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Soros to Come to Bratislava to Discuss EU Policies on Roma Inclusion

Bratislava, October 19 (TASR) - Philanthropist, financier and founder of a network of Open Society Foundations George Soros will come to Bratislava on October 20 for a two-day visit, TASR was told by Barbara Horvathova from the Foundation on Tuesday. Soros will take part in an expert discussion concerning the challenges of the common EU policy aimed the Roma communities.… read more

Radicova: Czech-Slovak Military Co-Operation Could Save Money

Bratislava/Prague, October 18 (TASR) - Slovakia and the Czech Republic concur that common ground needs to be found in the field of defence that would allow joint financing of some elements, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said after her meeting with Czech Senate Speaker Premysl Sobotka on Monday. "This would save financial resources for both countries," said Radicova, who… read more

Group of Coalition MPs Wants State Symbols Removed from Classrooms

Bratislava, October 18 (TASR) - A group of coalition MPs from Most-Hid, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and SDKU-DS opposes the idea of having the state symbols on display in each and every school classroom, as was introduced by the former Government. That's why the coalition collective, though not joined by those from the rows of the Christian Democrats (KDH), on Monday in Parliament… read more

Radicova and Necas Re-affirm Proximity of Stances

Prague, October 18 (TASR-correspondent) - Nuclear energy, the EU's new budgetary procedures and the consolidation of public finances featured strongly in talks between Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and Czech Premier Petr Necas in Prague on Monday. This is Radicova's first official visit to the Czech Republic following her appointment as premier. "We've been… read more

Uhliarik: Health Ministry Has Done Good Job Since Change of Leadership

Bratislava, October 18 (TASR) - Good work has been done in the health care sector in the past three months, notwithstanding the close to €200-million debt that the previous government left in the sector, Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik (Christian Democrats/KDH) told a press conference on Monday. The debt translated into poorer services for patients and a lower level of… read more

Gasparovic to Address Parliament With State-of-Republic Report

Bratislava, October 17 (TASR) - After a break of almost two years, President Ivan Gasparovic plans to address Slovak MPs in a State-of-the-Republic Report, TASR was told by Gasparovic's spokesman Marek Trubac on Sunday. According to Trubac, the president should address Parliament by the end of 2010. "The date hasn't been set yet," he added. The last time that Gasparovic… read more

Foreign Affairs Minister Dzurinda to Meet Hillary Clinton

Bratislava, October 17 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Sunday left for an official visit to the United States of America, where he is due to meet his counterpart - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Dzurinda is to return to Slovakia on Tuesday, October 19. "The two ministers will discuss Slovak-American relations, current foreign… read more

Butora: Era Of Special Relations With Russia Ends With Radicova\'s Government

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - With Iveta Radicova's Government, the era of Slovakia's strategic partnership with Russia ends, said sociologist and honorary president of the Public Affairs Institute (IVO) Martin Butora on Saturday. "This means (the end) of special, extraordinary relations with Russia, on which mainly the former prime minister Robert Fico was building.… read more

Radicova: I\'ll Contribute To House Construction in Flood-stricken Nizna Mysla

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) plans to launch a electronic auction for the construction of houses in flood-stricken village of Nizna Mysla (Kosice region), she said in an interview for TASR on Saturday. Radicova explained that from this auction, the best offer should be chosen and she will use money from her reserve to… read more

Lieberman: Israel Appreciative of Slovakia\'s True Friendship

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Although Israel is in the spotlight of the media worldwide due to the Middle East peace process, Slovak-Israeli bilateral relations can't be overshadowed by this, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said at a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Bratislava on Friday. "Relations between Slovakia… read more

Dzurinda to Meet Hillary Clinton While on Visit to USA

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS) is slated to meet U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of his upcoming three-day visit to the U.S.A., ministry spokesman Lubos Schwarzbacher told TASR on Friday. Dzurinda is set to leave for the U.S. this coming Sunday. "Dzurinda and Clinton will discuss Slovak-U.S. relations,… read more

Opposition Criticises Education Act Amendment on Compulsory English

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Education Minister Eugen Jurzyca's proposed legislative amendment instituting English as a compulsory lanaguage in primary schools from September 2011 came under fire from opposition parties during debate in Parliament on Friday for being unrealistic. Smer-SD MP Bibiana Obrimcakova said such a measure restricts a pupil's right to pick a… read more

Ondrejcsak Foresees More Troops in Aghanistan and Bosnia-Herz

Brussels, October 14 (TASR) - Slovakia has agreed to increase its military contingent in the NATO-led mission ISAF by dozens of troops, with a final decision on the deployment capabilities due in the coming weeks or months, said Defence Ministry State Secretary Robert Ondrejcsak in Brussels on Thursday. Taking part with Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda in the session… read more

Water in Slovak Stretch of Danube River All Right, Claim Inspectors

Komarno, October (TASR) - The results of the measurements of acidity and alkalinity of the water as well as the results of soil analyses aimed at the detection of heavy metals on the monitored stretch of Danube river have confirmed that all levels are currently normal and stabilised, representatives of Slovak Environment Inspectorate (SIZP), Slovak Water Management Company (SVP)… read more

Meseznikov: First 100 Days of Government Resemble 1998

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - The basic agenda of Iveta Radicova's Government during its first 100 days in office resembles the first few months after the 1998 election, when the first government of Mikulas Dzurinda spoke about "correcting the mistakes" of its predecessor, political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov told TASR on Thursday. "Of course, the number of issues… read more