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Lipsic: Svatopluk Statue Represents Bad Taste Rather Than Fascism

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Svatopluk statue installed at the courtyard of Bratislava castle represents an example of bad taste rather than fascism, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) said on Wednesday. Lispic spoke in reaction to claims that the encircled double-cross motif displayed on the duke's shield is identical with the emblem… read more

Fico Leaves Behind €2 Milion in Prime Minister\'s Kitty

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Premier Iveta Radicova said on Wednesday that after taking office earlier this month she found that most of the funds in the prime minister's reserve had been spent in the first half of 2010. Speaking after a Government session, she said that to the best of her knowledge out of €25 million there is €2 million left. "We are now looking… read more

Radicova Wants to Speed Up Investigations of Smer and SDKU Financing

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) would like to see the published cases such as the financing of Smer-SD and SDKU-DS parties investigated more quickly, General Prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka told journalists on Wednesday after his meeting with Radicova. "She told me that she's not exerting pressure on me, as she can't intervene in the investigations.… read more

Simon: Slovakia Unlikely to See Extra €15 million From Interblue

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Agriculture and Environment Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid) said on Wednesday that it doesn't look as though Slovakia will receive the extra €15 million that it was originally expecting from its carbon-dioxide emission trading with the Interblue Group. "I personally think that Slovakia won't see the €15 million," said Simon at the Government… read more

Independent Ministry to Be Put in Charge of Environment Again

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Government on Wednesday approved an amendment to the competences act aimed at reinstating an independent ministry of the environment after this was terminated by the former government of Robert Fico as of July 1, with its powers passed to the Agriculture Ministry. "Setting up an independent state-administration body in charge of the environment… read more

Cabinet Scraps Three Government Proxy Posts (UPDATE)

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Government at its session on Wednesday decided to recall four government proxies, with three of the posts to be abolished completely, TASR learnt on the same day. The posts to be scrapped are government proxy for highways, the proxy for youth and sport and the proxy for the preparation of an informal meeting of NATO defence ministers in… read more

Galko to Go on First Visit to Czech Republic

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - Having taken office earlier this month, Slovakia's Defence Minister Lubomir Galko will head a ministerial delegation on his first foreign trip to the Czech Republic on Thursday, the Defence Ministry has stated on its website. Galko will meet his Czech counterpart Alexander Vondra and reaffirm top quality bilateral relations between the two… read more

Cabinet Ousts Intelligence Service Head Magala, Mitrik to Replace Him

Bratislava, July 21 (TASR) - The Cabinet at its session on Wednesday decided to dismiss Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) head Jozef Magala and approve the nomination of Karol Mitrik (a SDKU-DS nominee) for the post, TASR learnt on the same day. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova is set to submit both proposals to President Ivan Gasparovic, who has the power to recall and… read more

Karol Mitrik to Become New Slovak Intelligence Service Director

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - The Coalition Council session held on Tuesday elected Karol Mitrik (a SDKU-DS nominee) to the post of Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) director. Mitrik was unanimously approved as a SDKU candidate on July 19 by the SDKU presidium. Mitrik, 63, a manager by profession, twice held the post of mayor of Spisska Nova Ves (Kosice region)… read more

Radicova: Relations With Hungary Have Improved

Budapest, July 20 (TASR) - Relations between Slovakia and Hungary have improved, with controversial issues set to be addressed by the re-established Slovak-Hungarian committees, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said after meeting her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Tuesday. "We agreed on some fundamental issues. Foremost among these is the restoration of Slovak-Hungarian… read more

Sulik to Publish All Contracts for Reconstruction of Bratislava Castle

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik said on Tuesday that he will form an expert committee to pass judgement on whether the statue of Svatopluk in the courtyard of Bratislava castle was put in the right place or not. Sulik plans to find out if the statue "wouldn't be better off somewhere else", with the expert committee to be headed by historian… read more

Anna Belousovova May Become SNS Leader as of September

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - The Slovak National Party (SNS) could be led by its current vice-chair Anna Belousovova as of the autumn, with the new party chair due to be elected at the party congress in September. The current four-year term of current SNS chairman Jan Slota is set to end that month. According to TASR's information, a number of district and regional party… read more

Responsible Policies in V4 Will Also Strenghten EU (UPDATE)

Budapest, July 20 (TASR-correspondent) - If the Visegrad Four group (Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland) carries out responsible policies, including fiscal ones, and if the V4 makes joint progress with regional programmes, relaunching economies and providing support for the creation of new jobs - the European Union will be also strengthened, Slovak Premier Iveta… read more

Activists Launch Campaign Against Statue of Svatopluk at Castle

Bratislava, July 20 (TASR) - The statue of Prince Svatopluk, who ruled much of the area of what is now Slovakia in the 9th century, has among its detractors a civil association named UM!, which has kicked off a campaign to have the sculpture removed from the courtyard of Bratislava Castle, UM! told TASR on Tuesday. The sculpture, which depicts Svatopluk in full battle… read more

Zitnanska to Change Way in Which Judges Are Selected

Bratislava, July 19 (TASR) - Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska (SDKU-DS) plans to change the way in which judges are selected by introducing open competition, TASR learned from Eva Dukatova of the Justice Ministry press department on Monday. According to Dukatova, the first thing that the new minister plans to do is to abolish the selection process for judges' posts.… read more