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Gov\'t and Investors Agree On Need for Central Public Procurement

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - According to foreign investors united in the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Slovakia, transparency of public procurement, flexibility of state aid and bureaucracy are the main trouble spots in the Slovak business environment. "The most poignant questions were concerning the procurement and its transparency. A central public procurement… read more

Inter-coalition Squabble Erupts over So-called Double Standards

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS), which has seen several of its environment and construction ministers removed during this term has accused the Prime Minister Robert Fico-led Smer political party of using double standards – treating its junior government partners SNS and LS-HZDS by one standard and its own ministers by another. Deputy Chair… read more

Fico: Slovakia to Promote Solidarity Towards Greece at EU Summit

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - At the EU summit in Brussels at the end of the week, Slovakia will promote the principle of solidarity in reaction to economic problems of Greece, said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at Tuesday's European Affairs Committee. "I want to repeat again that we will respect the solidarity principle, if the EU will want to take that approach… read more

Slota: Slovak Army Has to Improve, as Hungary May Attack

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS) wants to see the combat-readiness of the Slovak army improved. According to SNS leader Jan Slota, the national army is almost completely unready in this respect at the moment. Slota was speaking to journalists on Tuesday, saying that Slovakia has reason to be worried, as "Hungary is planning on military invasion… read more

Coneco and Racioenergia Expos Launched in Bratislava

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The 31st Coneco building industry expo along with the 20th Racioenergia expo and four other specialised exhibitions - Climatherm, Conecoinvest, Slovrealinvest and Stavebna Mechanizacia - opened its doors in Bratislava on Tuesday. The Coneco expo focuses on the building, repair and modernisation of apartments, houses and other buildings with… read more

Fico: New Gov\'t Will Be Forced to Cut Public Expenditures Further

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The new government that will be formed following the elections on June 12 will be forced into further cuts in state expenditures with a view to the consolidation of public finances, said Premier Robert Fico after meeting representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. Slovakia, partly due to the economic crisis, recorded a… read more

SDKU: Don\'t Export Cultural Heritage to Germany, We Can Restore It Here

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The main opposition party SDKU-DS is against sending Slovakia's written cultural heritage to Germany to be treated and restored, as is being planned by the Culture Ministry, said head of SDKU's parliamentary caucus Stanislav Janis. According to Janis, Slovakia is currently at a crossroads, deciding how to protect its cultural heritage - millions… read more

SNS: If Orban Doesn\'t Apologise, He\'ll Be Persona Non Grata in Slovakia

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The co-ruling Slovak National party (SNS) considers a recent statement by the hot favourite to become Hungary's next premier Viktor Orban (Fidesz) - who said that he intends to speak to ethnic Hungarians living in Slovakia first and only then with the Slovak Government after the Hungarian elections in April - as a provocation and attack on Slovakia.… read more

TASR Presents 15 Film Documentaries About Slovak Personalities

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - 'A History of Self-confidence' is the name of a new project launched by the News Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR), which intends to release 15 short documentary films portraying Slovak personalities. The series begins on Tuesday with the premiere of a film about Jan Mathe, one of Slovakia's most distinctive sculptors. The film will be… read more

UVK Draws Lots for Parties\' Ballot-paper Numbers

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The Central Electoral Commission (UVK) on Tuesday registered all 18 political parties that intend to run in the parliamentary elections on June 12, drawing lots to decide the numbers under which individual parties will feature on the ballot papers. The number 1 went to the European Democratic Party, followed by Union-Party for Slovakia (2),… read more

Lajcak Sets Forth Slovakia\'s Goals in Formation of EU\'s Diplomatic Corps

Brussels, March 22 (TASR) - When vying for posts within the EU's European External Action Service (EEAS), Slovakia will take a shot at positions where the country has a comparative edge vis-a-vis fellow EU member countries and thus stands a good chance of eventually occupying the posts, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak said following a meeting of foreign affairs… read more

UN Body Criticises Slovakia for Discriminating Against Roma Minority

Bratislava, March 22 (TASR) - The United Nations' Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is concerned by segregation of Roma children in the Slovak education system, Stefan Ivanco of an NGO called the Consulting Centre for Civil and Human Rights told TASR on Monday. "The Committee has released its final recommendations in which it urges the Slovak Government… read more

Slovakia Being Sued by Brussels Over Lack of Waste Processing Plan

Brussels, March 22 (TASR) - Slovakia will be summoned to the EU's Court of Justice over its long-term failure to formulate a strategy on reducing the biodegradable garbage from its waste dumps. The national strategy report should have been drawn up by May 1, 2004, the day on which Slovakia became part of the EU. "We gave the new member states additional time to prepare,… read more

Turkish and Slovak Entrepreneurs Meet Up at Slovak Days in Istanbul

Bratislava/Istanbul, March 22 (TASR) - Representatives of several dozens of Slovak and Turkish business entities attended Slovak Days in Istanbul on Monday, spokesman for the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry Peter Stano told TASR on the same day. "Slovak companies presented possibilities of cooperation to their Turkish partners in Turkey's largest city as well as its economic… read more

Analysts: Brussels to Get Hands On with Spendthrift Eurozone Budgets

Bratislava, March 22 (TASR) – According to political analyst Radovan Geist, it's the existing disproportion between the centralised monetary policy of the Eurozone and the decentralisation of fiscal policies that has prompted discussion in Brussels as to how rein in Eurozone member countries that are racking up deficits. "There's no specific legislative proposal in… read more