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Lajcak: Slovakia Sticks to Its Guns on Not Recognising State of Kosovo

Bratislava/Pristina, April 9 (TASR) - Slovakia's refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence is clear-cut and isn't subject to change, but "this position doesn't represent any hostility towards the people of Kosovo," Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak said at a meeting with top representatives of Kosovo's Albanians in Pristina late on Thursday. During his… read more

Slovakia Ready for EXPO Shanghai 2010

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Slovakia stands ready to take part in the world exhibition EXPO Shanghai 2010, set to run May 1-October 31, General Commissioner of the Slovakia's representation in the event Ivana Magatova said at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday. "The trial operation of the Slovak pavilion begins as of April 20," said Magatova. According… read more

U.S. and Russian Embassies Embrace New Nuclear Disarmament Treaty

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Embassies of the U.S.A. and Russia in Slovakia welcome the signing of a new treaty to cut nuclear arms in Prague on Thursday, TASR learnt later in the day. "Last April in Prague, President Obama made clear America’s intention to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. With this agreement, the United States and Russia… read more

SDKU-DS: Slovakia in Need of Substantial Change in Foreign Policy

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Slovakia is in need of substantial change in its foreign policy following four years of deterioration in this area, Opposition SDKU-DS MP Milan Jezovica told a press conference on Thursday. "For four years, we've been listening to statements that we're a small country that has no influence on what's going on in the world," said Jezovica.… read more

Car Production Bound to Rise Again in 2010

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Automobile manufacturers in Slovakia produced a total of 463,140 cars in 2009, a y-o-y drop of 18 percent, Car Industry Association (ZAP) President Jozef Uhrik said at a press conference on Thursday in Bratislava. According to him, however, production is expected to rise again in 2010. "We expect that vehicle production in Slovakia will slightly… read more

Volkswagen Commences Production of Touareg Hybrid

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - German car-maker Volkswagen on Thursday formally launched serial production of the Touareg Hybrid model at its Slovak unit in Bratislava, with Prime Minister Robert Fico driving the first vehicle up to staff and visitors. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek and Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny were also in attendance. Volkswagen Slovakia… read more

Slota: Hungarian Secret Agents in Slovakia Should Be Checked Out

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Slovakia should look into how many members of the Hungarian military secret services are present in Slovakia and find out what they are doing here, co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) chief Jan Slota said at a press conference on Thursday. At the same time, Slovakia shouldn't admit extremists onto its territory at all, stressed Slota. "If… read more

Car Industry\'s Share of Total Production Set New Record in 2009

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - The car industry's share of total industrial production in Slovakia reached a record-breaking level of 37 percent in 2009, Car Industry Association (ZAP) president Jozef Uhrik said at a press conference on Thursday. "Total industrial production last year exceeded €45 billion, with the car industry representing €17 billion," said Uhrik.… read more

Most-Hid: We\'re Against Boarding Schools as Solution to Roma Issues

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - The Slovak-Hungarian Most-Hid party on International Roma Day on Thursday spoke out against official plans to tackle this minority's education issues by putting their children in segregated boarding schools or, as is already the long-standing practice, in special schools. The party, which was formed out of the ethnic-Hungarian SMK, proposes… read more

Survey: Nine Out of Ten Foreign Investors Would Come to Slovakia Again

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Nine out of ten foreign investors doing business in Slovakia would come to the country again, according to a survey conducted by the Slovak-German Trade and Industry Chamber among 114 German, Austrian and French investors that was published on Thursday. Slovakia came out of the survey as the most attractive country in Central and Eastern Europe.… read more

Amnesty International Slams Educational Practices for Roma in Slovakia

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Amnesty International (AI) on International Roma Day on Thursday blasted Deputy Premier for Minorities Dusan Caplovic and Education Minister Jan Mikolaj for keeping Roma children in segregated classrooms and special schools and for working towards the setting-up of separate schools for the minority. The global human rights organisation urged… read more

Lajcak Visits Kosovo to Meet Officials and Open New TV Studio

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Thursday left for a two-day working visit to Kosovo, ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on the same day. Lajcak's trip to Pristina is part of Slovakia's activities in the Western Balkans, a region that it is among Slovakia's foreign-policy priorities. "Slovakia is a long-term… read more

Fico: Slovakia\'s Modern History Tied to Liberation by Red Army

Bratislava, April 7 (TASR) - Slovakia's modern history is tied to its liberation by the Red Army at the end of WWII, and no modern history interpreter will change anything in this, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the end of the WWII and the liberation of Bratislava at the Slavin Memorial. "Don't be afraid to foster… read more

Slovak Gas Utility Withdrawing Lawsuit Against Russian Gazprom

Bratislava, April 7 (TASR) - Slovak gas utility Slovensky plynarensky priemysel (SPP) withdrew its lawsuit against Gazprom seeking compensation over damages caused by the shortage of natural gas supplies in January 2009, TASR learned from SPP's Lubomir Tuchscher on Wednesday. Furthermore, SPP has concluded an agreement with the Russian gas provider on receiving less than… read more

KDH: Slovak-Russian Communiqué Lacked Mention of Soviet Cruelties

Bratislava, April 7 (TASR) - The joint communiqué on the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe issued by Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and Russian head of state Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday lacked a mention of the forced deportations of Slovak citizens to the Soviet Union in 1944-46 and the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968, leader of opposition Christian Democrats… read more