LJUBLJANA, March 21 (Hina) - A media blackout goes into force in Slovenia at midnight tonight ahead of referendums on membership in the European Union and NATO, which are to be held on Sunday, when 1.6 million citizens will decide
whether Slovenia should join the two organisations following last year's invitations from Copenhagen and Prague.
LJUBLJANA, March 21 (Hina) - A media blackout goes into force in
Slovenia at midnight tonight ahead of referendums on membership in
the European Union and NATO, which are to be held on Sunday, when 1.6
million citizens will decide whether Slovenia should join the two
organisations following last year's invitations from Copenhagen
and Prague. #L#
"We are deciding about fateful matters which concern our future,"
notes a public appeal released by Slovenia's parliamentary
president Borut Pahor hours before the media blackout. Pahor
reiterated the government and parliament's official stance and
that of most political parties in the country that a positive answer
to the referendum questions would strengthen Slovenia's
international position and its European profile.
It is also noted in the appeal that when deciding about NATO
membership, citizens should disregard the Iraqi crisis, which is a
consequence of disunity in the U.N. and the EU.
The latest opinion polls indicate that the success of the
referendum on the EU is virtually guaranteed and it is also likely
that Slovenes will opt for NATO despite the US strike on Iraq and
public demonstrations in Ljubljana.
Slovenia's anti-globalists oppose the government's stance
claiming that NATO is an unnecessary mechanism even though it
played a significant role during the Cold War. Polling stations
will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and the results should be
known a few hours after polling stations are closed.
(hina) sp rml sb