Archive of articles - December 1999, page 3

MP's vow party funding reform

Chastened by a recent political funding scandal involving the ruling coalition Christian Democrats, government parties have promised to mend their ways and begin work immediately on an amendment to the Law on Financing of Political Parties.The party financing bill is being prepared by Peter Kresák, a constitutional law expert and a member of parliament for the ruling Party of Civic Understanding. Kresák said on December 8 that the new law would force parties to divulge all of their financial sources, and would likely empower an independent body to levy fines on any party which broke the rules.

Slovaks in Hungary can count on Slovakia's help

Ambitious entreprenuer roars his way into new Lions Club

Huddled in the warm dining room of Hotel Partizan overlooking the snow-laced Low Tatra mountains, three Brezno businessmen, mobile phones close at hand, plot a strategy to establish a Lions Club for their city of 22,000. Needed are the endorsement of the Banská Bystrica club and nine additional members culled from the area's men of means.What attracts people to the US-based Lions Club goes beyond the group's stated mission "to serve and protect the nation's intelligence, liberty and safety." The club also acts as a means for businessmen to exchange contacts in a social but orderly environment.It is this perk that drives Peter Medveď, owner of a wood trading company, in his mission to start a club in central Slovakia's Brezno. "This town needs something that can get businessmen to communicate with each other in a positive way," he said. "It's not just about making contacts, though of course that's beneficial, but about helping people in need."

Roma orphans swell homes

The economic and social plight of Slovakia's Roma population has made international headlines over the past two years, as pictures of Romany asylum seekers lining up at western European borders have caught the imagination of the public.While many Slovak and western officials have doubted the validity of the Roma's asylum demands, even obscure social statistics show that Romanies live in a far different social environment than their non-Roma compatriots.Some of the most revealing data concern 'osvojenie' orphans - children put up for adoption after being taken from their biological parents by social workers who have decided that the parents are not adequately providing for, and therefore lose all legal rights to, their children.

Diplomats trounce cabinet in football

Forget the recent Under-21 matches against the Russians. This was the football match the Slovaks really wanted to win: the government versus a Rest of the World diplomatic team. However, diplomatic the diplomats were not. As the legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankley once said, "Some people think football is life and death. They're wrong. It's much more important than that."So on Friday, December 3 we witnessed a bone-crunching duel between a team led by Deputy Prime Minister Ľubomír Fogaš and the challengers, co-captained by the British and Turkish Ambassadors. The first half started slowly, with both teams probing the opposing defences. But the game was ignited when a dazzling solo effort by Anil Cicek for Turkey ended in a powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Yearly retail sales down for second consecutive month

Trading in VSŽ shares resumed on December 8

Košice: Hockey champs turn to chumps

The Košice hockey franchise has suffered through many losing seasons. But after being crowned Slovak ExtraLiga Champions last year, it looked like success in the country's big league had been secured for years to come.A glimpse at this year's standings after 27 matches, however, tells another story. In one of the most remarkable collapses in Slovak hockey history, last season's champs are now dead last with only three victories and 11 points.How did it happen? How did the best team in the league suddenly find itself outscored 61 to 127? For the answer we have to go back to 1996.

Adopting a Slovak child: A beginners guide

The Železná studienka detský domov (orphanage) for infants younger than three years of age in Bratislava has been housing orphans since 1952. But director Mária Krausová, who has run the orphanage for nine years, says that she doesn't want them."This is not a home for children," she said. "We want them for as few days as possible. We want them to have a real home."Unfortunately, that dream is not always realised. Valéria Popeláková, the director of an office of the Centre for Counselling and Psychological Services (CCPS) in downtown Bratislava, said that every year there are more children needing homes in Slovakia than potential parents wanting to adopt a child.

Anti-drug fund distributes 7.8 million crowns

SCA hygiene expects 35 million crown profit

NATO delegation visits Slovakia to talk security

Letter to the Editor: Customers have to stand up for their rights

Another trade union protest in Bratislava

Document

The following is an address delivered by Max van der Stoel, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), at the International Conference on HumanRights of the Visegrad 4 Countries, Bratislava, December 10, 1999.

Crime in Slovakia: It's that Chinaman again

This has been a year of big goals for the government: a solid macro-economic turnaround, the restoration of political stability and a series of foreign policy triumphs culminating in an all-but-certain invitation from the EU to begin entry negotiations.But while the score may be five-nil for Slovakia's improved reputation abroad, a closer analysis of the game footage at home reveals that domestic problems may be gaining momentum as the government approaches the second half of its four-year term. Leading the pack of troubles is sure to be crime and personal safety.

Parliament begins year 2000 state budget debate

Cabinet selects 12 candidates for state orders

Slovak cabinet approves picks for FNM top posts