Archive of articles - July 1999, page 2

Romanies flee to hesitant Finland

Mass confusion and allegations of conspiracy have followed on the heels of a recent exodus of Slovak Romanies to Finland on the eve of that country's assession to the EU presidency.The arrival of 1,069 Romanies, seeking asylum from unfavourable economic and political conditions and discrimination, resulted in the imposition of a visa requirement for Slovak citizens July 6. Their charges of discrimination and racial attacks are raising questions about Slovakia's EU readiness and may complicate Slovakia efforts at EU fast-track status.

VW plans industrial zone with 1,000 employees in Bratislava

VSŽ negotiates capital entry by US Steel

The financial skies may finally be clearing for eastern Slovak steel maker VSŽ, which on July 7-8 held talks in London with US Steel and appeared close to a deal on a capital entry by the American firm. And as VSŽ President Gabriel Eichler boarded the plane to meet his US Steel counterpart, Paul Wilhelm, another piece of good news was delivered - the Slovak government is close to arranging a standstill agreement for VSŽ to keep its creditors at bay and allow the US Steel deal to go ahead.The London talks represent a victory of sorts for Eichler, a former Bank of America executive who was brought in last December to help VSŽ get back on track after defaulting on a $35 million syndicated loan the month before. Eichler was elected to a six-month term, during which he sold off non-core businesses owned by VSŽ and improved transparency at the firm.

EBRD wants to get heavily involved in Slovak privatisation

Bloody double murder shocks Dubliner Pub

A gunman opened fire in Bratislava's Dubliner Irish Pub on July 7 at 21:00, killing two men and injuring another, said Bratislava Police spokesman Jaroslav Sahula. One of the victims, 30-year-old Ján Š. of Bratislava, died at the scene while the other, 26-year-old Tomaš A. of Bratislava, died in hospital at noon on July 8. Marian Š., the 33-year-old brother of Ján Š., was shot in the shoulder and was not seriously injured.According to Sahula, the two brothers had been drinking in the Irish Pub when the gunman walked in and sat down at their table. The conversion then became heated and soon erupted into "physical contact. The gunmen then pulled a pistol and fired three shots at the brothers, fatally striking Ján Š. with two bullets and hitting Marian Š with the third.

Letter to the Editor: British immigration policy borders on harassment

Slovak sappers likely to leave for Kosovo instead of Albania

Letter to the Editor: More baseball, please

Art Spotlight

Michalský dvor Gallery 1 - 'Hans Pfrommer, Armin Kehrer, Armin Subke: Everything will be Allright' . Michalská 3, Tel.: 54 41 10 79, open daily except Mon., 13:00-18:00. Ends July 25.One of Bratislava's most important private galleries, large in influence if not in square meters, opened the month of July with a vibrant exhibition of three young German painters born in the 1960's.The featured trio studied together at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart and have since exhibited their work internationally as a team. Apart from their paintings and collages, they also produce some experimental music and literature. Together, they reflect on the modern condition in a way which often blends irony with a chilling sense of the emotional void of the modern age and post-WWII Germany.

Quote of the Week

"There was blood everywhere. The TV crews were there before the ambulances came."

Letter to the Editor: Corruption still begging to be investigated

Presidents welcome warmer relations

PRAGUE- The presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovakia on July 7 embarked on a new era of cordiality more than six years after Czechoslovakia's peaceful but prickly "Velvet Divorce".Slovak President Rudolf Schuster, in Prague on his first trip abroad since being sworn in June, and his Czech host, Vaclav Havel, pledged frequent visits to improve ties which had glazed over in the frosty post-split period."The possibilities we have are not being fully used. We've known each other a long time, there are no language barriers, companies know each other," Schuster said at a joint news conference.

German bearings plant to bring 1,000 jobs to Kysuce

Around Slovakia

Pilgrimage pays homage to Holy MotherMating wallcreepersInternational Folk Festival

1H99 budget deficit 7.14 billion Sk, under half of full year projected total

Cabinet provides 100 million DEM loan guarantee for PPC energy generator

Slovaks take gold at Indoor Hockey Championships

Quote of the Week

"Probably."

Presidential Palace Garden opening postponed