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IVO: Democracy Improving Under Iveta Radicova\'s Government

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - The quality of democracy in Slovakia has improved under the new Government by 0.3 points to a grade of 3.1 in the third quarter of 2010, according to the IVO Barometer published by the Public Affairs Institute (IVO) in Bratislava on Thursday. According to political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov, this is the first improvement since 2008.… read more

MPs Change Powers and Names of Several Ministries

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - Individual ministries will have their powers changed as of November, according to the General Administration Act amendment passed by Parliament on Wednesday. The Culture and Tourism Ministry will lose its tourism agenda, and co-ordination on the use of financial resources from the European Funds will be transferred under the remit of the… read more

House Asks NKU to Review Deals between State and Hayek Consulting

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) will look into contracts signed between the Finance Ministry, the Economy Ministry-led National Agency for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (NADSME) and Hayek Consulting during the 2007-10 period, according to a proposal that Slovak Parliament approved at its session on Wednesday. The initiative, which has… read more

Talks on State Citizenship Act Amendment Continue, No Agreement Yet

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - The talks held by Coalition representatives on an amendment to the State Citizenship Act continued on Wednesday with considerable progress being reported by Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS). The first round of talks took place already on Monday (October 11). "We're close to reaching an agreement, but I wouldn't like to… read more

Cabinet Okays Scheme for Compensating Families Hit by Summer Floods

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - Families that that were hit by extensive floods in July and August should receive financial assistance within two weeks after submitting their request, according to a Government proposal approved at its session on Wednesday. Also, in line with the measure Government Office's website will feature a list of villages and the amount of aid… read more

State Won\'t Provide Money for New National Football Stadium

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - The state will not provide any money for constructing a new National Football Stadium in Slovakia, the Government decided on Wednesday. Iveta Radicova's Cabinet scrapped a resolution passed by the previous government that allocated €69.12 million to Bratislava City coffers for this purpose. The Education Ministry, whose remit includes… read more

Government Okays New SPF Board Members

Bratislava, October 13 (TASR) - The Government on Wednesday passed a proposal for the election of new board members of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) that was submitted by Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid). The candidates for the board-member posts, who should be elected by Parliament, are: Zoltan Kovacs, Jozef Krska, Jan Mrva,… read more

British Ambassador Praises Galko\'s Measures Against Corruption

Bratislava, October 12 (TASR) - At a meeting in Bratislava on Tuesday, British Ambassador to Slovakia Michael Roberts praised Slovak Defence Minister Lubomir Galko for his efforts in combating corruption and clientelism, the ministry's press department told TASR on the same day. "We in Britain adopted a law on combating corruption. We admire how you combat it, Mr. Minister.… read more

House Obliges Cabinet to Submit Report on Repercussions of Red Sludge

Bratislava, October 12 (TASR) - The Government must submit a report to Parliament within 30 days in which the possible repercussions of the recent toxic waste spill in Hungary for Slovakia's environment will be analysed, according to a proposal that was approved at a parliamentary session on Tuesday. In line with the initiative, which was submitted by opposition Slovak… read more

SRo: It Isn\'t Possible to Manage Radio and Television in Same Way

Bratislava, October 12 (TASR) - According to state broadcaster Slovak Television (STV), the decision to merge STV with Slovak Radio (SRo) as announced by Culture and Tourism Minister Daniel Krajcer (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) on Tuesday provokes more questions than it answers. "The STV management will take a stance on this," STV spokesman Peter Susko told TASR on the… read more

Radicova: STV and SRo Will Merge

Bratislava, October 11 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) after a Coalition Council session on Monday evening revealed that in order to resolve the problematic situation in the public-service Slovak Television (STV) a merger with the broadcaster Slovak Radio (SRo) is called for. Radicova indicated that the whole project should be launched in January, assuming… read more

SaS to Join ELDR In Later This Week

Bratislava, October 10 (TASR) - The co-ruling Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is on the path to becoming a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) this coming week, TASR learnt on Sunday. ELDR's sovereign authority, or the Congress, is set to meet in Helsinki between October 13 and 15, where the decision should be announced in the presence of… read more

SVP: Levels of Heavy Metals Below Limit at Danube\'s Slovak Stretch

Bratislava, October 9 (TASR) - Analyses have shown that the concentration of arsenic, vanadium and aluminium on Slovakia's stretch of the Danube River is below their limits, Jan Tkac of the Slovak Water-management company (SVP) told TASR on Saturday. The measurements follow Monday's rupture of a reservoir of toxic red sludge at an alumina plant in Ajka, Hungary. Samples… read more

Slovak Rescue Team Set to Leave for Hungary to Tackle Toxic Sludge

Gabcikovo, October 8 (TASR) - A 275-member team of rescuers from Gabcikovo (Trnava region) is set to leave on Saturday for the Hungarian village of Kolontar, which was hit earlier this week by a flood of toxic red slurry, chief of the Central Complex Rescue Service in Gabcikovo Jan Culka told TASR on Friday. "In consultations with Hungary's official representatives we… read more

Greenpeace: Red Sludge Contains High Levels of Heavy Metals

Bratislava, October 8 (TASR) - According to biochemist Katarina Ventusova from Greenpeace, an analysis of the red sludge collected in the Hungarian village of Kolontar has proven that it contains extraordinarily high amounts of arsenic and mercury, TASR learned on Friday. Greenpeace on the same day publicised the results of analyses of water and sludge taken from the… read more