COM CALLS ON SLOVENIA'S MINISTER OF PUBLIC

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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