Archive of articles - August 1999, page 6

Minister quits after law violations

Telecom Minister Gabriel Palacka resigned "with a clean conscience" on August 8, finally succumbing after weeks of intense political and media pressure. Palacka had been the target of corruption allegations over his role in such cases as the selection of a privatisation advisor for the state-run telecom monopoly Slovenské Telekomunikácie (ST)."In the past few weeks, I have been forced to spend most of my time and energy in countering various attacks and unfounded accusations," Palacka said at a news conference the day he resigned. "Under such conditions it is not possible to lead the ministry responsibly, and concentrate on solving its problems."

Jánošík folk festival draws 30,000

More flood aid needed for agriculture

New Telecom Law calls for separate market regulator

Slovakia's current Telecommunications Law is set to receive a major overhaul, said Telecom Ministry officials, and a new law should be enacted by the end of this year. The new version is expected to create an independent body to regulate the Slovak telecom market, as well as to update a law that is currently not up to European Union standards.The current law was originally drafted in 1964, and was revised slightly in 1993 following the break-up of the former Czechoslovakia, said Milan Luknár, director of the Telecom Ministry's Post and Telecommunications Section. Since 1995, Luknár said, the ministry has been trying to revise the law with no concrete results.But now, with the privatisation of the state-run telecom monopoly Slovenské Telekomunikácie (ST) drawing ever closer, Luknár said the ministry felt a sense of urgency to have a new law drafted this year and in force before a foreign investor is chosen.

Small firms making little headway

Ten years after the 1989 revolution and the demise of the command economy in Slovakia, people trying to start and run their own small firms here complain that taxes, interest rates and secondary debt are driving them out of business.Daniel S., a 27 year-old businessman from the central Slovak town of Zvolen, tried to launch a small retail business for office stationery in 1994. With what he believed was a good business plan, he bought and reconstructed a building he meant to turn into a store.

Budget deficit 11.24 billion Sk seven months into 1999

Letter to the Editor: Romany remarks offensive

Slovak activist awarded in US, snubbed at home

For Michal Kravčik, a grass-roots environmentalist based in Košice, it was easier last April to get a handshake from US First Lady Hillary Clinton than from current Slovak President Rudolf Schuster.In that heady month, Kravčik was flown to the United States to receive the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world's largest prize for grass-roots environmentalists. Besides the $125,000 award and the honour of being selected as the year's top European candidate, he was also congratulated by the American President and his wife.It was the second such major honour for Kravčik, whose non-governmental organization, People and Water, won a European Union prize last year and was feted by British Prime Minster Tony Blair.

State budget outline for 2000 forcasts 2% fiscal deficit

Poll shows most voters want to see cabinet reshuffled

Slovnaft blames 3 billion Sk first half loss on currency

Mushroom-eaters poisoned

Major factory investment promises relief

With June national unemployment figures around 18% and some of the country's hardest-hit regions accusing the government of sitting on its hands, the July 21 laying of a foundation stone for a new plant owned by the German company INA gave the cabinet some timely relief from its critics.The new factory, which is to be built in Kysucké Nové Mesto in northern Slovakia, represents an investment of some 180 million German marks (4.5 billion Slovak crowns). The venture, a rolling bearings factory which will export 85% of its production and employ 1,600 workers, will be under the ownership of the German company INA Walzlager Schaeffer.

Judge caught with drugs and weapons

Galleries

Bibiana - 'The Marionette and the Mask of the Year'. Slovak stage designers and some fine artists present the best marionettes and masks made this year, in co-operation with the Sokol Hravran Agency. Ends August 29. International House of Art for Children, Panská 41, Tel. 54 43 13 14. Open daily except Mon., 10:00-18:00.Mirbach Palace - 'The Ghosts'. Paintings and sculptures are presented under the title "The Vision and Fantasy of Fine Art". Gloom and depression became a theme in Slovak fine art by the end of 19th century. After that point, the themes of fantasy and depression became a phenomenon, especially noted in the works of Slovak painter Ladislav Mednyánszky. Ends August 29. Františkánske nám.

Norwegian government imposes visa regime for Slovaks

Slovnaft hikes fuel prices, blames expensive crude oil

EIB gives railways 200 million euros to upgrade

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend 200 million euros (9 billion Slovak crowns) to Slovakia's state railway company ŽSR as part of a wider strategy to develop the central European railway corridor.The ŽSR will be issued 120 million euros of the loan in 1999, with the other 80 million arriving in the year 2000. The loan is a 15-year credit at a fixed interest rate of 5.05%, and bears a Slovak government guarantee.Deputy Finance Minister Vladimil Podstránsky explained that in order to get the loan, the government had to promise to restructure ŽSR, including cutting 25 to 30% of its 48,500-strong workforce in the next seven years. The ŽSR has already announced plans to dismiss 10,000 employees over the next two or three years.

ČSOB Supervisory Board okays sale of Slovakia's stake in ČSOB