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Svejna Resigns From State Secretary Post Over Hayek Affair

Bratislava, October 8 (TASR) - Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry State Secretary Ivan Svejna (Most-Hid) told a press conference on Friday that he is resigning from his post, TASR learnt on the same day. Svejna said that he had already notified the respective minister Jan Figel (Christian Democrats/KDH) of his decision. Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar passed… read more

Extra Leaves for Prisoners Suspended Due to Recent Convict Escape

Bratislava, October 7 (TASR) - The prisoners won't be allowed out of the penitentiary on an extraordinary bonus leave or day off, Justice and Prison Guard Department (ZVJS) General Director Robert Mudroncek said at a press conference held on Thursday. He spoke in reaction to the case of convict Lubos Kracunik, 39, who left the prison in Presov on an extraordinary leave… read more

Hamburg Top Architect: Bratislava a European Capital Only on Paper

Bratislava, October 7 (TASR) - Bratislava is a European city more on paper than in fact, Hamburg department of construction development chief and architect Peter Gero said at a press conference in Bratislava on Monday, during which he backed the mayoralty candidacy of Magda Vasaryova. If Vasaryova (SDKU-DS, SaS, KDH, Most-Hid and OKS) is elected, Gero said that he will… read more

OKS Wants to Abolish STV and Radio Councils, Set Up Media Council

Bratislava, October 7 (TASR) - The Civic Conservative Party (OKS), four members of which sit in Parliament as MPs for Most-Hid, on Thursday criticised the situation in the public-service Slovak Television (STV) and proposed setting up an independent Media Council. The Media Council would also supervise running of the public-service Slovak Radio, while the current STV… read more

Krajcer: It\'s About Time to Bring Chaos at STV to a Close

Bratislava, October 6 (TASR) - The current situation in the public-service Slovak Television (STV), which is in a critical financial state, can be only described as chaotic, Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer (SaS) said on Wednesday. When asked whether he intends to sack STV general director Stefan Niznansky, Krajcer said that "it's about time to have the chaos finished".… read more

Contrite Figel Plans to Donate His Apartment to Charity

Bratislava, October 6 (TASR) - The much-discussed apartment of Transport, Post and Telecommunication Minister Jan Figel (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) will be given to charity, Figel announced after the Government session on Wednesday. "I want to give this apartment to charity, I won't be its long-term owner," said Figel. Figel was renting the 156-square-metre… read more

Dzurinda: Slovakia\'s Position On Kosovo\'s Independence Won\'t Change

Belgrade, October 5 (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda met with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Premier Mirko Cvetkovic and his counterpart Vuk Jeremic on Tuesday in Belgrade. The visit took place on the day when Serbia commemorates the 10th anniversary since the fall of president Slobodan Milosevic's regime. Dzurinda pointed out to the Slovakia's… read more

KBS Agrees with Vatican Protest Against Nobel Prize Award for Edwards

Bratislava, October 5 (TASR) - Conference of Slovak Bishops (KBS) Chairman and Bratislava archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky agrees with the stance of the Vatican in its objections to the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine 2010 to the pioneer of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), British professor Robert Edwards. "I agree with the stance of the Holy See on this affair, and… read more

Radicova Meets Representatives of Churches

Bratislava, October 5 (TASR) - Representatives of Churches and religious communities across Slovakia on Tuesday met with Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) in what is being described as a get-to-know-each-other session. Archbishop of Bratislava Stanislav Zvolensky said that the topics of the discussion were mainly issues related to the role of the Churches… read more

Ordinary People Calling on Coalition to Stop Chaos and Quarrels

Bratislava, October 5 (TASR) - The four MPs from Freedom and Solidarity's (SaS) faction called Ordinary People want the Coalition to act more responsibly, not to raise doubts in society about the Government's ability to steer Slovakia clear going down the same track as Greece, reads an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, ministers and chairmen of Coalition… read more

Dzurinda Leaves for Serbia to Address Conference on EU Integration

Bratislava, October 5 (TASR) - Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Tuesday left for a one-day visit to Serbia to address a conference entitled 'Serbia En Route to Europe, One Decade On', as well as meet with President Boris Tadic, Premier Mirko Cvetkovic and his counterpart Vuk Jeremic. The key political message he took to Belgrade was that Slovakia staunchly supports… read more

Eight Candidates Running for Mayor of Bratislava

Bratislava, October 4 (TASR) - In total eight candidates are running for the post of Bratislava mayor on November 27, TASR was told by the city electoral commission clerk Anna Hajduchova on Monday. The centre-right coalition SDKU-DS, KDH, SaS, Most-Hid and Civic Conservatives (OKS) has nominated former actress and SDKU-DS MP Magda Vasaryova. Independent mayor of the borough… read more

Ministry to Put Insurers Under Obligation to Insure Property

Bratislava, October 4 (TASR) - Natural disaster-related damages to property exceeding the available state compensation funds have prompted the Interior Ministry to propose preventive measures and a compensation system for extreme situations, according to ministry press release on Monday. The ministry's experience has shown that many Slovaks do not take the risk of natural… read more

Interior Ministry Monitoring Potential Terrorist Threat in Europe

Bratislava, October 3 (TASR) - A spokesman for Slovakia's Interior Ministry said Sunday that it is monitoring the on-the-ground situation after the United States and Britain warned their citizens of an increased risk of terrorist attacks in Europe earlier in the day. "We will release any information obtained which the public should know about," according to ministry's… read more

Harabin Continues to Block FinMin\'s Efforts to Audit Supreme Court

Bratislava, October 3 (TASR) - Supreme Court Chairman Stefan Harabin, who has been barring Finance Ministry auditors from carrying out an audit at the court for several weeks, is sticking to his argument that such an audit can only be conducted by the independent Supreme Audit Office (NKU). In Harabin's view, this is the only way to secure the objectivity of the audit,… read more