OtherOther Economy

Radicova: NKU to Look into Commissions Given to Hayek Consulting

Bratislava, September 24 (TASR) - The coalition partners agree that there are certain doubts when it comes to the state commissions that were awarded to private company Hayek Consulting, which was co-owned by Economy Ministry State Secretary Martin Chren (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) and Transport Ministry State Secretary Ivan Svejna (Most-Hid), but they don't agree on what action… read more

Miklos: Despite Bad Legacy in Finance We Produced a Good Budget

Bratislava, September 23 (TASR) - Despite the difficult situation which the current Government inherited from the previous government of Robert Fico (Smer-SD), the Government has succeeded in preparing a good budget proposal for 2011 on time, said Slovak finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday. "A good (budget) because it… read more

Svatopluk Equestrian Statue to Remain in Place

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik, who earlier this year initiated a commission to judge the wisdom of having the 'King' Svatopluk equestrian statue in the courtyard of Bratislava Castle, announced his decision on Wednesday to leave the statue in place. Sulik said that the statue will remain in place at least until the completion of… read more

Dzurinda Meets Lavrov and Clinton to Discuss Foreign Policy Issues

New York, September 22 (TASR) - Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, TASR was told by the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry's press department on Wednesday. The two officials discussed energy co-operation. "We'll certainly come to an agreement… read more

Radicova: Fines for Breaking Language Act Remain, But Limited Scope

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - The fines related to the State Language Act that were introduced by the former government will most likely remain in place, albeit with reduced scope, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) told journalists on Wednesday, referring to the Coalition Council session on Tuesday. "There's an agreement that as for public information, information… read more

Minister Lipsic to Enhance Security at Football Stadiums

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - The Interior Ministry plans to enhance security at the football stadiums and expel hooligans that threaten decent people, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) said after holding talks with the Union of League Clubs representatives on Tuesday. To this end, Lipsic plans to tighten up a number of regulations.… read more

Analysts: Coalition May Break Up Over Hayek Group Case

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - The 'Hayek Group case' is endangering the cohesion of the governing Coalition, with a real possibility of a break-up, analyst Juraj Marusiak told TASR on Tuesday. At the same time, the analyst thinks that the case will put Premier Iveta Radicova's position in Government to the test. "She is trying to dismiss persons (Martin Chren of SaS… read more

Brigita Schmognerova: I Want to Foster Social Democracy in Slovakia

After eight years of working abroad, she says she has come back home to share her experience and help cultivate social democracy in Slovakia. The country's former finance minister (1998-2002) and more recently vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (2005-2010) Brigita Schmognerova spoke to TASR – making her the first instalment of the newly-launched… read more

Bibiana Showcases Award-Winning Illustrations for Children\'s Books

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - In the coming days in the U.S. capital Washington the Bratislava-based international house of art for children Bibiana will showcase the best illustrations for children's books from 43 years of its biennial illustrations competition BIB in Slovakia, the Culture Ministry reported on Monday. In two exhibitions organised in conjunction with… read more

Dzurinda Cheers Iceland\'s EU Bid at Site of Reagan-Gorbachev Summit

Reykjavik, September 20 (TASR) - In the building in that Iceland's capital in 1986 saw the historic meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Monday encouraged Icelandic leaders in their effort to get their country into the EU. "On this spot in 1986 the world begun to change,"… read more

Sulik Discusses Referendum and Loan to Greece in Prague

Prague, September 20 (TASR-correspondent) - Plans for state savings via reducing MPs' salaries, Slovakia's experience with referendums as well as the recent refusal of the Slovak Government to participate in the loan to Greece were up for discussion between Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik and his counterpart in the Lower House of the Czech Parliament Miroslava Nemcova… read more

Political Analysts Differ on Facets of Referendum

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - The participation of Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik and President Ivan Gasparovic in Saturday's referendum was an exercise in humiliation for the high-rank political officials, said political analyst Rastislav Toth on Sunday. "They have identified with the stance of approximately 20 percent… read more

President Gasparovic and Foreign Minister Dzurinda Leave for Iceland

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic left on Sunday for an official visit to Iceland – the first visit of a high public official to Iceland in Slovakia's modern history. The aim of the visit is to intensify bilateral dialogue in the sphere of trade and commerce, research and development, as well as to show support for Iceland's ambition… read more

Referendum Fails On 22.84-percent Turnout, Shows Mix of Results

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - The seventh plebiscite in Slovakia's history failed on low turnout, Central Referendum Commission (URK) announced on Sunday. The turnout at Saturday's referendum reached 22.84 percent, far less than the 50 percent needed for the vote to be valid. Out of 4,369,553 eligible voters, 998,142 came to voice their opinion on cancelling… read more

SUMMARY-SATURDAY-September 18, 2010 - 11 p.m.

BRATISLAVA - The seventh plebiscite in Slovakia's history has begun on Saturday. NOVA DEDINKA - Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova took part in the referendum in Nova Dedinka (Bratislava region) on Saturday. BRATISLAVA - Saturday's referendum will be a clear fiasco if at least 400,000 people won't participate in it, Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik (Freedom… read more