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Prokopovic Calls Fico\'s Accusation a Pathetic Attempt to Divert Attention

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Slovak former transport minister Pavol Prokopovic (SDKU-DS) rejects the statement made by Premier Robert Fico that he signed unfavourable contracts in 2006. "This is Fico's pathetic attempt to divert attention away from electronic road-toll scandal," Prokopovic told TASR on Thursday. According to him, it's interesting that Fico brings… read more

Premier Fico to Support SAV, No Worries About Politicising Science

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - The Slovak Government intends to support science, particularly research and development activities of Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) despite a difficult current financial period, said Slovak Premier Robert Fico after his Thursday's meeting with SAV Chairman Jaromir Pastorek. Fico wants private sector and state institutions to get more… read more

Slovakia Regrets Sweden\'s Decision to Close Embassy

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Slovakia expressed regret over Sweden's decision to close its embassy in Slovakia, according to a Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement Thursday in reaction to Sweden's decision to close its embassies in six countries, including Slovakia, in the name of austerity. Other countries facing closure of the Swedish embassy are Bulgaria,… read more

Newly-Opened Turkish Honorary Consulate to Boost Trade Relations

Banska Bystrica, January 21 (TASR) - Turkey, which already has an embassy based in Bratislava, had the official opening of a Turkish Honorary Consulate in Banska Bystrica on Thursday. The Consulate will cover Trnava, Trencin, Nitra and Zilina regions. Slovak businessman and Klub 500 Chairman and Podbrezova Ironworks General Director Vladimir Sotak appointed as the new… read more

Klub500 Agree with Gov\'t Decision to Downsize Number of Ministries

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Large employers' organisations such as AZZZ and Klub500 are appreciative of the ruling Coalition for their voting to terminate the ministry of environment and ministry of construction and regional development to reduce number of ministries to 12 as of July 1. AZZZ backs initiatives that will streamline the state sector. "There has yet to… read more

Contract on Third Package of PPP Projects to be Closed by mid-February

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Transportation Minister Lubomir Vazny is to sign a contract involving the third package of public-private partnership (PPP) projects of motorway construction. The deal will be closed by February 16, the Slovak Government decided on Thursday. This package includes the following D1 motorway sections: Hricovske Podhradie-Lietavska Lucka, Lietavska… read more

Police Charge Man with Terrorism over Church Bombing Plans (Update)

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Slovak Police on Thursday for the first time in history charged a person with terrorism, Slovak Police Corps President Jan Packa announced at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday. The alleged terrorist is described as a three-times prosecuted 30-year-old man from Spisske Vlachy (Kosice region) and named only as Stanislav C.… read more

MPs Heading for Enquiry at National Highway Company Due to Tolls

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - There will be an MPs' inquiry at the National Highway Company (NDS) at the beginning of next week, it was decided on Thursday at a session of the Economic Policy Parliamentary Committee. "Regarding that fact that there is quite a large number of complaints, I think that SkyToll (electronic road-toll system operator) should have predicted… read more

AZZZ Lobbying for 25-percent Cut in Payroll Taxes

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR)- Slovakia's largest federation of employers AZZZ said on Thursday that the country's payroll tax is one of the highest in the European Union (EU) and it therefore proposes its gradual reduction from 35.2 percent to 25 percent by 2014. Federation of Employers' Associations president Tomas Malatinsky told reporters that AZZZ plans to submit… read more

Environment Ministry Reps Met Interblue Group Europe Reps in Zurich

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Representatives of the Environment Ministry met representatives of Interblue Group Europe - successor of a company that bought surplus Slovakia's emission quotas for a controversially low price in 2008 - at the Slovak general consulate in Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday, head of ministry's communications department Jana Kaplanova told TASR on… read more

Opposition Fails in Attempt to Remove Minister Vazny

Bratislava, January 21 (TASR) - Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny (a Smer-SD nominee) will remain in his post even after the Opposition's attempt to oust him in a no-confidence vote on Wednesday night. Only 50 MPs of the 120 present voted for Vazny's dismissal, while 76 votes were needed for the motion to be successful. Leaders of coalition parties LS-HZDS and… read more

Broken Promise Steals Show at Palm Springs With Standing Ovations

Palm Springs, January 20 (TASR) - The Slovak film 'Broken Promise' (2009) has received standing ovations from movie-goers at the Palm Springs film festival, with the movie screened three times. Broken Promises, based on a true story from WWII and representing Slovakia at the Oscars, has been seen by more than 1,500 spectators at Palm Springs. "We got two standing… read more

Lawmakers Slash Misadjusted OBU Fine from €1655 to €120

Bratislava, January 20 (TASR) - Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to approve an amendment to the Electronic Road-Toll Collection Act reducing the ticket fine for incorrectly connected on-board units (OBUs) from €1,655 to €120 with effect from February 1. Currently drivers of lorries weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are required to pay €1,655 for any breach… read more

Gasparovic: Slovakia Supports Priorities of Spanish EU Presidency

Bratislava, January 20 (TASR) - According to Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic, Slovakia supports the priorities set by the current Spanish presidency of the EU. For the first time in the EU's history, these have been prepared in view of next two presidencies, which will be held by Belgium and Hungary, said Gasparovic in Bratislava on Wednesday during a working lunch with… read more

Parliament Approves Reduction of Ministries in Fast-tracked Proceedings

Bratislava, January 20 (TASR) - The number of government ministries in Slovakia will be reduced by two, as of July 1, 2010, as Parliament decided after a heated debate on Wednesday. This is according to an amendment to the law on the operational activities of the government and central state administration which was fast-tracked, and finally approved by 78 out of 150… read more