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Gasparovic to Address Parliament With State-of-Republic Report

Bratislava, October 17 (TASR) - After a break of almost two years, President Ivan Gasparovic plans to address Slovak MPs in a State-of-the-Republic Report, TASR was told by Gasparovic's spokesman Marek Trubac on Sunday. According to Trubac, the president should address Parliament by the end of 2010. "The date hasn't been set yet," he added. The last time that Gasparovic… read more

Foreign Affairs Minister Dzurinda to Meet Hillary Clinton

Bratislava, October 17 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Sunday left for an official visit to the United States of America, where he is due to meet his counterpart - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Dzurinda is to return to Slovakia on Tuesday, October 19. "The two ministers will discuss Slovak-American relations, current foreign… read more

Analysts: Banks and Their Clients Shouldn\'t Pay For Politicians\' Incapability

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - Bank clients, as well as banks themselves, should not pay the price for politicians' bad management of public finances, think bank analysts approached by TASR. At the same time, the analysts point out that an extraordinary taxation of banks and financial institutions, as proposed by opposition Smer-SD as a counterpart to Government's austerity… read more

Butora: Era Of Special Relations With Russia Ends With Radicova\'s Government

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - With Iveta Radicova's Government, the era of Slovakia's strategic partnership with Russia ends, said sociologist and honorary president of the Public Affairs Institute (IVO) Martin Butora on Saturday. "This means (the end) of special, extraordinary relations with Russia, on which mainly the former prime minister Robert Fico was building.… read more

Radicova: I\'ll Contribute To House Construction in Flood-stricken Nizna Mysla

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) plans to launch a electronic auction for the construction of houses in flood-stricken village of Nizna Mysla (Kosice region), she said in an interview for TASR on Saturday. Radicova explained that from this auction, the best offer should be chosen and she will use money from her reserve to… read more

Lieberman: Israel Appreciative of Slovakia\'s True Friendship

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Although Israel is in the spotlight of the media worldwide due to the Middle East peace process, Slovak-Israeli bilateral relations can't be overshadowed by this, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said at a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Bratislava on Friday. "Relations between Slovakia… read more

Dzurinda to Meet Hillary Clinton While on Visit to USA

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS) is slated to meet U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of his upcoming three-day visit to the U.S.A., ministry spokesman Lubos Schwarzbacher told TASR on Friday. Dzurinda is set to leave for the U.S. this coming Sunday. "Dzurinda and Clinton will discuss Slovak-U.S. relations,… read more

Opposition Criticises Education Act Amendment on Compulsory English

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Education Minister Eugen Jurzyca's proposed legislative amendment instituting English as a compulsory lanaguage in primary schools from September 2011 came under fire from opposition parties during debate in Parliament on Friday for being unrealistic. Smer-SD MP Bibiana Obrimcakova said such a measure restricts a pupil's right to pick a… read more

Miklos: Slovakia Should Have Organisation to Check Public Budgets

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - There should be a small organisation established in Slovakia dedicated to checking the public budgets, thinks Slovak Finance Minister Ivan Miklos. Miklos, speaking at a press conference marking 100 days in office, explained that this organisation would be under the remit of his advisor and former executive director for research at the Slovak… read more

Ondrejcsak Foresees More Troops in Aghanistan and Bosnia-Herz

Brussels, October 14 (TASR) - Slovakia has agreed to increase its military contingent in the NATO-led mission ISAF by dozens of troops, with a final decision on the deployment capabilities due in the coming weeks or months, said Defence Ministry State Secretary Robert Ondrejcsak in Brussels on Thursday. Taking part with Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda in the session… read more

Miklos Criticises Former Chiefs of Tipos for Wasteful Spending

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - Under the previous government of Robert Fico, the national lottery company Tipos excessively promoted concerts of foreign music bands and local sports clubs, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos told Parliament after Tipos saw its managers removed with the new government taking office. Speaking during Question Hour in Parliament, Miklos added… read more

Water in Slovak Stretch of Danube River All Right, Claim Inspectors

Komarno, October (TASR) - The results of the measurements of acidity and alkalinity of the water as well as the results of soil analyses aimed at the detection of heavy metals on the monitored stretch of Danube river have confirmed that all levels are currently normal and stabilised, representatives of Slovak Environment Inspectorate (SIZP), Slovak Water Management Company (SVP)… read more

Radicova: Slovakia Has to Return €13m to EU Because of Fico\'s Cabinet

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - Slovakia will lose more than €13 million over violations of EU regulations committed by Robert Fico's government, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) said in Parliament on Thursday. "Slovakia is obligated to return the resources for all unauthorised expenditures back to EU," said Radicova. She was referring mainly to two large projects… read more

Meseznikov: First 100 Days of Government Resemble 1998

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - The basic agenda of Iveta Radicova's Government during its first 100 days in office resembles the first few months after the 1998 election, when the first government of Mikulas Dzurinda spoke about "correcting the mistakes" of its predecessor, political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov told TASR on Thursday. "Of course, the number of issues… read more

Radicova: Tunnelling Only Word for \'Information Society\' Implementation

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - The implementation of the EU-funded Operational Programme 'Information Society' (OPIS) to this day can't be described by any other word but tunnelling, Premier Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) told TASR in an interview marking the first 100 days of her new Cabinet. "An audit that we've had carried out has not only shown risks in terms of the law,… read more