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New Slovak Ambassador to China Presents Credentials to Hu Jintao

Beijing/Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - New Slovak ambassador to China Frantisek Dlhopolcek on Friday presented credentials to China's President Hu Jintao, Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on the same day. During a friendly talk, Dlhopolcek emphasised that Slovakia considers the bilateral relations between Slovakia and China as trouble-free… read more

Bauer: Slovakia in Need of Comprehensive Employment Strategy

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - In terms of the EU's new 'Europe 2020' strategy, Slovakia should mainly concentrate on the sphere of employment, especially employment of the young, education and investments in science and research, Slovak MEP Edit Bauer (ethnic-Hungarian SMK) told TASR on Friday. Bauer was speaking during a seminary for journalists organised by the Information… read more

Beblavy: No Money to Be Reimbursed for Social Enterprises by EC

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - The European Commission auditors suggest that no money spent on Slovakia's social enterprises are to be reimbursed, says the so-called draft of the December's audit of social enterprises. The reason behind their stance is the unpermitted amount of state aid, as 95 percent of the start-up capital for the social enterprises was provided by… read more

Chovan: Slovakia Won\'t Go to Court Over €3-million Fine

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - The Slovak Agriculture Ministry won't pursue legal action against the European Commission over a €3.03-million fine imposed on Slovakia for failing to supervise agro-subsidies properly between 2004-06, Agriculture Minister Vladimir Chovan said at a press conference on Friday. "We analysed the possible outcomes of asking the Slovak Government… read more

Slovak Companies to Take Part in Gas Projects in Serbia

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - Slovak companies will take part in the construction of the Aleksandrovac–Novi Pazar regional gas pipeline and underground gas reservoirs in Serbia, according to an agreement signed on Friday by representatives of Serbian gas company SRBIJAGAS, Novi Sad and Slovak company NSG Technology, Gbely, which was brokered by the Slovak Investment and Trade… read more

Beblavy: Tunnelling and Clientelism in Place in Revuca\'s Social Enterprise

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - An audit carried out by the European Commission (EC) has revealed that tunnelling of public money and clientelism are in place in the 'Revucky socialny podnik' social enterprise in Revuca (Banska Bystrica region), SDKU-DS MP candidate Miroslav Beblavy told TASR on Friday. "They (the auditors) uncovered several problems in public procurement… read more

Foreign Ministry Notes Anniversary of Slovak-Hungarian Treaty

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - It is 15 years on Friday since the signing of the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations and Friendly Co-operation between Slovakia and Hungary, Slovakia's Foreign Ministry noted on the same day. "The signing of the treaty in Paris on March 19, 1995 wasn't only a significant two-sided act, but without any doubts it also had a broad international… read more

European Commission Asks for Further Information on Road-Toll Tender

Brussels, March 19 (TASR-correspondent) - The issue of the correctness of the proceedings in selecting Slovakia's road-toll provider has again caught the attention of the European Commission (EC), which has asked Slovakia to provide further information related to the tender, Chantal Hughes, spokesperson for the Internal Market and Services Commissioner, said on Friday. "The… read more

Yanukovych Invites Gasparovic to Visit Ukraine

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - Newly-elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in a telephone call on Friday invited Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic to visit Ukraine in the second quarter of 2010. The Slovak president welcomed the invitation. "There's a lot of questions that we both want answered. Questions that will concern our good relations, mutual help and the… read more

SNS Marks 71st Anniversary of Slovak-Hungarian Little War

Spisska Nova Ves, March 19 (TASR) - The co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) at Spisska Nova Ves airport (Kosice region) on Friday commemorated the 71st anniversary of the so-called Slovak-Hungarian Little War fought between March 24-31, 1939, in which Hungary attacked Slovakia over unsettled territorial claims without a declaration of war. SNS chairman Jan Slota ceremoniously… read more

Sadiki Facing Accusations of Serious Drugs Crimes

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - Slovakia's prosecution authorities said on Friday that Kosovan Albanian Baki Sadiki, who is a resident of Slovakia and is currently in hiding, is suspected of committing an exceptionally serious crime concerning the illegal production of narcotic and psychotropic substances and toxic precursors, as well as holding them and drug-trafficking. … read more

President Gasparovic Vetoes Patriot Act

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Friday returned the Patriot Act drawn up by the Slovak National Party (SNS) to Parliament. "I won't sign it for pragmatic reasons. It's got nothing to do with the content of the Patriot Act per se, as I have no objections there," said Gasparovic, adding that he was concerned that schools wouldn't be ready for… read more

Commission for General Election Takes Oath Before Prime Minister

Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - Eighteen members of the Central Election Commission (UVK) for the general election due on June 12 made their oaths before Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday, TASR learnt on the same day. The commission's members were nominated by the 18 parties that have submitted slates for the plebiscite to UVK's records clerk Livia Skultetyova. Based… read more

Lajcak Visits Armenia as Part of Tour of South Caucasus

Yerevan/Bratislava, March 19 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak visiting Armenia on Thursday as part of his whistle-stop tour of countries in the South Caucasus this week agreed with his counterpart Edward Nalbandian on the need for more intensive bilateral ties between Armenia and Slovakia, the Foreign Ministry said in Bratislava on Friday. The two signed… read more

KDH: Figel Calls on Cuban Government to Release Dissident from Jail

Bratislava, March 18 (TASR) - Leader of the Christian Democrat KDH Jan Figel on Thursday called on Cuban government to release political prisoner Alfredo Dominguez Batista from jail, saying the imprisoned man's health condition has reportedly worsened dramatically over the past months, now being in danger of his life. Figel is also being reported as having symbolically… read more