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Foreign Affairs Ministry Shocked by Hungary Rejecting Consultations

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - The stance taken by Hungary on proposed consultations on the controversial amendment to the dual citizenship act submitted to the Hungarian Parliament is shocking and unprecedented in diplomatic practice, Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano said on Wednesday. Stano was speaking in reaction to the Hungarian side refusing bilateral… read more

Paska: Local Elections Will Take Place on November 27

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Elections to the local administration councils will take place on November 27, 2010, Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska announced at a session of the Slovak Towns and Villages (ZMOS) on Wednesday. "The Slovak Constitution guarantees Slovak citizens the right to participate in the public administration directly or via plebiscite of their representatives,"… read more

Figel: KDH Due to File Criminal Complaint on Financing Smer-SD

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - The Christian Democrats (KDH) will on Thursday file a criminal complaint to the Prosecutor General's Office due to suspicion of committing various crimes in connection to the information published by the SME daily about financing the Smer-SD party, said KDH chairman Jan Figel on Thursday. Figel at the same time called on Smer-SD chairman and… read more

Radicova: Slovakia Run by Smer\'s Co-owners

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Proof that Slovakia is governed by the co-owners of the Smer-SD party is emerging, said SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova at a press conference in Bratislava on Wednesday. "Based on grave suspicions and published evidence, Premier Robert Fico has lost his mandate," she added. "I think it's becoming more and more clear that the attack… read more

Prosecutor to Act on Smer Sponsorship Claims if Criminal Action Is Filed

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Dobroslav Trnka said on Wednesday that his Office won't act on fresh allegations made by former senior member of Smer-SD Bohumil Hanzel in an interview for SME daily about the creation of the party until Hanzel himself files criminal action on the matter. Hanzel's claims concern nefarious sponsorship methods in which he himself… read more

Fico Urges Orban to Meet Him to Discuss Dual Citizenship Bill (UPDATE)

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Slovakia, via its Ambassador to Hungary Peter Weiss, has asked its southern neighbour for talks at prime-minister level to be held as soon as possible, Slovak Premier Robert Fico announced after a government session on Wednesday. Fico added that he would like to meet Hungary's Prime Minister designate Viktor Orban before Hungary goes ahead… read more

SDKU: Dual Citizenship Act No Reason to Summon Slovak Parliament

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - If the amendment to the Dual Citizenship Act is passed by the Hungarian Parliament, it will come into effect as of January 2011, so it's time to start negotiations, said SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova at a press conference in Bratislava on Wednesday. "We want to find a solution that would suit both sides. There's no need to frighten… read more

Think-Tank Awards Government D Grade for Healthcare Policies

Bratislava, May (TASR) - The halting of the transformation of hospitals into joint-stock companies and the abolition of payments to see doctors are among the most detrimental healthcare policies adopted over the past four years, the Health Policy Institute (HPI) think-tank said on Wednesday. The acquisition of political control over the Healthcare Supervisory Authority… read more

Fico: I\'m Sorry for Hanzel, His Claims Are Utter Hogwash

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Allegations made by entrepreneur and former Smer-SD party MP Bohumil Hanzel are "utter hogwash", Prime Minister and Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico told a press conference on Wednesday. "He's basing his accusations on some sort of notes (of his). They're utter hogwash, I feel sorry for him," said Fico, adding that Hanzel is striving to create… read more

Head of German Bundestag Lammert Opens Exhibition in Bratislava

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska and his German counterpart Norbert Lammert on Tuesday evening opened a multimedia exhibition in Bratislava Castle named "The Wall Is Gone - The Velvet Revolution and the Overcoming of Separation", which presented the long and hard process of Germany's unification. Photographs and over 100 short films… read more

EPP to Convene for Roundtable Discussion of Hungary\'s Dual Citizenship Bill

Brussels, May 18 (TASR) - The European People's Party (EPP) would this month hold roundtable discussions to settle disputes over the bill amending dual citizenship legislation in Hungary that was submitted to Parliament there by the Fidesz - Christian Democratic People's Party coalition, Slovakia's opposition SDKU party leaders said after negotiations with EPP chairman Wilfried… read more

Ondava River Water Safely Away from Trebisov, No Need to Evacuate

Trebisov, May 18 (TASR) – Evacuation of people living in Trebisov (Kosice region) due to flooding won't be necessary as water flowing through the gap in a dam on the Ondava River (only a few kilometres from the town) is not moving toward the town, it was reported on Tuesday evening. A breach in the dam, caused by heavy rains and rising water levels, has grown to around… read more

US Scholar Encourages Slovaks to Introduce University Tuition Fees

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - Visiting Professor of Economics at Ohio University Richard Vedder recommended that Slovakia drop free full-time university studies and follow the example of the USA and institute across-the-board tuition fees as a way of improving academic results. Within a decade Slovakia will be forced to do this anyway, as it will need funding for its increasingly… read more

Csaky: Paska Cancelled House\'s Ceremonial Session on Fear of Fiasco

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska made the decision to cancel Wednesday's ceremonial parliamentary session in an effort to avert a possible fiasco if Opposition parties don't show up, ethnic-Hungarian SMK party leader Pal Csaky told TASR on Tuesday. Paska's move has nothing to do with a session of the country's Security Council earlier in… read more

Belousovova Agrees With Putting Parliament on Standby

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - The decision of Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska (Smer-SD) to cancel Wednesday's ceremonial parliamentary session in order to keep Parliament on standby in case legislative measures are needed in reaction to the Hungarian Law on Dual Citizenship was correct, Slovak National Party (SNS) vice-chair Anna Belousovova told TASR on Tuesday. "However,… read more