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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_09_št.13 - Index

QuoTeSofThefortnight
sinfo 13 2
Borut Pahor /SD President/: We want to formalise our informal
cooperation in case we get the mandate
Ljubljana, 24 September: We /The presidents of the Social Democrats
(SD) Borut Pahor, Zares (Gregor GolobiË) and Liberal Democrats
(LDS) (Katarina Kresal) - the trio expected to form a coalition with
one other party/ want to formalise our informal cooperation in
case we get the mandate. We have placed content above staffing
solutions. I see Slovenia's biggest challenge in taking on successfully
the period of economic uncertainty lying ahead. I beieve
that certain structural reforms will be necessary to secure this,
pointing out that dialogue, including with those who will end
up in the opposition, is needed to carry out these reforms. The
three of us are all in favour of a lively and successful debates with
those on the other side of the opposition-coalition divide, because
we cannot imagine success for Slovenia without this form
of cooperation.
Žiga Turk /Development Minister/: Grand coalition is the only
way for Slovenia to implement the reforms it needs to increase
its prosperity
Ljubljana, 24 September: The Social Democrats (SD) won general election
not because of their platform but because they managed to
persuade people that they stood for a different style of governance.
My party (SDS) offers a platform in which the advancement
of the economy's competitive edge, welfare and care for
the environment are well-balanced. The SDS was the only party
that clearly stated in the election campaign that prosperity depended
on economic growth and competitive companies, the
left-leaning bloc had been very hostile to the planned reforms in
2005 and 2006. Slovenia should continue with the reforms the
outgoing government started. Slovenia needs neoliberal reforms,
which only a grand coalition can implement, under ≈Coalition for
Reforms«. The upcoming term can be more favourable to such
reforms, when Slovenia's hands are not tied with the takeover of
euro or EU presidency, and when things can be done because
they are good for the country, rather than in order to score political
points.
Marko Kranjec / The governor of Banka Slovenije/: Financial
Products Developing Too Fast
Ljubljana, 24 September: Banka Slovenije is not noticing any major
problems in the Slovenian banking system, possibly because
Slovenian banks had not followed the quick development seen
abroad. Slovenian banks avoided problems because their operations
were underpinned by real money. The events of the past
year showed universal banking to be the type of banking most
resistant to problems and lack of confidence of financial markets.
This does not prevent globalisation, it does however put
into question the continuing specialisation and expansion in the
offer of financial products. I am a supporter of globalisation but
it still ought to be run according to appropriate rules. I believe
these rules will be seriously overhauled in the coming weeks and
months. The development of bankings needs to be linked to
technology, which has enabled globalisation in the first place.