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Radicova: Poll Results in Kosovo Show Serious Damage to Democracy

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Results of the general election in Kosovo over the past weekend suggest that democracy in the self-declared Balkans state was given a serious blow, according to Prime Minister Iveta Radicova. "We'll demand that the EU sends a clear signal, at least expressing worries that the democratic institutions in this country have been violated,"… read more

Viktor Orban Chooses to Meet with SMK and Not Most-Hid Reps

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had an opportunity to set right relations between the Hungarian party FIDESZ and Most-Hid (bridge in Slovak and Hungarian) on Tuesday during his official visit to Bratislava, however, he chose not to meet with any Most-Hid representatives. "It's his decision, we take it as such. Apparently, it shows… read more

Fico Allegedly Asks Sulik for Post at General-Prosecutor\'s Office

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico allegedly wanted to do a trade with Parliamentary Speaker Richard Sulik (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) about the Prosecutor-General's election, Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar said on Tuesday. In return for giving their votes to Coalition candidate Jozef Centes, Smer-SD was asking for the post of "Prosecutor General… read more

Radicova: Slovak Government Not Preparing a Plan B

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Slovak Government is not preparing a Plan B, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Tuesday in response to suggestions made by Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik in a newspaper column on Monday that Slovakia should be ready for a collapse of the euro. No currency switchback is anticipated to take place in Slovakia in the near future,… read more

Ashton Appoints Lajcak EU Diplomacy Head for Balkans and E. Europe

Brussels, December 14 (TASR) - Chief of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Catherine Ashton on Tuesday appointed Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajcak as the head of EEAS's department for relations with the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Russia. read more

Gasparovic Inks Tax Amendments on Tobacco and Red Diesel

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Tuesday signed two more bills recently approved in Parliament, namely one concerning an increase in excise-tax on tobacco products and another that abolishes tax relief on so-called red diesel (mainly used by farmers) along with the tax exemption for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), TASR learnt on the same day.… read more

Radicova: Scandals of Former Gov\'t Complicate Fight Against Poverty

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Scandals that emerged at the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry under the management of former minister Viera Tomanova (Smer-SD) have made it more complicated to acquire financial means for the fight against poverty in Slovakia, said Prime Minister Iveta Radicova on Tuesday. Radicova was speaking at the Concluding Conference… read more

President Signs Bill on VAT Hike Into Law

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - The basic VAT rate will be increased from 19 percent to 20 percent as of January 1, while the special 6-percent VAT rate on foods sold directly from farms will be abolished, as President Ivan Gasparovic signed legislation to this effect on Tuesday. The VAT rate increase is part of the government package aimed at consolidating public finances,… read more

2011 Ice-hockey World Championships Are Unique Chance for Tourism

Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - The Ice-hockey World Championships in 2011 will be a unique opportunity for Slovak tourism, said head of the Slovak Tourism Agency (SACR) Peter Belinsky at a press conference on Tuesday. "Our goal is to motivate the expected 330,000-plus foreign visitors to the event to experience the beauties of Slovakia and come back again," said Belinsky.… read more

Figel: No Third Package of PPP on D1 Motorway Construction

Bratislava, December 13 (TASR) - There will be no third package of the public-private partnership (PPP) project on D1 motorway construction, Transport Minister Jan Figel (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) said after the Coalition Council session on Monday. An almost 30-kilometre D1 section, originally planned to be built by a private consortium, will be constructed gradually… read more

Founder of Slovenska Pospolitost Becomes High-Ranking SNS Member

Bratislava, December 13 (TASR) - Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Jan Slota appointed founder of Slovenská Pospolitosť (Slovak Togetherness) Ivan Ruzicka to the post of regional party head, the internet website topky.sk reported on Monday. According to topky.sk, Ruzicka is a right-wing extremist and his appointment has filled many SNS members with indignation. Topky.sk… read more

Miklos: All Necessary Steps Must Be Taken to Ensure Survival of Euro

Bratislava, December 13 (TASR) - The euro should stay in circulation and every step necessary must be taken towards that aim, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) reacted this way on Monday when asked whether it's possible to revert to the former Slovak currency, the Slovak koruna. Slovakia should remain part of the eurozone. "Of course, one must stand ready for all… read more

November Saw Fastest Rise in Foodstuff Prices in 2 Years at 5.1% y-o-y

Bratislava, December 13 (TASR) - Prices of goods and services rose by 1 percent year-on-year in November, with the rate thus unchanged compared to October 2010, the Statistics Office announced on Monday. The price increase was chiefly due to higher prices of foodstuffs and alcohol-free beverages, which went up by 5.1 percent on the year. The items recorded their fastest… read more

Bugar: We Would Welcome Meeting With Orban, but Won\'t Beg for It

Bratislava, December 13 (TASR) - If Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban isn't interested in meeting representatives of Slovak-Hungarian party Most-Hid during his official visit to Bratislava on Tuesday it means that the Hungarian side is not interested in co-operating with the party, Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar has said in an interview for TASR, adding that they "won't beg"… read more

Survey: Most Slovaks Not Motivated or Afraid to Report Bribes

Bratislava, December 12 (TASR) - Slovaks who been asked to give a bribe aren't motivated to report such cases of corruption, suggests the latest survey on this issue in Slovakia. Over the past year, one in nine households in Slovakia experienced or have been aware of at least one case of bribery in the public sphere. More than 70 percent of them didn't report it or weren't… read more