Archive of articles - October 1999, page 4

Devín Banka thrives on controversy

Few banks on the Slovak market have taken as much abuse as Devín Banka in 1999. Jointly owned by Slovak and Russian interests, Devín has been described by a former Slovak intelligence agent as "the Trojan horse of Russian interests in Slovakia." After again being chosen to arrange the settlement of Russia's debt to Slovakia, Devín was accused in the media of being under the protection of the former communist SDĽ, a ruling coalition party.And yet, Devín Banka chief Ľubomír Kanis says that the attention - however unwelcome - has actually coincided with an upturn in the bank's fortunes.

Slovak Rail to increase train speeds

Slovnaft fights polluter rap

Under the former communist regime in the 1960's and 1970's, the Slovnaft oil refinery was a polluting blight on the Slovak capital of Bratislava. From its site on the south-east edge of the city, the huge refinery clouded the air with a dirty smog and dumped waste into the Danube River.The image of Slovnaft as a titanic polluter has steadily softened since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, however. Everyone - government officials, Slovnaft brass and environmental activists - agrees that the oil refinery has made great strides in reducing the amounts of toxins and waste materials it releases into the surrounding environment.

Slovak footballers return triumphant from Azerbajzan

Two Slovak football teams returned from the Azerbajzani capital on October 10 with victories under their belts but very different emotions in their hearts. The Slovak national football side notched a slim 1-0 victory but was still eliminated from the upcoming Euro 2000 Championship. The Under-21 football squad, meanwhile, defeated Azerbajzan 3-0 to win its qualifying group for the European championships and keep alive its goal of qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Excerpt from the 1999 EC Report on Slovakia

Thanks to the changes introduced since September 1998, Slovakia now fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria. The independence of the judiciary has improved de facto but needs to be consolidated de jure, notably through an amendment to the constitution eliminating the probation period for judges and modifying the nomination and removal procedures.Continued efforts are needed to sustain the stable functioning of democratic institutions, to step up the fight against crime and corruption and to protect minority rights. Particular attention should be paid to improving the situation of the Roma and to fight discriminatory attitudes in society.

Fewer foreign students attend Slovak schools as violence rises

Columbus Igboanusi, a Nigerian serving as legal counselor to the Association of African Students in Slovakia, says 17 African students, about half of those currently studying here, have suffered physical attacks since the beginning of the year. "There is a situation of fear, especially when our students have to travel on public transportation" he says. "Students have been badly injured by skinheads; some have had teeth knocked out."Figures from the Education Ministry confirm a sharp drop in recent years in the number of students from Third World countries enrolled in Slovak institiutions. The number of students from Africa dropped from 169 in 1995 to 90 last year. Those from Arab countries dropped from 231 to 157.

Beating scares foreign students

Three large white males, two with shaved heads and all with tattooed knuckles, attacked a 26-year old Peruvian student October 9 in what appears to be the latest in a recent series of shocking racial beatings in the nation's capital. The latest incident occurred across the street from the Bratislava Regional Court, and provoked added outrage when police intercepted and delayed a vehicle carrying the injured victim to hospital.

Bathtub maker Estap working up steam

Proposed car taxes cause public uproar

Cabinet at odds over budget draft for 2000

12.67% stake in insurer Slovenská Poisťovňa traded

Health Ministry wants higher state insurance payments

All Nazi victims now to get compensation

Czech-Slovak bank swap eases feud

A deal likely to cement over cracked relations between former federal partners Slovakia and the Czech Republic was reached in Prague on October 7 between Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman and his Slovak counterpart, Mikuláš Dzurinda.After seven years of living apart, the two countries appear to have reached agreement on the division of mutual property left over from the 1993 division of Czechoslovakia. The two leaders agreed that the division of the remaining joint assets will be finalised on November 24.

Slovak jet engine maker inks deal with Rolls-Royce

HZDS selects chief editor for party's new daily

Laudatory EC report endorses Slovak bid

A report on Slovakia released by the European Comission (EC) on October 13 gave a giant boost to the country's aim of being one of the first central and eastern European nations to join the European Union.The EC recommended that all 15 EU member countries invite Slovakia to open entry negotiation talks, the first time in Slovakia's history that such a strong endorsement has come from a European Union executive body."I want to thank the Slovak government for the democratic developments since last year's parliamentary election," said Walter Rochel, the head of the EC Delegation to Slovakia, at a press conference on October 14. According to Rochel, Slovakia now fully complies with the 'Copenhagen criteria' - the crucial political requirements for EU membership.

Footwear maker Gabor boosts output in Slovakia

Zeman boos Slovak beer

During its first official visit to the Czech Republic, a Slovak delegation led by Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda was tought a true diplomatic lesson by Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman."I ask our Slovak friends, please don't ruin the taste of your consumers with Slovak beer," Zeman reportedly said at an October 7 meeting with businessmen from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.Zeman said that beer from the northern Slovak city of Poprad was good only for soaking dentures in. He proposed that Slovaks import Czech beer instead of drinking their own domestic brands.