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Galko: Former Ministry Managers Signed Shady Helicopter Contracts

Bratislava, August 11 (TARS) - The former Defence Ministry management just before the general election in June signed a contract for installing new devices in ten helicopters, one of which officially became obsolete on July 31, 2010, said new Defence Minister Lubomir Galko (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) on Wednesday. Galko stated that his ministry has already filed a criminal… read more

Parliament to Discuss Legislation - First Time Since June Elections

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) has opened a fourth Parliamentary session on Tuesday, shortly after the third session featuring debate on the new Government's Manifesto was closed. MPs will cast their votes on laws for the first since the June 12 parliamentary election, with 81 MPs taking part in the legislative… read more

Supreme Court Files Criminal Complaint Over \'Illegal\' Attempted Audits

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR)- The Supreme Court has filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor-General's Office in connection with Finance Minister Ivan Miklos's attempt to carry out what the Court views as an unlawful audit, TASR learnt on Tuesday. Chairman of the Supreme Court Stefan Harabin has been refusing to allow Finance Ministry officials to audit the Court's… read more

Iveta Radicova\'s Government Gains Vote of Confidence (update)

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - Parliament on Tuesday approved the Government Manifesto, at the same time expressing confidence in the new Government of Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS). On the fifth day of the parliamentary session, 79 out of the 145 MPs present voted in favour of the Manifesto, while 66 were against. As expected, all the coalition MPs present supported the document,… read more

Belousovova Slaps Matovic Across Face for Calling Her Ancha

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - Slovak National Party (SNS) Vice-chair Anna Belousovova on Tuesday slapped Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Igor Matovic across the face over an article in one of his own newspapers in which he called her Ancha (colloquial for Anna). "She gave me a maternal slap. She came up to me, showed me the article and asked if by saying Ancha I meant… read more

Kalinak: Galko Isn\'t Dilettante But Fraudster

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - Smer-SD MP and former interior minister Robert Kalinak in Parliament on Tuesday reproached Defence Minister Lubomir Galko (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) vis-a-vis the appointment of the Military Intelligence Service chief Milan Hudec. Shortly after being appointed, Hudec was suspended over suspicions concerning his security clearance certificate.… read more

Government Office: EC Dealing With Slovakia\'s Request for Flood Relief

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - The Directorate of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional Policy is currently dealing with Slovakia's request to provide resources to alleviate the damage caused by the floods in late May and early June, the Government Office press department announced on Tuesday. Slovakia managed to send its request on time (July 16).… read more

Smer Submits Amending Proposal to Government Manifesto

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - The opposition Smer-SD party on Tuesday submitted an amending proposal to the draft of the Government Manifesto, which has been discussed in Parliament since last Tuesday. The amendatory proposal contains seven points. "Consider this attitude as a constructive contribution without malevolence and political rivalry in the interests of Slovakia's… read more

Sulik: SaS Will Buy Liberal House for Part of Party\'s State Contribution

Bratislava, August 10 (TASR) - Coalition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) will buy shares in the company Liberal House from 16 party members with a overall value of €1.275 million so that the party will become its exclusive owner, SaS chairman Richard Sulik said at a press conference on Tuesday. The parliamentary chairman gave assurances that the state won't finance… read more

Slovakia to Evaluate Charges for People Travelling to U.S.A.

Bratislava, August 9 (TASR) - Slovakia along with other EU-member states will thoroughly consider and evaluate the practical implications of the U.S.A.'s decision to collect fees within its visa-free regime with European countries, reads a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The new fee for pre-travel electronic form authorisation (ESTA) will be introduced… read more

Ombudsman: Finance Ministry Has Right to Audit Supreme Court

Bratislava, August 9 (TASR) - Slovak Ombudsman Pavel Kandrac said on Monday that he isn't sure whether his presence at a meeting between Finance Minister Ivan Miklos and Supreme Court Chairman Stefan Harabin would be much help in settling the dispute between the two institutions over who is authorised to audit the Supreme Court. According to Kandrac, auditing the Court… read more

Radicova Sends Letter of Sympathy to Czech Counterpart Over Floods

Bratislava, August 8 (TASR) - Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has sent her Czech counterpart Petr Necas a letter of sympathy with regard to the floods currently bedevilling his country. Writing on behalf of Slovakia, she expressed deep sorrow to her Czech opposite number and Czech citizens over the floods, which have hit Slovakia equally hard this year. At the same… read more

NGOs Want Deputy Premier to Have Full Human Rights Agenda

Bratislava, August 8 (TASR) - Ten non-governmental organisations have submitted a joint objection to the Government's legislative amendment unveiled on July 27 aimed at divesting the deputy premier for EU affairs, human rights and ethnic minorities and a knowledge-based society of all powers but those concerning ethnic minorities, it emerged on Sunday. The NGOs, who are… read more

Dostal Hopes to See SaS Reconsider Its Liberal House Plans

Bratislava, August 8 (TASR) - Senior members of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party continue to attract criticism for launching a property-rental company, even from their ruling-coalition partners such as Most-Hid and SDKU-DS. SaS members started a company called Liberal House as of August 3 with a view to renting out office space, including to fellow SaS lawmakers… read more

Gasparovic: Change of Government Could Improve Slovak-Hungarian Relations

Bratislava, August 6 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic believes that the recent change of government in Slovakia could improve its strained relations with Hungary, he told TASR in an interview. But he stressed he saw bilateral tensions only in terms of ethnic minorities as both countries have a problem-free mutual cooperation in economic, foreign, investment or other… read more