Preparations ahead of ceremony to mark country joining single currency

Описание: (15 Jan 2007)
1. Wide of Euro zone banner hanging from wall of building
2. Medium of Euro banner hanging from wall
3. Various street scenes
4. Medium of man walking away from newspaper stand with newspaper
5. Various of newspapers
6. Woman at cash machine withdrawing money
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Name unknown, Vox Pop:
"I think it is good for Slovenia to get euro(s). But I think prices are a little higher now."
8. Wide of market traders behind stalls
9. Gifts on market stalls with price tags in euros
10. Close-up of price tag in euros, with price in Slovene tolar below
11. Man buying fruit at fruit and vegetable stall
12. Close-up of man paying for fruit with euros
13. Medium of market seller writing prices tags
14. Close-up of market seller writing price tags
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Name unknown, Vox Pop:
"We should get used to it, the sooner the better. The only problem is, but it is only natural that it happens I think, that the prices go up. It happened everywhere so we shouldn't be worried. We should just go with it and maybe demand that our pay-checks get higher because of it, a little bit more assured but nothing more. I think it is no problem."
16. Security police on horseback patrolling street outside Congress Hall
17. Various of security policemen in front of Congress Hall
18. Various of security police walking along
19. Banks of Soca river
STORYLINE:
European Union chiefs will gather in Ljubljana on Monday to celebrate the ex-Yugoslav country's entry into the euro club.
The country of two (m) million introduced the euro on 1st January, becoming the 13th nation to use the single European currency and the only one of the ten countries that joined the bloc two years ago so far to satisfy the economic criteria needed to join the euro zone.
The Slovene tolar was in use alongside the euro for only 14 days. From Monday, the euro is the only legal currency.
One resident of Ljubljana said it was good for Slovenia to have the euro but that the prices had increased a little.
"The only problem is, but it is only natural that it happens I think, that the prices go up. It happened everywhere so we shouldn't be worried," said another resident.
"We should just go with it and maybe demand that our pay-checks get higher because of it, a little bit more assured but nothing more. I think it is no problem," she said.
Among those expected to attend Monday's celebrations are European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency and European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet.
The event falls on the 15th anniversary of the ex-Yugoslav country's independence.
Speaking at a banking conference preceding the celebration on Monday, Trichet commended Slovenia on a smooth changeover to the euro in just two weeks.
Many in Slovenia see the switch as a final step in becoming part of mainstream Europe.
Slovenia swiftly turned to a market economy after gaining independence from communist Yugoslavia.
The country also has a Western-style democracy and takes over the EU's rotating presidency on January 1.
In economic terms, the government said it expected no change with the switch to the euro.

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