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Vazny: Construction of D4 Bratislava Bypass Will be Priority in 2010

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - The construction of the so-called D4 bypass around Bratislava is one of my ministry's main priorities for next year, Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Lubomir Vazny has told TASR. "Traffic intensity in Bratislava is growing continuously, which can't leave me satisfied in any way," said Vazny. The whole project has… read more

Slovak Security Council Discusses Threats to Russian Oil Supplies

Bratislava, January 28 (TASR) - Members of the Slovak Security Council on Monday discussed the possibility of Russian oil supplies being suspended. The Government Office has stated that a risk is posed by unresolved problems between Russia and Ukraine in terms of the transport of oil. The meeting was initiated by a letter from the EU Commission's Directorate General for… read more

ARDAL: 2009 Was Good Year in Terms of Debt Management

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - It is possible to evaluate 2009 as a good year for the management of the state debt, TASR was told by Tomas Kapusta from the Debt Management and Liquidity Agency (ARDAL) on Monday. "Due to the crisis, interest rates fell in all their maturity scope and despite an increase in risk fees it's possible to say that Slovak obligations were being… read more

Durkovsky: 2009 Was Financially Demanding for Bratislava

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - The year 2009 was demanding for Bratislava from the very beginning especially from the financial point of view, said the city's mayor Andrej Durkovsky on Monday. On the other hand, the city managed to begin construction work such as the reconstruction of the Ondrej Nepela Ice Hockey Stadium, which is important not only for the city but… read more

Fico: Coalition Agreement in Force Until Election Campaign Begins

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - The decision to take the Environment Ministry away from the Slovak National Party (SNS) and put it under the remit of Smer-SD was a flagrant violation of the Coalition Agreement but it was absolutely necessary, Prime Minister Robert Fico has told TASR. Fico claimed that if he hadn't taken action he would have had to take the full responsibility… read more

Csaky: SMK Will Almost Certainly Stand in Election Alone

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - It's nearly 100-percent certain that the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party will contest the general election due in June 2010 on its own, SMK leader Pal Csaky told TASR on Monday. The final decision, which will be made by the party's national council, is expected in early March. "As far as I know moods and views within the party, I find it highly… read more

First Russian and Ukrainian Tourists Arriving at Poprad Airport

Bratislava/Poprad, December 27 (TASR) - The first three charter flights of this winter season coming from Moscow and Kiev to Poprad airport arrive on Sunday, with another three expected over the next few days. Russian and Ukrainian tourists coming by air are heading for ski resorts in the High Tatra mountains, including those on the Polish side, however. According… read more

Stats: Number of Children Born Outside Marriage Growing

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - As many as 57,630 children were born in Slovakia last year, which represents the highest number since 1999, according to a study published by the Research Demographic Centre entitled 'Population Development in Slovakia 2008'. According to the document, the trend of postponing parenthood until later life continues, and the number of children… read more

Analyst: Slovak Economy Recovering Fastest Within V4 Countries

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Slovakia's economic situation can improve in 2010, even though it has experienced a deep fall in 2009, Volksbank chief analyst Vladimir Vano has told TASR. "For the second quarter in a row, Slovakia has defended its position as an economy with one of the fastest quarter-on-quarter expansions (1.6 percent in the third quarter compared to… read more

Lajcak: Slovakia Yields Its OECD Presidency to Italy

Bratislava, December 25 (TASR) - Slovakia has handed over its presidency seat in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to Italy, TASR learnt on Sunday. Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak stated that the move was based on an agreement that Italy will back other candidacies that were important for Slovakia. "There were several… read more

Fico: Slovakia Much Better Prepared for Gas Crisis Than in January

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Slovakia is well prepared for another possible gas crisis, much better than it was a year ago when one struck for the first time, Prime Minister Robert Fico has told TASR, adding that restrictions in gas distribution shouldn't be repeated either. Gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine were halted for two weeks at the beginning of 2009 due… read more

Flood Situation in Eastern Slovakia Returning to Normal

Kosice, December 27 (TASR) - The flood situation is returning to normal step by step and no deterioration is expected in the next few hours, Roman Ivanco of the Kosice branch of the Slovak Water Management Company (SVP) told TASR on Sunday. "We're recording some water-level increases on the lower parts of rivers, but it's only water flowing from the rivers' upper parts… read more

Paska: People\'s Backing Makes Us Want to Complete Term

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Representatives of the governing Coalition want to complete their term in office because they feel people's support, Parliamentary Chairman and vice-chairman of the leading coalition Smer-SD party Pavol Paska has told TASR. "It would probably be pretty risky vis-a-vis voters if we set about marring the environment in the Coalition via… read more

Bratislava Airport to Record 23-percent Y-o-Y Drop in Passengers in 2009

Bratislava, December 26 (TASR) - Bratislava's M.R. Stefanik Airport (BTS) expects to record a 23-percent year-on-year drop in the number of passengers in 2009, BTS spokesperson Dana Madunicka has told TASR. A total of approximately 1.7 million passengers should use the airport for their journeys, while the respective number in 2008 was nearly 2.22 million. Most… read more

Swedish Investor Expanding in Kechnec Industrial Park

Kechnec, December 26 (TASR) - Swep Slovakia, which employs 150 people in the industrial zone of Kechnec near Kosice, is planning to expand and will hire new staff in 2010, the company's HR manager Peter Stefanko has told TASR. The company, which is owned by a Swedish investor, specialises in the production and supply of compact brazed heat exchangers. The expansion is… read more