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Lipsic: Interior and Justice Ministers Try to Cover Up Shady Tender

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Slovakia's interior and justice ministries are attempting to cover up the suspicious €800 million tender of the Interior Ministry, Christian Democrats (KDH) Vice-chair Daniel Lipsic said at a press conference on Monday. "That's the reason why Interior Minister (Robert) Kalinak as well as Justice Minister Petrikova are so irritated in… read more

EU: Sefcovic\'s Hearing in EP Begins With His Views on Roma Minority

Strasburg, January 18 (TASR) - The hearing of designated Slovak EU Commissioner Maros Sevcovic began on the turf of the European Parliament (EP) seat in Strasburg, France, with sensitive Roma-related topics on the table, TASR learned on Monday evening. During the screening Sefcovic is expected, besides knowing the agenda of his forthcoming agenda and portfolio (inter-institutional… read more

Hauliers and Truckers Soothed with Promises of Lower Fines and Fees

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Transportation Minister Lubomir Vazny (Smer-SD) met with representatives of the transporters association CESMAD and road transporters union UNAS on Monday and confirmed that first-class roads will be further subdivided for toll purposes, ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovic has told TASR. "There will be more than 1,000 sections," said… read more

SARIO: Now-active Investment Projects Could Bring Some 12,000 Jobs

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Slovak Investment and Trade Investment Agency (SARIO) has currently 139 investment projects registered, TASR has learnt. "Of these, as many as 85 are active projects worth €2.42-2.53 billion, with prospects for creating 11,696-12,675 jobs," said SARIO spokesman Marian Janosik. It was reported that, among other things, Slovakia's… read more

Djukanovic Montnegro to Pay Off Plus-20-year-old Debt to Slovakia

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Montenegro is about to settle a long-outstanding debt with Slovakia dating back to the times of the former socialist Yugoslavia, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said in Bratislava on Monday following a meeting with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico. As of November 30, 2009, Slovakia registered a debt of €1,130,136 owed by… read more

PSA Peugeot Citroen to Increase Salaries and Not Sack Employees

Trnava, January 18 (TASR) - PSA Peugeot Citroen Slovakia has made an agreement with the company's union OZ KOVO in which Peugeot promised not to lay off any employees in 2010 and 2011 due to organisational changes, TASR learned from Peugeot Citroen Slovakia spokesman Peter Svec on Monday. He added that PSA Peugeot employees will enjoy increased salaries as of January.… read more

Caplovic: Ultra-right Marches Won\'t Resolve Roma Issue

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - The problems with the Roma population won't be resolved by the marches organised recently by Marian Kotleba and his ultra-right Slovenska Pospolitost organisation, said Deputy Premier for Human Rights and Minorities Dusan Caplovic at a meeting between Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and representatives of the country's minorities on Monday.… read more

Gasparovic: Slovakia Wants to Be Good Home for Its Minorities

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Monday met leaders of the country's ethnic minorities to mark the New Year, stressing on behalf of Slovakia that his country wants to be a good home for all its citizens, including by safeguarding minority constitutional rights and promoting cultural conditions. "We're striving to create conditions so that… read more

Slovakia\'s Jobless Rate Hit 12.66 percent in December

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Slovakia's unemployment rate rose again in December after staying put a month earlier, increasing from 12.40 percent in November to 12.66 percent, the Centre of Labour, Social Affairs and Family announced on Monday. Labour offices registered 373,413 benefit claimants, which represented a year-on-year rise of 138,183. read more

Gasparovic Confirms Slovak Support for Montenegro\'s EU and NATO Bids

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - During his meeting with President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic in Bratislava on Monday, Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic confirmed his country's support for Montenegro joining the European Union and NATO. "You belong among the successful countries in the Balkans region, and that is important for all partners in the region, as well as for… read more

Lower Revenues in Slovak Hotels in 2009 Not Only Due to Euro

Strbske Pleso, January 18 (TASR) - Hotels and restaurants in Slovakia saw the number of their customers fall in 2009, along with a drop in revenues, partly because the strength of the euro made holidays in Slovakia more expensive for people in most neighbouring countries. According to Hotels and Restaurants Union (ZHR) chairman Jozef Bendzala, the introduction of the… read more

Over 39,000 Cars Taken In Under Scrapyard Contribution

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - The Government's used car trade-in programme to boost new car sales, also known as the scrapyard contribution, saw 39,270 cars with an average age of 21 years scrapped last year in two rounds, new data from Slovakia's Automotive Industry Association (ZAP) revealed on Monday. Skodas made up the biggest number of scrapped cars, while Renault… read more

Council of Europe Body Comes to Slovakia to View State Language Act

Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Three representatives of the Council of Europe's (CE) advisory body the Venice Commission arrived for a two-day visit to Slovakia on Monday to give their legal opinion on the State Language Act, a recently adopted amendment to which led to protests from the country's Hungarian minority over perceived limitations on ethnic-language rights. … read more

Lipsic Calls Kalinak a Coward as War of Words Heads Up

Bratislava, January 17 (TASR) - Christian Democrats (KDH) Vice-chairman, MP and former justice minister Daniel Lipsic called Interior Minister Robert Kalinak a 'coward' on Sunday, adding that it is not a good calling card for an interior minister. Lipsic, speaking Sunday at party headquarters, said that Kalinak has not done a lot in three and half years as minister. However,… read more

Interior Ministry to Compensate Citizen for Police Blunder

Bratislava, January 17 (TASR) - Representatives of the Interior Ministry are in talks with Stefan Gonda regarding compensation after he unwittingly flew to Dublin with explosives planted in his luggage by police and then overlooked during a bungled security exercise at Poprad airport. News of the indemnity-package negotiations was revealed Sunday by Interior Minister… read more