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Mikolaj Recommends that Pupils Sing Anthem Before Classes Begin

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - Students should sing the Slovak national anthem every morning prior to their classes, Education Minister Jan Mikolaj (Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) said in response to a proposal drawn up by his party colleagues who aim to bolster patriotism by adopting a law. "We've prepared a strategy for how to raise national awareness," said the… read more

Lajcak Praises USA Role in Slovakia\'s Post-1989 Developments

Bratislava/Washington, November 19 (TASR) - Speaking at a series of events marking the fall of communism in former Czechoslovakia in Washington this week, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak highlighted the solidarity of the USA in the integration efforts of Slovakia following the fall of communism in 1989, TASR was told by ministry spokesman Peter Stano on Thursday.… read more

Obama Congratulates Slovaks on 20th Anniversary of Revolution

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated citizens of Slovakia on the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak said in Washington on Thursday. According to ministry spokesman Peter Stano, who provided the information to TASR, Obama sent the message to guests of the ceremonial gala-night… read more

Unemployment Slightly Fell in October, Reaching 12.4 Percent

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - The unemployment rate in Slovakia fell in October by 0.05 percentage points month-on-month, reaching 12.4 percent, informed the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office (UPSVaR) on Thursday. "The market has stabilised in the last three months," said UPSVaR director Jan Sihelsky, explaining that job-creation measures are starting to offset… read more

Wizz Air Gives Up Plans to Have Base at M.R. Stefanik International

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - No-frills airline Wizz Air (Hungary) announced on Thursday that, following lengthy but eventually unsuccessful negotiations with M.R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava, it has decided to give up its plans to establish a base for its flights in the Slovak capital. "We're disappointed, but we've been unable to reach agreement on business terms… read more

Poll: Computer Literacy in Slovakia Continues to Rise

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - The digital literacy index in Slovakia increased and reached 0.44 points this year, up from 0.33 in 2005 and 0.37 in 2007, according to an annual survey by the Institute of Public Affairs (IVO) released on Thursday. A total of 1,134 respondents (aged over 14) took part in the poll, according to the project co-ordinator Martin Velsic.… read more

Mikolaj Defends Proposal on Life-long Education in Committee

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - Education Minister Jan Mikolaj (Slovak National Party/SNS) defended the Government's legislative proposal designed to increase access to life-long education in the parliamentary Education Committee on Thursday. The proposal was pushed forward to the second reading in Parliament in October, but Opposition MPs criticised various aspects… read more

Pravda Daily on Thursday, November 19

The Cabinet is pondering allocating a €10.4-million subsidy towards the construction of a water park in the village of Bobrovnik (Zilina region). The project, in turn, might provide a boost to a company that is co-owned by Finance Minister Jan Pociatek and is planning to construct hotels in the vicinity of the water park, Pravda daily reports on pages 1 and 2 on Thursday.… read more

SME Daily on Thursday, November 19

The Slovak Economy Ministry is ready to spend almost €700,000 for three years on a poll carried out among foreigners who visit Slovakia, reports SME daily on its front page on Thursday. Were you satisfied with Slovak toilets? Have you bought a doll in a traditional Slovak costume as a souvenir? Did you like "bryndzove halusky" (potato dumplings with bryndza sheep cheese… read more

Hospodarske Noviny Daily on Thursday, November 19

Not only Japan but also Spain was interested in purchasing Slovakia's carbon-dioxide emission quotas that were eventually sold to shady Interblue Group for half of the price that the Czech Republic and Poland charged when selling their quotas to Spain last month, Hospodarske Noviny daily reports on pages 1 and 2 on Thursday. "It was obvious that they wanted to buy emissions… read more

Memo on Single European Sky in Central Europe Signed in Bratislava

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - Memorandum of Understanding of Functional Airspace Block Central Europe was signed in Bratislava on Wednesday by representatives of seven European countries - Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Austria and Slovenia. The Memorandum is part of implementation of the Regulation No. 549/2004 of the European… read more

Lajcak Opens Slovak Exhibition in Washington

Bratislava/Washington, November 18 (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Tuesday met Slovak honorary consuls from throughout the USA during the first day of his visit to Washington, TASR was told by the Foreign Affairs Ministry press department on Wednesday. Lajcak praised the work and activities of individual honorary consuls in promoting Slovakia in the… read more

Council of Europe Recommends Greater Support for Minority Languages

Brussels, November 18 (TASR) - Slovakia needs to provide adequate ethnic languages teaching at all education levels and enhance the preparation of minority language teachers, says the Report On Minority Languages in Slovakia published by the Council of Europe on Wednesday. The report was worked out in April and Slovak authorities have already sent their responses regarding… read more

Dzurinda: Fico\'s Government Beggaring People in Upper Orava

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - Robert Fico's Government is beggaring the people in the traditional region of Upper Orava (Zilina region), Opposition SDKU-DS chairman and former premier Mikulas Dzurinda said at a press conference on Wednesday. According to Dzurinda, in a tender for the purchase of 140 ambulances the Government preferred a Czech company over a Slovak… read more

Liska Supports Sedlacek against Fedor in Second VUC Election Round

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - Unsuccessful independent candidate for the post of Trencin region governor Juraj Liska, third in the regional elections this past Saturday, on Wednesday recommended his voters support incumbent Governor Pavol Sedlacek in the second election round on November 28. Sedlacek's (HZDS-Smer-SNS) rival in the head-to-head election is Martin Fedor… read more