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Number of Bankruptcies in Slovakia Rose by 69 percent Y-o-Y in 1Q10

Bratislava, July 22 (TASR) - Despite certain indications of an economic revival, the number of bankruptcies and unpaid debts among companies and entrepreneurs is on rise, TASR learnt on Thursday. "In the first three months of this year we registered a total of 103 bankruptcies, which represents a rise of 69 percent compared to the same period of last year, when the number… read more

Kia Motors Slovakia Boosts Output of Both Vehicles and Engines

Zilina, July 21 (TASR) - South Korean carmaker Kia Motors Slovakia in Teplicka nad Vahom (Zilina region) increased first-half car production by more than 67 percent on the year to more than 107,000 cars, in a two-shift operation, corporate spokesperson Dusan Dvorak told reporters. In the second half of this year Kia's Slovak arm expects to further raise its output, largely… read more

Belousovova: Radicova a \"Paper Lady\" Threatening Security of Slovakia

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - By abolishing the ban on dual citizenship the Government will threaten the security of Slovakia, as the alternative solution worked out by SDKU-DS represents nothing but an inefficient "putting of one's head into the sand", Slovak National Party (SNS) vice-chair Anna Belousovova said on Wednesday. "Already with her first steps Ms. Radicova… read more

Mihal Says Pension Freeze Will Not Solve Anything

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Jozef Mihal said Wednesday he was opposed to the freezing of pensions as one of the measures designed to consolidate public finances recommended to Slovakia by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "A pension freeze will not solve anything. It would on one hand be a paltry saving in public finances… read more

Lipsic: Svatopluk Statue Represents Bad Taste Rather Than Fascism

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Svatopluk statue installed at the courtyard of Bratislava castle represents an example of bad taste rather than fascism, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) said on Wednesday. Lispic spoke in reaction to claims that the encircled double-cross motif displayed on the duke's shield is identical with the emblem… read more

Fico Leaves Behind €2 Milion in Prime Minister\'s Kitty

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Premier Iveta Radicova said on Wednesday that after taking office earlier this month she found that most of the funds in the prime minister's reserve had been spent in the first half of 2010. Speaking after a Government session, she said that to the best of her knowledge out of €25 million there is €2 million left. "We are now looking… read more

Radicova Wants to Speed Up Investigations of Smer and SDKU Financing

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) would like to see the published cases such as the financing of Smer-SD and SDKU-DS parties investigated more quickly, General Prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka told journalists on Wednesday after his meeting with Radicova. "She told me that she's not exerting pressure on me, as she can't intervene in the investigations.… read more

Mihal Planning Changes to Law on Second Pension Pillar

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jozef Mihal (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) said on Wednesday that his ministry is working on an amendment to the law on the private second pension pillar in order to reverse "all the pointless changes instituted by Robert Fico's [former] government." At the same time, Mihal conceded that achieving… read more

Simon: Slovakia Unlikely to See Extra €15 million From Interblue

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Agriculture and Environment Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid) said on Wednesday that it doesn't look as though Slovakia will receive the extra €15 million that it was originally expecting from its carbon-dioxide emission trading with the Interblue Group. "I personally think that Slovakia won't see the €15 million," said Simon at the Government… read more

Most State-run Companies Under Remit of SaS and KDH

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The right to nominate directors of state-run companies will be assigned to the party that controls the ministry under whose remit the given company falls, with their supervision ensured by representatives of other parties sitting on supervisory boards, it was announced on Wednesday. The National Property Fund (FNM) owns a 34-percent share… read more

Independent Ministry to Be Put in Charge of Environment Again

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Government on Wednesday approved an amendment to the competences act aimed at reinstating an independent ministry of the environment after this was terminated by the former government of Robert Fico as of July 1, with its powers passed to the Agriculture Ministry. "Setting up an independent state-administration body in charge of the environment… read more

Cabinet Scraps Three Government Proxy Posts (UPDATE)

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Government at its session on Wednesday decided to recall four government proxies, with three of the posts to be abolished completely, TASR learnt on the same day. The posts to be scrapped are government proxy for highways, the proxy for youth and sport and the proxy for the preparation of an informal meeting of NATO defence ministers in… read more

Galko to Go on First Visit to Czech Republic

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Having taken office earlier this month, Slovakia's Defence Minister Lubomir Galko will head a ministerial delegation on his first foreign trip to the Czech Republic on Thursday, the Defence Ministry has stated on its website. Galko will meet his Czech counterpart Alexander Vondra and reaffirm top quality bilateral relations between the two… read more

Cabinet Ousts Intelligence Service Head Magala, Mitrik to Replace Him

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Cabinet at its session on Wednesday decided to dismiss Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) head Jozef Magala and approve the nomination of Karol Mitrik (a SDKU-DS nominee) for the post, TASR learnt on the same day. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova is set to submit both proposals to President Ivan Gasparovic, who has the power to recall and… read more

Karol Mitrik to Become New Slovak Intelligence Service Director

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - The Coalition Council session held on Tuesday elected Karol Mitrik (a SDKU-DS nominee) to the post of Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) director. Mitrik was unanimously approved as a SDKU candidate on July 19 by the SDKU presidium. Mitrik, 63, a manager by profession, twice held the post of mayor of Spisska Nova Ves (Kosice region)… read more