Year 1999

21. January 1999

Photo: Jakše-Jeršič, source: Government Communication Office

Geographic origin of the name of Lipicanec is protected

The government adopts a decree protecting the geographic origin of the name of Lipicanec (Eng. Lipizzaner).

01. February 1999

Photo: archive site of the former Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek

An associate member of the EU

The Association Agreement with the EU comes into effect, and Slovenia officially becomes an associate member of the EU.

21. June 1999 - 22. June 1999

Photo: Robert Balen/Salomon 2000, source: Government Communication Office

The USA President visits Slovenia

American President William J. Clinton visits Slovenia.

19. September 1999

Second visit of Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II visits Slovenia and beatifies the Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek.

06. November 1999

Tomaž Humar climbs the southern wall of Daulagiri

Tomaž Humar climbs the southern rock wall of Daulagiri (8167 m).

Overview of the year

The European Association Agreement by which Slovenia officially became an associate member of the EU entered into force on 1 February. Slovenia presided over the UN Security Council in November for the second time before the end of the country’s two-year non-permanent membership.

The central foreign policy event of the year in Slovenia was the two-day visit of US president Bill Clinton in the beginning of the summer. Pope John Paul II visited Slovenia for the second time in the beginning of the autumn and solemnly beatified in Maribor Anton Martin Slomšek, who was a bishop of Maribor and an important disseminator of culture.

Nine-year primary school began as a pilot project in 42 Slovenian primary schools. Slovenia successfully introduced value added tax.

A sporting event with wide media coverage was the solo climb of Slovenian climber Tomaž Humar on the extremely difficult southern slope of Daulagiri in the Himalayas. Ten years later Mr. Humar tragically died while climbing the Himalayan peak Langtang Lirung in Nepal.

Text: Government Communication Office