Minister of Defence Matej Tonin responded to the developments between the Slovenian Press Agency (Slovenska tiskovna agencija – referred to as the STA) and the Government Communication Office (Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za komuniciranje – referred to as UKOM). Veselinovič sent Tonin a letter explaining the current situation at the STA, and Tonin explained that he knows all about the situation at the STA and the involvement of UKOM in the whole matter. He also stated that he believes that Veselinovič should submit the required documentation and not hold his own employees hostage. “I find it unacceptable that your disabling of the control over the use of budget funds is endangering the future of the STA. You are also taking the agency’s employees hostage with your actions,” Tonin made it clear, who also urged Veselinovič to hand over the documentation to UKOM and resign from his position.
According to the Minister of Defence Matej Tonin, the director of the STA Bojan Veselinovič wrote a letter to him, in which he presented the situation at the Slovenian Press Agency. “As a member of the government, I am well acquainted with the situation at the STA, since the director of the Government Communication Office, Uroš Urbanija, presented the situation in detail at several sessions of the government,” Tonin explained.
He emphasised that personally, he highly appreciates the work of the STA journalists and supports them, and that is also why he is concerned about their uncertain fate. “In the coming months, STA could become insolvent and unable to pay for its expenses, which would mean that the journalists would not be paid for their work,” Tonin stated. He went on to explain that this situation would not have occurred if the STA director Veselinovič had fulfilled his obligations and would not have had his employees as hostages.
The Ministry of Defence concluded a special agreement with the STA, which allows them to continue to operate, and according to Tonin’s information, the other two ministries form the quota of the New Slovenia party (Nova Slovenija) did the same thing. “This is proof that we do care about the fate of the journalists,” he explained, adding that, on the other hand, he does not understand Veselinovič’s uncompromising insistence when it comes to the claim that UKOM is not a representative of the STA’s founder and that it would need special authority to get access to certain documents. “In the past, STA has always concluded regular annual public service provider contracts with UKOM as the representative of the founder, and no special authorisation of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia was ever required for this,” he criticised Veselinovič.
Tonin believes that according to the provisions of the concluded contracts, UKOM has all the rights and obligations to inspect the operations of the STA and can also request all documentation related to the STA operations. After all, it is UKOM’s duty to monitor the legality and transparency of the use of taxpayers’ money, as the state allocates a significant amount of state funds for the STA every month in order for it to provide the public service. “The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has repeatedly publicly explained that UKOM is the authorised representative of the founder,” Tonin pointed out. However, as we have learned from the public announcements, Veselinovič has still not submitted the required documentation, despite many people urging him to do so.
Tonin calls on Veselinovič to hand over the documentation and resign for the good of the employees
This time, it was Tonin personally who urged him to hand over the documentation: “That is why I urge you once again to immediately submit the required documentation to UKOM, for the benefit of all journalists and other STA employees, and the future of the agency.” Tonin believes that the relations between the STA, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and UKOM have deteriorated so much in recent months that Veselinovič should offer his resignation for the good of the agency. “I find it unacceptable that your disabling of the control over the use of budget funds is endangering the future of the STA. You are also taking the agency’s employees hostage with your actions,” Tonin made it clear.
We are publishing Tonin’s letter to Veselinovič in its entirety below.
“Dear Mr. Veselinovič,
you wrote to me on the 31st of March 2021 and presented the situation at the Slovenian Press Agency (hereinafter: the STA). As a member of the government, I am well acquainted with the situation at the STA, since the director of the Government Communication Office (hereinafter: UKOM), Uroš Urbanija, M.Sc., presented the situation in detail at several sessions of the government. I highly appreciate and support the work of the STA journalists, and that is also why I am worried about its uncertain fate. In the coming months, STA could become insolvent and unable to pay for its expenses, which would mean that the journalists would not be paid for their work.
At the Ministry of Defence, we concluded a special agreement with the STA, which enables our further cooperation, and according to my information, the other two ministries form the quota of the New Slovenia party did the same thing. This is proof that we do care about the fate of the journalists. However, I do not understand your uncompromising insistence on the position that UKOM is not a representative of the STA’s founder and that it would need special authority to get access to certain documents. In the past, STA has always concluded regular annual public service provider contracts with UKOM as the representative of the founder, and no special authorisation of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia was ever required for this. According to the provisions of the concluded contracts, UKOM has all the rights and obligations to inspect the operations of the STA and can also request all documentation related to the STA operations. After all, it is UKOM’s duty to monitor the legality and transparency of the use of taxpayers’ money, as the state allocates a significant amount of state funds for the STA every month. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has repeatedly publicly explained that UKOM is the authorised representative of the founder.
That is why I urge you once again to immediately submit the required documentation to UKOM for the benefit of all journalists and other STA employees and the future of the agency. I believe that the relations between you, director Veselinovič, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and UKOM, have deteriorated so much in recent months that you should offer your resignation for the good of the agency. I find it unacceptable that your disabling of the control over the use of budget funds is endangering the future of the STA and that you are also taking the agency’s employees hostage with your actions.
Respectfully
Matej Tonin, M.Sc.”
Sara Rančigaj
