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President\'s Speech Provokes Contradictory Opinions

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) - Politicians differ in their views of President Ivan Gasparovic's New Year's speech; some praising his "humaneness," but others bemoaning the head of state's lack of ideas and vision for the New Year, TASR has learnt in a survey. "This year's speech by the president was largely focused on the hierarchy of values and morale of today's civilisation.… read more

Eddins: U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia Could Be Announced This Winter

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) - The name of the new U.S. ambassador to Slovakia will be known within the next few months, and maybe as early as this winter, TASR has been told by U.S. embassy charge d'affaires Keith Eddins. Eddins noted that Slovakia isn't the only European country for which the selection process for a new ambassador is still in progress. He pointed out… read more

Gasparovic Appeals to Slovaks to Be Self-confident in New Year Speech

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic in his New Year speech wished his countrymen more self-confidence and spiritual riches, and appealed for a return to human moral values while calling on the public not to underestimate elections. "Elections are an opportunity to express freely your opinion on society, politics and people's needs," he stressed, claiming… read more

Bonfire of Friendship and Beverages Seals Brotherhood of Both Nations

Velka Javorina, December 31 (TASR) - Slovaks and Czechs met on Thursday for a traditional get-together known as the Festivities of Brotherhood of Both Nations on the border mountain of Velka Javorina, lighting a bonfire of Czecho-Slovak Friendship. The event is hosted by a preparatory committee whose members are drawn from municipalities along both sides of the shared… read more

Businesses and Hoteliers Like Metropolis Project, But Others Against

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - Businesspeople and hoteliers favour the 'Metropolis' billion-plus-euro sports-recreation project unveiled by property developer Trigranit in October, which, however, has sparked protests from civil associations against the included casino, which they fear, could raise gambling-related crime in the country. Hoteliers view Trigranit's €1.5-billion… read more

Gasparovic Won\'t Grant Any Pardons This New Year

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic will not pardon anyone to mark the incoming year 2010, his spokesperson said on New Year's Eve. During his first term in office the head of state exercised his constitutional powers to pardon 12 people out of a total of 2,265 applicants, reads the president's online website. After his first inauguration… read more

SkyToll: Around 56,000 Transporters Have Registered for Toll System

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - Around 56,000 transport companies out of the total number of 60,000 have managed to register themselves for the electronic road-toll system that is due to be launched on January 1, road-toll provider SkyToll spokesperson Lenka Lendacka told TASR on New Year's Eve. SkyToll has opened new super-contact centres in Bratislava, Zilina and Kosice.… read more

Missik: No Constitutional Changes Will Be Seen Within Next Few Years

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - Not a single change in the Constitution was passed in Parliament this year, with the most prominent proposal being the one to restrict MPs' immunity, SDKU-DS MP Peter Missik told TASR at the end of 2009. In the same breath, Missik said that he doesn't expect any legislative changes in the Constitution until the parliamentary elections… read more

Belousovova: I Want to Improve My English in New Year

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - Improving her English skills and obtaining a driving licence - these are the New Year resolutions of co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) first vice-chair Anna Belousovova, TASR learnt on New Year's Eve. Opposition SDKU-DS MP Peter Misik told TASR that he usually makes impossible New Year's resolutions, and 2010 will be no exception.… read more

No Request Of Transport Companies Accepted By Transport Ministry

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The meeting between Transportation, Post and Telecommunication minister Lubomir Vazny (a Smer-SD nominee) and the representatives of small and medium-sized transport companies yielded no results, as the ministry didn't accept any of their 11 requests. "We have laws in effect, it's not in my power to postpone the launch of the electronic… read more

Slota: Roma Criminals Should Go to Jail

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS) proposes adopting an unequivocal stance on the inhabitants of Roma settlements, claiming that law enforcement vis-a-vis the Roma is less than minimal. "We've been concerned about the Gypsy problem for a long time. People who want a job need to get one, and those who don't want to work but only steal and… read more

Fifteen Entities to Date Sign Petition Against Mega-casino Project

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - A total of 15 organisations have so far signed a Slovakia-wide petition against the construction of the multi-functional Metropolis complex including casinos on the outskirts of Bratislava, according to a website called www.peticia.sk. The organisers of the initiative want the president, Parliament, Government and local authorities to… read more

Stefanec: We Expect Professional Opinion of NBS, Not Political Struggle

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The Opposition reproaches the Slovak central bank (NBS) and its outgoing governor Ivan Sramko for not protesting more against the Government's interference in the second pillar of the pension system, the passing of harmful legislation, and negative developments in public finances, SDKU-DS MP Ivan Stefanec has told TASR. "We didn't expect… read more

Meciar Confident HZDS Will Be in Power in Years to Come

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The LS-HZDS party will definitely be in power again in the future, "and if things go the way they are now, then there'll be a government that will feature LS-HZDS next time or at least after 2014," party chairman Vladimir Meciar has told TASR. HZDS has undergone numerous personnel changes in 2009, with quite a few young people joining… read more

Csaky: SMK\'s Priority Is to Keep SNS Out of Next Coalition

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Opposition Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) chairman Pal Csaky said on Wednesday that the main governing party Smer-SD is almost a shoo-in for Slovakia's parliamentary elections due next year. "The only thing at issue is how many percent and how many seats it will have in Parliament. We'll then consider further alternatives and our priority… read more