OtherOther Economy

Pociatek: Slovakia to Provide €816 million of Greece Rescue Package

Brussels, May 3 (TASR-correspondent) - Slovakia is expected to lend €816 million to Greece over the next three years under the €80-billion loan eurozone rescue package sealed on Sunday, said Finance Minister Jan Pociatek after the eurozone countries approved the bailout plan. Slovakia is set to loan Greece €306 million this year. The International Monetary Fund… read more

Budget Deficit Rose to €1.480 billion to End of April

Bratislava, May 3 (TASR) - The budget deficit increased to €1.480 billion to the end of April after standing at €983 million at the end of March, the Finance reported Ministry on Monday. In April 2009, the deficit reached €347 million. According to the ministry, budget revenues to April reached €3.224 billion or 25.7 percent of the projected €12.531… read more

Figel Decries State of Judiciary, Suggests Direct Election of Judges

Bratislava, May 2 (TASR) - Opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) Chairman Jan Figel says he considers Slovakia's judiciary to be in disarray, which is why it requires legislative changes involving its institutions as well as personnel. "One option is to institute security clearance tests for all judges; another is to choose some members of the Judicial Council in elections… read more

Bugar: Slova Might Not Have Been Sober on STV Chat Show

Bratislava, May 2 (TASR) - Slovak National Party (SNS) chairman Jan Slota on STV chat show 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday might not have been sober when claiming that if SNS isn't part of the government after the June 12 election it will be the death of Slovak sovereignty, Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar told TASR on the same day. Slota also said that… read more

Slota: Notice-Board Scandal Was Nothing But Big Bluff

(STV, May 2, O pat minut dvanast) The so-called notice-board tender scandal at the Construction Ministry, which cost two SNS ministers their posts (Marian Janusek and Igor Stefanov), was nothing but a 'big bluff', SNS chair Jan Slota said on STV political talk show 'O pat minut dvanast' (5 Minutes to 12) on Sunday. The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) in March expressed… read more

Slota: Smer Would Go Along Even with Lucifer to Be in Power

(STV, May 2, O pat minut dvanast) If the co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) isn't part of the government after the general election on June 12, it will be the death of Slovak sovereignty, SNS chief Jan Slota said on STV political chat show 'O pat minut dvanast' (5 Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday. Slota said he will do everything possible to avoid his party being… read more

Lajcak Meets US Entrepreneurs of Slovak Extraction

New York, May 1 (TASR) - Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak wrapping up his visit to the United States towards the end of this week met for talks with noted American entrepreneurs of Slovak ancestry, the ministry reported Saturday. Lajcak presented plans of the Slovak Government, which is looking to diversify investment into information and computer technology,… read more

Ban Ki-Moon Praises Slovak Diplomats\' Activity on International Scene

New York, May 1 (TASR) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended Slovak diplomats for their part played on the international scene, at a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak in New York on Friday, TASR was told by Lajcak's spokesman Peter Stano on Saturday. Ban Ki-Moon made a special mention of Slovak diplomats' activity in prevention of… read more

Figel: Gay Parade Display of Freedom of Speech, But Must Be Decent

Bratislava, May 1 (TASR) - The gay parade 'Pride' scheduled for May 22 in Bratislava would be a display of the freedom of speech by homosexuals, but they must keep the event within the boundaries of law and decency, opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) chairman and former EU Commissioner Jan Figel has told TASR. "It's lack of decency that is often part of such parades… read more

Slota: I\'ll Personally Come and Spit at Homosexual Paraders

Bratislava, May 1 (TASR) - The first gay pride parade in Slovakia's history that is set to take place in Bratislava on May 22 is socially unacceptable and the co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) will respond to it appropriately, SNS leader Jan Slota has told TASR in an interview. "We'll show them here, on streets of Slovakia's capital, that they're an undesirable element… read more

Bugar Says Smer-SD Devalued Patriotism in Recent Months

(SRo, May 1, Sobotne dialogy) Bela Bugar, chairman of the Most-Hid party, speaking on Slovak Radio discussion programme Sobotne dialogy (Saturday Dialogues), ruled out suggestions of making a deal with the opposition ethnic Hungarian SMK closely prior to the June 12 election should both of them be in danger of staying out of the legislature. Bugar confirmed he… read more

Fico on May Day: It\'s Work that Slovakia Currently Needs The Most

Liptovsky Mikulas, May 1 (TASR) - May Day is primarily a holiday of work, and it is work that Slovakia currently needs the most, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said at May Day celebrations in front of the Cierny Orol (Black Eagle) historical building in Liptovsky Mikulas (Zilina region). "I want to thank all working people, regardless of their profession, and also… read more

Opposition: Slovakia\'s Direction Must Change After Election

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Opposition politicians when approached by TASR on Friday to sum up the four years of Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) Government concurred that Slovakia's direction must change significantly after the general election on June 12. "The past four years have been a mix of ups and downs for Slovakia that are related to both the domestic and international… read more

NBS: Slovak Banks Have Invested 1.13% of Assets in Greek Bonds

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Slovak banks have invested 1.13 percent of their overall assets in Greek bonds, central bank (NBS) spokesperson Jana Kovacova told TASR on Friday. The Slovak banks' investments in Greek bonds represent €618 million compared to total assets, which reach €54.726 billion (at the end of March), said Kovacova. According to NBS, the… read more

Fico: Tax Increase Would Do More Harm Than Good

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Even though it's necessary to consolidate public finances in Slovakia in the next few years, any tax increases should be avoided, as this would do more harm than good to Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said at a convention of the Republic Union of Employers (RUZ) on Friday. At the same time, Fico said that it wouldn't be beneficial… read more