SLOVENES HAVE SELECT INTERESTS IN INT'L MARITIME

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000791 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ANET AORC ECPS EUN EWWT KTIA PREL IMO INMARSAT, SI SUBJECT: SLOVENES HAVE SELECT INTERESTS IN INT'L MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) REF: STATE 183434 ¶1. On November 6 Econoff learned that the Government of Slovenia (GOS) would not be attending the Maritime Safety Committee meeting. When Econoff delivered reftel points on November 28 to Jadran Luin, Director General at the Ministry of Transport (MOT) in charge of Maritime affairs, Luin explained that due to limited resources, the Slovenian Ambassador to Great Britain usually represented national interests at IMO meetings. At this time, the GOS focuses on three committees to the exclusion of all others: the Legal, Maritime Safety and Maritime Environmental Protection Committees. Although not active with the IMO, Luin stressed that the GOS is actively working with neighboring countries with regards to maritime routes and safety. Maritime issues are important to the GOS as they relate to the port in Koper but the GOS does not have an official position on either the LRIT or GMDSS programs, which are to be discussed at the meeting in Istanbul. ROBERTSON