OtherOther Economy

Gasparovic: Opposition Has Contributed to Smer\'s Popularity

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - The scandals that have afflicted the governing Coalition this year can't be denied, but they were the only fundament on which the Opposition was basing its policy, President Ivan Gasparovic has told TASR. "If the Smer-SD party, after (3.5) years in Government, during the most severe economic crisis that the world has known, has maintained… read more

Figel: Holding MP and Mayor Posts Concurrently Fuels Clientelism

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - The fact that an MP can at the same time hold the post of a city or town mayor indirectly fuels clientelism, opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) chairman Jan Figel told TASR on Tuesday. Figel was speaking following the announcement of KDH's initiative called "One Mandate Is Enough", whereby the party won't let mayors feature on the party's… read more

Jahnatek: State in Talks With More than 100 Investors

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - The Economy Ministry is holding talks with 136 investors on placing their investments in Slovakia, Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek told TASR on Tuesday. "There are ten investors with which talks have gone quite a long way," he added. "It's foreseen that the aforementioned ten investment stimuli could bring to Slovakia investments totalling… read more

President: Media Often Lack Objectivity

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - Every so often, the Slovak media lack objectivity when trying to find the truth, President Ivan Gasparovic told TASR on Tuesday. Gasparovic thinks that journalists haven't understood yet that their role is not simply to seek out negatives. "If the media reveal something not in accordance with the concept of good, positive policy… read more

IES: Consumer Confidence Stopped Deteriorating in December

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - Confidence in the Slovak economy continued to grow in December, when the Indicator of Economic Sentiment (IES) increased by 2.9 to 82.3 points month-on-month, the Slovak Statistics Office (SU SR) reported on Tuesday. The index has also increased slightly (0.1) y-o-y, but is down 18 points compared to the long-term average. "The growth… read more

New Banska Bystrica Region Chairman Swears Oath

Banska Bystrica, December 29 (TASR) - The new Banska Bystrica Higher Territorial Unit (VUC) chairman Vladimir Manka (Smer-SD party) swore an oath on Tuesday along with the VUC deputies during the first meeting of the VUC assembly, it was announced on Tuesday. The first assembly meeting was formal, while from now on the VUC must start working as it should have done in… read more

Csaky: Relations With Hungary Will Be Good If SMK Is Part of Government

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - The probable winner of the upcoming Hungarian parliamentary elections and the next premier Viktor Orban won't have bad relations with a Slovak government in which the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party will take part, SMK chairman Pal Csaky told TASR on Tuesday. "(It's) because we strive for peace in national affairs and Slovak-Hungarian relations.… read more

Fico: Draft on Slimmer Cabinet Ready, Prospects Are Doubtful Though

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - A proposal to cut the number of ministries is ready, but the other coalition parties have reservations about it, Prime Minister Robert Fico has told TASR. "It's so radical that it's obviously clashed with certain views, because everybody is already thinking somewhat in terms of the election (due in June 2010)," said Fico. Fico added… read more

Public Health Office: 31 New Novel Flu Cases in Slovakia Last Week

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - A total of 31 pandemic flu A(H1N1) cases were confirmed over the course of last week, increasing the overall number of cases to 986, said Public Health Office (UVZ) representatives on Monday. The majority of cases have been registered in Bratislava region (431) and Nitra region (148). Doctors have continued to give the Panenza… read more

Russians Inform Jahnatek: No Disruption in Oil Supplies via Ukraine to EU

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - Russian Energy Minister Sergei Ivanovich Shmatko assured Slovak Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek on the phone on Monday that Russia has reached agreement with Ukraine on oil deliveries to the European Union countries next year, banishing an increased risk of a halt in the crude oil supplies for Slovakia, Economy Ministry spokesman Branislav… read more

Transport Companies Want to Postpone Road Toll By Six Months

Zvolen, December 28 (TASR) - Some 150 Slovak transport companies have called on the Transport, Post and Telecommunications Ministry to postpone the launch of the electronic road-toll system from January 1 to July 2010, Jaroslav Polacek from firm Fura told TASR at a meeting of transport companies in Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region) on Monday. "We'd like to put off the introduction… read more

Meciar: HZDS Strongly Courted in Run-up to General Election

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - Six months prior to Slovakia's next parliamentary elections, co-ruling LS-HZDS chairman Vladimir Meciar told TASR in an interview that he expects to see a tough political battle with everyone fighting everyone else. Meciar called for an air of chivalry, honesty and purity in the election battle. "This is my true wish. It won't materialise… read more

Mikolaj: Shutting Down Universities Would Be Inappropriate

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - Education Minister Jan Mikolaj (SNS) told TASR on Monday that he doesn't want Slovak universities to "spring up like mushrooms" regardless of their quality. Miklolaj is therefore preparing to tighten up the requirements for setting up new universities. The changes will only be quality-oriented, however. "The first phase of a new… read more

SkyToll and CESMAD to Discuss Charges for Installing OBUs on Tuesday

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - Electronic road-toll provider SkyToll and transport operators association CESMAD are to hold talks on reducing the price of installing road-toll onboard units (OBU) in lorries on Tuesday, Transport, Posts and Telecommunication Ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovic told TASR on Monday. "This price (€134.90 without VAT) is, in my opinion,… read more

Slovnaft: We\'re Able to Provide Oil If Russian Supplies Are Suspended

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - Slovak refinery Slovnaft is able to provide the Slovak market with oil even if Russian supplies via Ukraine are suspended, TASR was told by Slovnaft spokesman Anton Molnar on Monday. The threat of oil-supply suspension has arisen due to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Molnar said that Slovakia has enough oil reserves for 90… read more