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Government Officials Find Looming Referendum a Waste of Money

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The objections to the upcoming ruling coalition partner Freedom and Solidarity (SaS)-initiated referendum (September 18) start at the very top of government, it was revealed on Wednesday. Speaking after one of the first government policy meetings, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) described the referendum as "useless" and a waste of… read more

Galko Suprised at Staff Reshuffles Shortly Before His Arrival

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - New Defence Minister Lubomir Galko said on Wednesday that pointless staff reshuffles were made shortly before his arrival at the ministry, and even among rank and file employees. "I don't understand this move because no one has come to the Defence Ministry to conduct purges, let alone of rank-and-file workers," said Galko. He wonders… read more

New Gov\'t Wants to End Megacasino Project by Restoring Legislation

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The new Government wants to restore legislation that was changed by the previous Government to allow for a megacasino project in Bratislava, said Agriculture Minister Zsolt (Most-Hid) Simon after the government session on Wednesday. "We don't support the megacasino in the form in which the previous Government prepared it in terms of legislation… read more

Miklos: Former Gov\'t Only Interested in Flood Victims Before Election

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Clearing up after the floods that hit Slovakia in May and June and caused estimated damage of €695.1 million was the focal point of one of the first policy meetings of the new Government on Wednesday. The finance and justice ministers accused the previous cabinet of Robert Fico (Smer-SD) of being pro-active in looking after the victims… read more

Galko: Number of Slovak Troops on Missions Abroad Won\'t Be Reduced

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia won't reduce the number of its troops serving on missions abroad, and may even increase it, Defence Minister Lubomir Galko (SaS) said following the government session on Wednesday. "If we want to increase gradually our country's credit within NATO, we'll have to discuss the issue of at least preserving or even strengthening the missions,"… read more

Minister Dzurinda to Go on First Working Visit to Prague

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda will leave for a working visit to the Czech Republic on Thursday, where he will meet his Czech counterpart Karl Schwarzenberg, Prime Minister Peter Necas and Parliamentary Chair Miroslava Nemcova, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on Wednesday. "It's absolutely obvious… read more

Miklos Dismisses Planned Deficit of 5.5 percent as Illusory

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia is unlikely to stick to its planned deficit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2010, with new Finance Minister Ivan Miklos saying that "the projected deficit is a mere illusion", TASR learnt on Wednesday. Speaking after a government session, Miklos questioned statements made by former finance minister Jan Pociatek regarding the feasibility… read more

President: Sulik Threw Down Heavy Gauntlet But I Won\'t Pick It Up

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik by his criticism threw down a heavy gauntlet at my feet, said President Ivan Gasparovic the day after Sulik accused him of marring a referendum on public matters that was initiated by his Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party. The president said that would have no trouble picking up the gauntlet but doesn't… read more

Ildiko Polacekova Becomes New Temporary Head of UPSVaR

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Ildiko Polacekova became the new temporary head of the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVaR) when the Government on Wednesday approved a proposal to this effect submitted by Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jozef Mihal. Polacekova will replace Jan Sihelsky, who was nominated to his post by the previous cabinet… read more

Cabinet to Ask for Help From EU vis-a-vis Flood Damage by Friday

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia will put in a request for financial assistance from the European Union's Solidarity Fund by Friday, July 16 vis-a-vis the floods that hit the country recently, according to a document that was submitted by the Finance Ministry and approved by the Cabinet at its session on Wednesday. The Government also has to submit an estimate of… read more

EU-harmonised Inflation Remained Unchanged at 0.7 percent in June

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The prices of goods and services in Slovakia measured by EU methodology went up by 0.7 percent year-on-year in June, a figure unchanged since April, Slovakia's Statistics Office announced on Wednesday. Prices in June grew most rapidly in alcohol and tobacco (by 7.5 percent). Significant price increases were also reported in healthcare and… read more

Barroso: EU Based on Solidarity That Works Both Ways

Brussels, July 13 (TASR-correspondent) - Solidarity within the EU works both ways, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after his meeting with new Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova on Tuesday in Brussels. Radicova implied that the European guarantee mechanism (EFSF) can be approved by Slovakia as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday) at a Government session,… read more

President Hits Back: SaS Demonstrating Total Ignorance of Constitution

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic is surprised to hear Freedom and Solidarity chairman Richard Sulik saying that he has done everything he could to scupper an SaS-instigated referendum by making sure that the date doesn't coincide with local elections in November, his office said in reaction later on Tuesday. Sulik has demonstrated a total ignorance… read more

Radicova: Slovak Participation in EFSF Not Open to Question (UPDATE)

Brussels, July 13 (TASR-correspondent) - Slovakia's portion of the eurozone's multi-billion emergency rescue package isn't going to change, said Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova after talks with President of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Tuesday. However, Slovakia continues to be committed to finding an agreement on conditions whereby funds from… read more

SaS Wants Control of Social Insurer, Taxman and Labour Office

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - Governing party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) said on Tuesday that the coalition parties at their first meeting after signing the Coalition Agreement will divide up management positions at state enterprises. SaS, first and foremost, wants a say in the institutions that it needs in order to institute tax credit in line with one of its election… read more