Ljubljana, 18 May (STA) - Representatives of the Council of Europe's commission for human rights are paying a visit to Slovenia this week to examine the country's protection of human rights. Sirpa Rautio and Ignacio Perez met Wednesday with government officials and Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek.

Topping the agenda of the talks with the ombudsman were issues of the erased citizens, the status of the Roma community, and the country's implementation of anti-discrimination policy, according to a press release from the ombudsman's office.

As to the problems of the Roma community, Hanzek told the CoE officials that he has been urging the government for several years to adopt a bill and a national programme for the Roma that would tackle the problems faced by the community in all areas, including education, employment and housing.

The ombudsman also informed the CoE representatives about his plans to set up a special commission for equal opportunities within the ombudsman's office that would supervise the implementation of the new act on equal opportunities, according to the press release.

The CoE delegation also held talks today with representatives of the ministries for foreign affairs, interior affairs, justice and labour, as well as government offices for minorities and the disabled, and the police chief's office.