SLOVENIA: NEW JUSTICE MINISTER LOOKS TO U.S. FOR JUDICIAL

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000562

EUR/CE for Tom Yeager
EUR/OHI for Amb C. Kennedy
EUR/PPD for Jeanne Briganti

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP OEXC KCOR KNAR PHUM SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: NEW JUSTICE MINISTER LOOKS TO U.S. FOR JUDICIAL

REFORM MODELS; PLEDGES SUPPORT ON RESTITUTION CASES


1. (U) Summary: (U) In the Ambassador's first official meeting with
the new Minister of Justice Ales Zalar, the Minister pledged to look
into pending U.S. denationalization and property restitution cases
which remain bogged down in Slovenian courts. Zalar also reiterated
his great interest in collaborative judicial reform programming and
the continuation of Embassy-designed prosecutorial training. In an
Embassy meeting a few days later with State Prosecutor Barbara
Brezigar, Brezigar expressed the need for ongoing collaboration in
anti-corruption efforts, in particular in prosecuting economic crime
and improving media relations. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with new Justice Minister Ales Zalar on
December 11. Like all previous cabinet meetings, the tone was warm
and friendly - not least because both Zalar and his State Secretary
are both previous IV program participants. Zalar asked for a list
of pending property restitution cases and pledged to look into them
and provide a status for each case, and possibly a timeline on their
resolution. Zalar also presented a laundry list of areas for
cooperation and possible training, among them the need for training
in personal (consumer) bankruptcies and cyber crimes, as well as
study visits to the U.S. to assist in the establishment of family
courts and a judicial training center.



3. (U) During the Ambassador's meeting with State Prosecutor
Barbara Brezigar on December 15, Brezigar confirmed her office's
continuing interest in training focused on the prosecution of
economic crime and development of skills to improve media relations.
Brezigar and Zalar had not yet met to discuss collaboration between
their two offices, but with the nomination of prosecutors to key
positions in the Ministry of Justice, it appears that Zalar is
trying to improve cooperation between the two independent offices.


4. (SBU) Comment: The future of integrated governmental
anti-corruption efforts in the country may still be up in the air.
The efforts of Zalar and Brezigar, politically-left and right
respectively, will determine just how well prosecutors, judges and
police cooperate in the new government. The future of the country's
anti-corruption commission - or the network of other governmental
bodies tasked with anti-corruption responsibilities - may be even
more uncertain. Zalar was unwilling or unable to comment on the
commission, stating that its fate would be known in the coming
months. Brezigar expressed displeasure with the lack of cooperation
from the commission, whose leadership was often at odds - of a
political and personal nature - with the former Prime Minister's
office.
FREDEN