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Premier and ZMOS Discuss Hasty Solutions for Municipalities

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - Premier Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) has met with representatives of municipalities the Association of Towns and Villages of Slovakia (ZMOS) and regions (VUCs) to discuss ways to help the floods-affected areas, she announced afterwards at the Government Office on Thursday. They have jointly agreed to secure substitute housing for those people… read more

Dzurinda in Prague Confirms Interest in Exceptional Mutual Relations

Prague, July 15 (TASR) - Bilateral relations, Visegrad co-operation, energy issues and the EU agenda were discussed by Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and his Czech counterpart Karl Schwarzenberg in Prague on Thursday. This was Dzurinda's first foreign working visit and Schwarzenberg appreciated that he headed straight for Prague. "I have always… read more

EC Welcomes Decision to Sign EFSF, but Wants to Discuss Greece

Bratislava/ Brussels, July 15 (TASR) - The European Commission on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Slovak Government to sign the framework agreement on launching the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), but the Commissioners want to discuss the recommendation given by Government to Parliament not to support a loan to Greece. "The European Commission welcomes… read more

IVO Comments on Quality of Democracy Barometer Results

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - The Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) think-tank, which gave Slovakia a democracy mark of 3.4 in its Barometer survey for the second quarter of 2010, the same mark as in the first, said on Thursday that it focused on the way in which the media and political elites weathered the period before, during and after the June general election along with… read more

Government Approves Bill to Curb Parliamentary Immunity

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - Immunity from prosecution for MPs should be limited to voting and statements made in Parliament, according to a constitutional law proposal and Criminal Code amendment drawn up by Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) and okayed by the Government at its extraordinary session on Thursday. Curbs on immunity should also affect judges, so that… read more

Lipsic Proposes Depriving Harabin of His Guard, Harabin Hits Back

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - New Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic (Christian Democrats/KDH) has proposed that Supreme Court Chairman and his long-time opponent Stefan Harabin should be deprived of his guard, Sylvia Machalova from Harabin's office told TASR on Wednesday. "By this proposal to recall Supreme Court Chair Stefan Harabin's guard, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic… read more

Government Officials Find Looming Referendum a Waste of Money

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The objections to the upcoming ruling coalition partner Freedom and Solidarity (SaS)-initiated referendum (September 18) start at the very top of government, it was revealed on Wednesday. Speaking after one of the first government policy meetings, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) described the referendum as "useless" and a waste of… read more

Galko Suprised at Staff Reshuffles Shortly Before His Arrival

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - New Defence Minister Lubomir Galko said on Wednesday that pointless staff reshuffles were made shortly before his arrival at the ministry, and even among rank and file employees. "I don't understand this move because no one has come to the Defence Ministry to conduct purges, let alone of rank-and-file workers," said Galko. He wonders… read more

Miklos: Former Gov\'t Only Interested in Flood Victims Before Election

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Clearing up after the floods that hit Slovakia in May and June and caused estimated damage of €695.1 million was the focal point of one of the first policy meetings of the new Government on Wednesday. The finance and justice ministers accused the previous cabinet of Robert Fico (Smer-SD) of being pro-active in looking after the victims… read more

Galko: Number of Slovak Troops on Missions Abroad Won\'t Be Reduced

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia won't reduce the number of its troops serving on missions abroad, and may even increase it, Defence Minister Lubomir Galko (SaS) said following the government session on Wednesday. "If we want to increase gradually our country's credit within NATO, we'll have to discuss the issue of at least preserving or even strengthening the missions,"… read more

Minister Dzurinda to Go on First Working Visit to Prague

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda will leave for a working visit to the Czech Republic on Thursday, where he will meet his Czech counterpart Karl Schwarzenberg, Prime Minister Peter Necas and Parliamentary Chair Miroslava Nemcova, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on Wednesday. "It's absolutely obvious… read more

President: Sulik Threw Down Heavy Gauntlet But I Won\'t Pick It Up

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik by his criticism threw down a heavy gauntlet at my feet, said President Ivan Gasparovic the day after Sulik accused him of marring a referendum on public matters that was initiated by his Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party. The president said that would have no trouble picking up the gauntlet but doesn't… read more

Ildiko Polacekova Becomes New Temporary Head of UPSVaR

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Ildiko Polacekova became the new temporary head of the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (UPSVaR) when the Government on Wednesday approved a proposal to this effect submitted by Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jozef Mihal. Polacekova will replace Jan Sihelsky, who was nominated to his post by the previous cabinet… read more

Barroso: EU Based on Solidarity That Works Both Ways

Brussels, July 13 (TASR-correspondent) - Solidarity within the EU works both ways, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after his meeting with new Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova on Tuesday in Brussels. Radicova implied that the European guarantee mechanism (EFSF) can be approved by Slovakia as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday) at a Government session,… read more

President Hits Back: SaS Demonstrating Total Ignorance of Constitution

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic is surprised to hear Freedom and Solidarity chairman Richard Sulik saying that he has done everything he could to scupper an SaS-instigated referendum by making sure that the date doesn't coincide with local elections in November, his office said in reaction later on Tuesday. Sulik has demonstrated a total ignorance… read more