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Radicova Stresses Importance of V4 Partners in Energy Matters

Bratislava, November 22 (TASR) - Countries belong to the Visegrad Four grouping alongside Slovakia - the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary - are key partners for Slovakia when it comes to energy issues, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova told a conference on energy security in Bratislava on Monday. "Apart from the V4 countries, this also concerns our other immediate neighbours… read more

Radicova: Next Cabinet Session to Set Conditions for Help to Ireland

Bratislava, November 22 (TASR) - Slovakia will help Ireland in its current financial woes, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Monday, pointing out that Slovakia committed itself to such possible assistance during the tenure of the former government, TASR learnt on the same day. "The Slovak Government will adopt a principle-based stance towards the issue at its… read more

Personnel Numbers in State Institutions to Drop by 3 percent in 2011

Bratislava, November 22 (TASR) - The number of employees in state institutions is set to go down by nearly 3 percent next year, with the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry and the Finance Ministry reducing staff levels the most, according to an Economic Policy Institute (IHP) analysis released on Monday. In line with the Government-approved draft of the public… read more

Hedviga Case Investigation Viewed Critically by 50% of Slovak Citizens

Bratislava, November 22 (TASR) - Around 50 percent of Slovak citizens take a critical view of the investigation into the case involving ethnic-Hungarian former student Hedviga Malinova, who claims that she was beaten up in Nitra in 2006 after she was heard speaking Hungarian on her mobile-phone. This is according to a survey published on Monday that was carried out by… read more

Balaz: Euro Will Face Constatnt Crises Without Central Finance Authority

Bratislava, November 21 (TASR) - The euro will face constant crises without a central authority responsible for the state budgets of eurozone-member states, said Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) analyst Vladimir Balaz on Sunday. "The euro has one basic problem that no other world currency has. Every other world currency stands on two feet. One is its central bank, and… read more

Slovak Delegation Very Satisfied With Results of NATO Summit in Lisbon

Lisbon/Bratislava, November 21 (TASR-correspondent) - The historic NATO summit in Lisbon has ended, but its conclusions will influence the future of the Alliance in many aspects, senior members of the Slovak delegation have noted. A draft of the new Strategic Concept was adopted at the summit - a step described by Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic as a "huge success".… read more

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Appreciated Slovakia\'s Economic Results

Bratislava/Lisbon, November 20 (TASR) - Mutual co-operation on bilateral as well as multi-lateral level was the topic of discussion between Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, TASR learned from Ministry's spokesman Juraj Tomaga. Both politicians agreed that Slovakia and Turkey co-operate exceptionally in the economic… read more

Slovak Troops No Longer Part of KFOR Military Mission

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - Slovak troops have ended their participation in the KFOR mission and the last member of the armed forces left Kosovo on November 16, head of the Defence Ministry press department Ivan Rudolf confirmed for TASR on Friday. "We're currently planning fewer yet higher-quality missions for the future. Our top priority, however, remains the ISAF… read more

Radicova: Unions Should Talk First and Strike Later

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - The leaders of the KOVO trade union have a right to announce a strike alert, but it's much better to deal with problems at the negotiating table, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Friday in response to the union's stated plans earlier in the day. KOVO chairman Emil Machyna said earlier on Friday that his union has decided to announce… read more

Tvaroska: Public Finance Deficit Will Be Kept at 4.9% Next Year

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - The parliamentary committee for finance on Thursday recommended that the House should pass the State Budget Act for 2011. In line with general expectations, coalition MPs (enjoying a majority) voted in favour, while opposition lawmakers were against. Parliament is set to vote on next year's state budget at its December session,… read more

Unemployment Rate Down Slightly to 12.29% in October

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - The number of jobless Slovaks contracted slightly in October when compared to the previous month, TASR learnt on Thursday. The unemployment rate in October fell by 0.13 percentage points on the month to 12.29 percent, said the Centre for Labour, Social Affairs and the Family. According to the latest figures, as many as 374,200 people… read more

AmCham Presents Miklos With Proposals for Improving Business

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - Profits from selling shares in companies should be tax-free, and the system of fines for breaking accounting and tax-paying rules should undergo changes, according to key proposals presented by the American Trade Chamber (AmCham) at a meeting with Finance Minister Ivan Miklos on Thursday. "We need to look into this in detail and assess… read more

UPN Conference Recalls Unknown Heroes of Anti-Communist Struggle

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - When there is democracy, which provides room for everybody, including "bad apples", we need to remember how the nation found itself unfree and what it experienced in the second half of the 20th century, Catholic priest and chairman of the Slovak Confederation of Political Prisoners Anton Srholec said at a conference organised by the confederation… read more

UNAS Files Two Complaints Against SkyToll

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - The Union of Slovak Road Hauliers (UNAS) on Thursday filed two complaints with Bratislava III District Court against the country's electronic road-toll system provider SkyToll, UNAS chairman Jaroslav Polacek said at a press conference on the same day. UNAS is unhappy about SkyToll's "unlawful conduct" when collecting tolls in Slovakia.… read more

Lajcak Among Favourites for Top Posts in EU External Action Service

Bratislava/Brussels, November 18 (TASR) - Slovak diplomacy is close to securing a top post in the European External Action Service (EEAS), TASR learnt on Thursday. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will announce the nominations for newly-created top diplomatic posts by the end of the month, with former Slovak foreign affairs… read more