I'm confident
that the Slovenian police

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will investigate the threat
and find the suspect

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who threatened the courthouses
in Celje, Maribor, and Ljubljana.

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The police will present
the threat and their measures

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to protect the court
at a press conference today.

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We'll ensure the security
of the judges and the courts,

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so they won't be disrupted.

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The police are very
conscientious in this regard

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and have the relevant experience.

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I'm glad that the government
covered the extension

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of border controls today.
Slovenia is not the only country

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to extend controls
with neighboring countries.

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When this measure
is no longer in effect

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and the security situations
in the region,

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the Middle East,
and Ukraine improve,

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we'll abolish the controls
and reintroduce

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regular Schengen processes.

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Thank you. Questions from the press.
Žana Vertačnik, POP TV.

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Hello. Žana Vertačnik, POP TV.
I have two questions.

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You already spoke about
the threat to the courts,

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but I'm curious about
how serious

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the security situation is,

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given that several difficult
court cases

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are currently underway
in Slovenia.

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That's my first question.
My second question

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is about the case
of human trafficking

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involving Filipino laborers.
Did you discuss that

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at the coalition meeting?
There have been calls

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from civil society organizations
that you should resign

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and reduce pressure
on the government

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because of your acquaintances.
How do you respond?

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The security of prosecutors,

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risk-assessment, and protective
services for individuals,

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including at-risk persons,
is solely the responsibility

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of the Slovenian police.
This isn't the job

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of the Interior Minister
or anyone else in the government.

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The police are constantly
assessing these risks,

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and if there are credible threats
against anyone in Slovenia,

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the police will ensure their
physical security.

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I trust that the police will explain
this in detail

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and take action if such
threats exist.

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Regarding
the Prosecutor's Office,

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I also found out
through the media

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that Prosecutor Gončin
reported several members

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of the Security
and Protection Centre.

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However, the Specialised
State Prosecutor's Office

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has found no criminal offences
in many, nearly all cases.

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I believe in the rule of law,
as I said at my interpellation,

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and I believe that this matter
will be investigated.

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Regarding your second question
about human trafficking

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or rather the suspected offence
of human trafficking,

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let me say again
that I was horrified and appalled

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by what I saw
on the programme Tarča.

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I repeat,
as Minister of the Interior

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I was not informed
of this matter,

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nor could I have been
informed of this matter,

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which was headed by the police
and the State Prosecutor's Office.

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My Head of Cabinet,
who is the sister of Mr Aleš Hvala,

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the hotelier from Kobarid,
was not informed either.

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Let me reiterate
that I believe and expect

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that the police
and the State Prosecutor's Office

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will investigate this suspected
offence as soon as possible.

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Again,
I have nothing to exculpate.

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As Minister of the Interior
I was not involved in the matter

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and I gave no information,
as I didn't even know about it.

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If I had known
that something wrong is going on

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in the Topli Val restaurant,
believe me,

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I would not have taken the
Italian Minister of Interior there.

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So, I truly do not understand

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the calls for me to resign
or exculpate myself.

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Again, the Prosecutor's Office
will determine,

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and the police
will present evidence,

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whether there was a suspected
offence in this case or not.

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Let's wait
for the procedure to conclude.

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But I would like to say
that the Anti-Trafficking Service,

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which I established during my first
term as Minister of the Interior,

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was also crucial in this case,
as it ensured,

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along with the NGO
and the police,

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that these people
were protected

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and treated appropriately,
as they should be.

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As Minister of the Interior
I can only commend that.

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Regarding the investigation,
I believe that

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the State Prosecutor's Office
will conclude it as soon as possible.

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Sara Dvorjak, RTV.
Will you implement oversight

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over the police work
in the Hvala case

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regarding
the Filipino workers?

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You said last time that
you would implement oversight,

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but cannot due to the
ongoing investigation,

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while last year you had
no such reservations

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in the case of the
school shooting threats.

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The police did nothing wrong
in this investigation.

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In my view,
the police did not act improperly

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in exercising their powers.

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They are investigating
this criminal offence,

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and if any wrongdoing is found
in the course of the investigation,

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I will immediately
order oversight.

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In this case,
there is no need to do so.

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But there was clearly
a leak of information.

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That has to be investigated
by the police.

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There was no leak
in the Ministry of the Interior.

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I am confident that the police will
uncover how the information leaked.

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Your sources have apparently
obtained documentation

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the authenticity of which,
as far as the police are concerned,

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I cannot confirm.
Therefore, at this stage,

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I will not initiate oversight.
There is also no reason for it yet,

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regardless of the fact that
the suspect is my acquaintance.

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Regardless.
It is irrelevant in this case.

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Following the confirmation

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that an attack on the
Maribor prison was being planned,

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did anything change
in the protection

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of the judges and prosecutors
in the Kavač Clan case?

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First, I can only congratulate
the detectives and police officers

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who were part
of this difficult operation

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involving the perpetrator

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who is incarcerated
in the Maribor prison.

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They also investigated
the criminal offence

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of attacking
the Maribor prison.

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Regarding the police security
measures and risk assessment,

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as Minister of the Interior I'm not
authorised for that information.

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I trust that the police will act
within the scope of its powers,

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professionally, and lawfully,
as it always does in such cases.

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Lastly, could you comment
on the European Investment Bank

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stopping lending for
the Second railway track?

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This is the first
I've heard of it.

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However, I trust that the competent
authorities dealing with the matter

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will provide
an explanation for it.

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I'm sure it's some
temporary reason

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and that the Second railway track
will be built.

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Any other questions?
Go ahead.

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Manja Delašjava, STA.

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You mentioned that you are
extending border control

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even though,
according to statistical data,

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illegal crossings
have reduced somewhat.

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What is your goal?
When will this border control end,

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what conditions
need to be fulfiled?

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Additionally,
since the start of the control,

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how many illegal crossings have you
prevented, if you have an estimate?

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Regarding
extending the control,

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we are primarily talking about the
high degree of terrorist threats

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in EU countries. In Slovenia,
this degree is medium.

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Furthermore,
the security situation

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has gotten even worse
since the last extension.

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Not only in Ukraine
and the Near East,

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but in part of the
western Balkans as well.

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Regarding
the terrorist threat,

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a few months ago, there was
a terrorist attack in Villach,

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so, not far from Slovenia. You have
heard me say for some time now

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that the era of security
complacency in Slovenia is over,

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and we are preparing thoroughly,
even for the worst-case scenarios.

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We are also connecting
national security actors

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with local security actors
and private security providers.

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Our aim is to build resilience

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and to ensure a rapid
and effective flow of information.

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And given the measures
that other countries

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are taking at their borders,
Germany included,

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Slovenia is acting
in a very similar manner.

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But, again,
we ensured that traffic will flow

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and that there will be
no larger congestions.

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But as soon as the need for this
measure goes away, we will lift it.

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Any more questions? In that case,
just to inform you,

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the consideration of the amendment
to the Kindergarten Act

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has been suspended, as some issues
still need to be resolved.

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For more information, please
contact the competent ministry.

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Thank you, Minister,
have a nice day.

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Thank you, you too.
Goodbye.