Archive of articles - July 1999, page 6

Trade gap down 18% five months into 1999

Slovak income from tourism down in 1998

Under-21 football team poised for qualification

After six qualifying-round matches, the Slovak Under-21 football team has established itself as a force to be reckoned with at next year's European Championships. Standing at the top of their group, the Slovaks aim not just to qualify for the European competition but to finish in the top five, meaning that they would qualify for the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.The qualification round for the European Championships began last August and will conclude in October 1999. The Slovak squad started in impressive fashion by racing out of the gate to win their first four matches, firmly entrenching themselves at the top of their group standings. The Slovak team is now almost assured of qualifying in spite of a recent rash of injuries which has forced them to rely more on inexperienced players and has resulted in a loss and a draw in their last two matches.

Letter to the Editor

Sale of Nafta Gbely stake catches cabinet off guard

The sale of controlling stakes in Slovakia's most lucrative gas storage companies - Nafta Trade and Nafta Gbely - to US energy giant Cinergy on June 22 shocked the government and put in doubt the cabinet's plans to consolidate the Nafta firms under the state-owned gas distributor, SPP.The purchase was announced on the evening of June 22 by the Czech firm Konsorcium IPB-All, which said it had made the acquisition for Cinergy. The purchase price was not specified, but media reports said that Cinergy would invest $127 million into the firms immediately.

Cabinet passes EU-friendly minority language law despite objections of Hungarian party

Without the votes of the three ministers for the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), the Slovak Cabinet approved the draft law on minority-language use on June 23. The accepted version follows the recommendations of the OSCE and also some proposals from the ethnic Hungarians' party.Speaking for the Hungarian leadership, SMK vice chairman and Vice Prime Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Pál Csáky said that while the draft did make some concessions to his party, it did not go far enough to merit his support. Sticking largely to the issue of official communication, the draft does not govern the use of minority languages in education, culture, and media, which is the SMK's most serious concern, he said.

Around Slovakia

Slovak singer in critical condition"Fairly freakish" weatherMusical birds on pausePlane crashes en route to PolandLexa offended by invitation

Fun in Wineville at the Onion Fest

Pezinok, a small wine town situated only 20 km from Bratislava, will again be an interesting place this year for those seeking a cultural adventure during the traditional 12th International Cibulák Theatre Festival, or "Onion Fest '99".The festival begins Friday afternoon, June 25, with theatre and music performances by the Gunagu Theatre, the Funny Fellows music group, and the theatre group Dante from Prague. The day will close with a late night concert by the Slovak group "Žena z lesoparku" starting at 23:00.

HZDS wants referendum on language bill, critics allege populist ploy

Slovakia's largest opposition party, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) of former Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar, has announced it will try to call a referendum on two issues crucial to the nation's image in the West - a minority language law and the proposed sale of state-owned monopolies.The HZDS said on June 17 it wanted within a fortnight to collect the 350,000 signatures needed to have a referendum called on the two issues. The petition takes direct aim at two bills - a new language law and an amendment to the privatisation act - which the government has passed on to parliament for discussion before July 9.Ruling coalition politicians say that the petition drive is meant to embarrass the government in front of the EU, which has made a minority language law one of the preconditions for membership in western structures.

Economy Ministry: Mochovce nuclear plant not to be completed

Plan for ST privatization ready by end of July

Hamžík wants SOP to remain independent

After a year-and-a-half on the political scene, the Party of Civic Reconciliation (SOP) held its second national congress on June 26 to elect a new chairman and state its intention to remain an independent party focusing on promoting unity within the government.As the sole candidate for the chairmanship, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Pavol Hamžík was expected to be named to the SOP leadership post when The Slovak Spectator went to press. The party's last chairman, Rudolf Schuster, left the chair after being elected to the Slovak presidency May 29.

Letter to the Editor: British Embassy doing its best to make visas "pain-free"