During today's phone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar expressed solidarity with measures to prevent spreading of the Covid-19 virus and presented his condolences over the numerous fatalities caused by the virus in the neighbouring country.

At its meeting by correspondence, the Government adopted a decision to start carrying out border control checks in the vicinity of the border between Slovenia and Italy on 11 March 2020. This measure is aimed at reducing the risk of spreading the contagious disease SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) in Slovenia and at protecting the health of its population.

The MFA advises against all travel to Italy.

In accordance with the measures adopted to contain the COVID-19 epidemic, Slovenian citizens are advised against all but essential travel to China and against all travel to the province of Hubei until further notice.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic and the related restrictive measures of Korean authorities, Slovenian citizens are advised against travelling to the area around Daegu and Cheongju. The MFA advises against all but essential travel to other parts of the Republic of Korea.

Due to the spread of the COVID-19 and the related restrictive measures adopted by the authorities, the MFA advises against all travel to the country. Slovenian citizens temporarily staying in Iran are advised to leave the country as soon as possible.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

At this stage there are 19 confirmed coronavirus infections in Slovenia. The Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) is closely monitoring the situation regarding the spread of Covid-19 and its impact on tourist flows in Slovenia and the World. We are in constant contact with the competent institutions, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MGRT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MZZ), we follow the releases of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), the Ministry of Health (MZ) and other relevant sources.

On 4 and 5 March 2020, a business delegation from the state of Nevada paid a visit to Slovenia. Within the scope of the Nevada Global Trade and Education Mission, the American delegation also visited Poland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.

State Secretary Matej Marn attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) in Zagreb. During discussions, the ministers assessed the current situation and focused on the expected development of EU's relations with Russia and Turkey.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the agreements signed between the United States and Afghanistan and between the United States and the Taliban today on launching dialogue between the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to achieve a lasting peace. A firm agreement leading to a lasting peace and stability for the people of Afghanistan may only be reached through the full engagement of both sides in an inclusive dialogue aimed at finding a compromise solution.

Slovenia is deeply concerned about the Israeli plans to expand their settlements in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, and to develop the E1 area. If implemented, this decision would seriously damage the prospect of resolving the issue through negotiation and establishing the state of Palestine, and Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Today the OECD launched the AI Policy Observatory which will present an inclusive online platform for sharing and shaping AI policies. The OECD Observatory aims to help countries to enable and monitor the responsible development of trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for the benefit of the society.

Slovenia has allocated a humanitarian contribution in the amount of EUR 50,000 to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The funds will be used to help meet the humanitarian needs of refugees and the internally displaced population in Syria. With this contribution, Slovenia fully honoured its commitment from the ministerial conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region held in Brussels in March 2019.

State Secretary Matej Marn is attending the high-level segment of today’s 43rd UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. In his address, he stated that a group of countries, led by Slovenia, intends to open a discussion to declare the right to a healthy environment at the global level. During his visit, he also addressed the Conference on Disarmament and met the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the Human Rights Council and the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva.

Slovenia made a contribution in the amount of EUR 30,000 to the World Food Programme for emergency humanitarian aid to Yemen. Slovenia thus honoured its pledge for 2020 made at the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, which was held in Geneva on 26 February 2019.

In Brussels, State Secretary Matej Marn attended today’s General Affairs Council, which launched the March European Council preparations and discussed the topics of EU enlargement and legislative planning. At the meeting, the ministers and state secretaries also agreed to authorise the opening of negotiations on a new partnership with the United Kingdom and learnt about the new European Commission's plans for monitoring the development of the rule of law in the EU.

In Thessaloniki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miroslav Cerar is attending the high-level conference ‘From Thessaloniki to Zagreb’, hosting foreign ministers of the Western Balkans, EU member states from the region (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia), and EU representatives (EEAS, EC).

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar is paying a working visit to Sweden; yesterday, he met Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and Chair of the Committee Andreas Norlén. Today, at the general meeting of the Slovenian Association in Sweden, the Foreign Minister addressed Slovenian compatriots living in Sweden and thanked them for preserving the Slovenian identity and mother tongue.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar is paying an official visit to Sweden at the invitation of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Ann Linde. He met her and the Speaker of the Riksdag, Andreas Norlén, to discuss the importance of the European future for the Western Balkan countries, sustainable development and EU challenges around the world. At the round table held at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Minister Cerar touched on the challenges facing the EU and its relations with partners such as Russia, China, and the United States. He later visited the seat of the Smart City project in Stockholm.

Slovenia provided a humanitarian contribution of 40,000 euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for urgent humanitarian aid to Iraq, thus meeting its commitment made during the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq in Kuwait in February 2018.