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Fico: Slovak \'No\' to Greece May Storm Financial Markets in Europe

Brussels, June 17 (TASR) – Slovak Premier Robert Fico told reporters on Thursday in Brussels that all EU leaders have been asking him if it's likely that the emerging centre-right coalition in Slovakia would say 'no' to the loan for Greece, and if the Union's financial mechanism, worth €750 billion, might be really blocked by Slovakia. Fico said that the EU leaders… read more

Kempinski Hotel River Park Opens in Bratislava

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The five-star Kempinski Hotel River Park hotel opened for business Thursday on the left bank of the Danube River in Bratislava and is a key part of the multi-purpose River Park complex, which is still under construction in several areas. "Some €70 million has been invested in the building of the hotel, which involved 1,200 people," said… read more

Young People in Bratislava Call for Decriminalization of Marijuana

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - A few hundred young people gathered in front of Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Thursday to call on Slovak authorities to decriminalize the use of marijuana. Organisers, promoting the idea of Slovakia being more tolerant towards consumption of marijuana, decided not to march across the city centre, as they had originally planned, and… read more

Survey: Smer-KDH Coalition Picked as Best Choice by Nearly Half

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The ideal new Government should comprise of the election winner Smer-SD and Christian Democrats (KDH), according to a phone survey carried out by Bright Trade agency for Radio Viva, using a sample of 1,000 respondents, shortly after the election - between June 12-16. The socialists and conservatives forming a Government was picked as the best… read more

Likely Future Gov\'t To Reevaluate PPP Projects

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The likely future Slovak government made up of SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid wants to re-evaluate the construction of roads financed through public-private partnership (PPP) projects, it was revealed Thursday in a joint briefing. All four parties, however, announced at the same… read more

Slovak Stand at EXPO Shanghai 2010 Registers Million Visitors

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - Slovakia's pavilion at the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai recorded its one millionth visitor on Thursday after less than two months in place. "Such high attendance is proof that Slovakia has things to show off and be proud of in the world," said Ivan Magatova, chief of the Slovak pavilion. "I am longing to see Slovakia first hand… read more

Coalition-to-be: System of Investment Stimuli Should Be Re-evaluated

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The system of investment stimuli and state aid for domestic and foreign investors should be re-assessed or completely scrapped, TASR was told by representatives of the parties of the emerging centre-right coalition on Thursday. "The role of investment stimuli should be reduced. We should focus more on improving the entrepreneurial environment,… read more

Buzek: Future Slovak Government Should Do Right Thing and Help Greece

Brussels, June 17 (TASR-correspondent) - If the European Union (EU) undertakes measures to save Greece, this decision will have to be made by all eurozone countries, said European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek on Thursday in reaction to reluctance on the part of the likely future Slovak government made up of SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic… read more

Businesses Expect New Cabinet to Make Labour Market More Flexible

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - One of the key issues that are decisive for the competitiveness of the Slovak economy is the labour market and its flexibility, head of the Association of Slovak Entrepreneurs (ZPS) Jan Oravec told TASR on Thursday. Unfortunately, it needs to be said that Slovakia in the past few years has seen the adoption of measures that have made the country's… read more

President Receives Letter From Four Prospective Coalition Partners

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic's Office on Thursday morning received an official request for a meeting from representatives of prospective coalition partners SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid, the president's spokesman Marek Trubac told TASR. According to Trubac, the letter, which was sent… read more

New Slovak Ambassador to Canada Hands Over Credentials in Ottawa

Ottawa/Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - Slovakia's new Ambassador to Canada Milan Kollar on Wednesday presented his credentials to Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean, the press department of the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry told TASR on Thursday. Kollar and Jean held a brief discussion in which they pledged interest and readiness regarding the all-round development… read more

SDKU Wants to Look Into Tender for Medical Rescue Services

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - If the four centre-right parties - SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid - succeed in forming a governing coalition, SDKU will look into recently awarded licences for medical rescue services, SDKU MP Viliam Novotny told TASR on Thursday. According to Novotny, this probe will take place regardless… read more

AmCham Has New Chief; Previous Head Now In Charge of SARIO

Bratislava, June 17 (TASR) - The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has a new president, with Michael Smyth, general manager of DELL's European business centre Bratislava, taking over the post after previous chief Robert Simoncic was tasked with running the Slovak Trade and Investment Development Agency (SARIO) as of June 1, Julia Hurna of Amcham told TASR on Thursday.… read more

Slovakia Asking for Baki Sadiki to Be Arrested, Extradited from Kosovo

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - Alleged Albanian drug mafia boss Baki Sadiki, wanted by Interpol, is supposedly in Kosovo and on May 17, the Slovak Justice Ministry filed an extradition request, TASR learned from Justice Ministry spokesman Michal Jurci. Jurci said that the ministry has had knowledge about Baki's stay in Kosovo since May 5. "It was information not to be… read more

Fico Still Officially Trying to Form Government

Bratislava, June 16 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico will attempt to use the time remaining until June 23 to form a government, Premier Fico's spokesperson Silvia Glendova told TASR on Wednesday. "The Premier and Smer-SD Chairman holds a mandate from President Ivan Gasparovic to form a government by next Wednesday (June 23), and this still stands," said Glendova. Gasparovic… read more