Archive of articles - January 2001, page 3

Around Slovakia

Christian Mandl: State has unique chance with SkyEurope

Slovakia's air industry is considerably lagging behind that of its regional neighbours. Only 16% of Bratislava airport's capacity is currently used. This at a time when the country is trying to promote itself abroad as an investment destination, and drive its economy.The air industry, many have said, could contribute to this if more developed.A change in the situation might be seen, though, with the launching of a new airline, SkyEurope, which has ambitions to start scheduled flights from Bratislava to main European destinations as early as summer this year.

News Briefs

Kováč determined to close under-used Slovak hospitalsJustice Ministry not to stop Biľak prosecutionBelgium could cancel visa regime in AprilLanguages Charter approved by government

Commercial Code revision: Duties and shareholder rights

The last year has begun a consolidation process in the corporate sector. However, efficient legislation which would set duties and rights for companies' representatives based on principles of corporate governance is still missing.On January 17, The Slovak Spectator met with Lucia Žitňanská, a member of the team that has been revising Slovakia's Commercial Code to find out how the changes to the code, which may come into effect as soon as the second half of this year, would affect the corporate sector and bring about a change in the business environment.

Women's issues still getting short shrift

Despite submission of an Equal Opportunities Concept [KRPŽM] to cabinet by the Equal Opportunties department of the Ministry for Labour, Family and Social Affairs, at the end of last year, sociologists, NGO's and women at work have said that the concept itself cannot be expected to bring about major changes unless it is followed by immediate concrete steps, and accompanied by active public discussion of the equality issue in what they say is a traditionally patriarchal society.KRPŽM, a 30 page long concept document which summarises the present situation for women in professional, social, and family spheres, provides recommendations for individual state ministries on how to improve the situation for Slovak women.

Top Pick: Slovak premiere of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The Slovak premiere of Sergej Prokofiev's ballet interpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by the Swiss ballet legend Nicholas Beriozoff (1906- 1996) and performed by the Slovak National Theatre's ballet dancers will take place at 19:00 on Friday, January 19 at the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. The best Slovak ballet dancer and the greatest talent of the year 2000 will also receive the Philip Morris Ballet Flower Award after the performance.

Business Briefs

Bidding starts for non-performing Konsolidačna loansZŤS TEES Martinské Strojárne announces lay-offsSAD bus firms report large loss, interest in saleMiroslav Knitl elected new SP chairmanConstruction of new Danube bridge to start in JulyWili Group declares interest in Slovak Airlines stake

Privatisation litmus tests draw closer

The Economy Ministry has submitted plans to cabinet for the privatisation of three heat companies in what is being seen as a litmus test for the liberalisation of the sector.Lagging behind its regional neighbours in sector liberalisation, the sale of Východoslovenské Energetické Závody (VSE) covering eastern Slovakia, Stredoslovenské Energetické Závody (SSE) covering central Slovakia and Západoslovenské Energetické Závody (ZSE) covering western Slovakia is expected to be a forerunner for other privatisations in the sector.

Around Slovakia

News Briefs

Dzurinda outlines priorities for coming yearMarkant poll shows dip in HZDS supportČarnogurský recovers at Kováčová CentreProsecutor cancels charges against SNS's Moric

VÚB sale closer with EBRD/IFC move

A succesful sale of Slovakia's second largest bank, Všeobecná úverová banka (VÚB), moved a step closer January 4 with news that negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on taking a minority stake in the bank were close to conclusion.Saying the sale of a 20% to 25% stake in the bank as close to conclusion Juraj Renčko, head of the coordination unit for banks' privatisation at the Finance Ministry, said that the two banks' involvement in VÚB would bolster the government's chances of carrying through a successful privatisation.

Shipyard thrown loan lifesaver

The Komárno shipyard Slovenské lodenice is about to receive the kiss of life following confirmation that collapsed shipbuilder Slovenské lodenice Komárno (SLK)'s daughter company Slovenské lodenice Komárno Bratislava (SLKB), formed in October last year to consolidate production, will get a 28.7 million Deutsche mark loan from import-export bank Eximbanka guaranteed by the Slovak government.The loan, which the government had previously refused to guarantee to SLK for fear that the company would default on it, will be used to finish construction of three ships for foreign customers.

On-line register lifts corporate veil

In an effort to speed up the work of courts and improve access to business information in Slovakia, the Justice Ministry January 1 made available on the Internet the full database of the Commercial Register of Slovak companies.The Register allows every Internet user to find information on Slovak companies registered in the Commercial Register, literally in seconds, removing the hassle of going to courts in person and asking for a copy - a process which often takes several hours.

Row over regulator could harm EU bid

The Economy Ministry is locked in what seems set to be tense negotiations over a controversial proposal for a regulatory body which if agreed to, could, critics say, put Slovakia's EU accession in jeopardy.Protests from the Telecommunications Office (TÚ) have drawn attention to the ministry's plans to include the TÚ in the new Networks Regulatory Office which will oversee a number of sectors.

Rusyn religious fight influenced by census

František Krajňák preaches to packed houses, but his work outside the church's stone walls may have a wider impact on his flock. It is also another facet of minority life in Slovakia which stands to be affected by the 2001 census.Krajňák is not only a Greek Orthodox priest, he is a proud member of Slovakia's Rusyn minority. In his parish in the small north-western Slovak city of Medzilaborce - the largest city in Slovakia with a Rusyn majority population - Krajňák is fighting to preserve churches throughout regions with Rusyn populations from what he describes as 'Slovakization'. The battle to keep Ruysn culture from being swallowed by Slovak culture is being lost on many fronts, but Krajňák says this final battlefield is holy ground.

From Massachusetts to a ministry post

With a line forming outside of employees who were going to be reassigned, demoted and fired, it was a day any employer would dread. But it was especially bad for Daniel Lipšic, who at 26 years of age, was half as old as many of the men outside, and new to his job as General Secretary of the Justice Ministry."It was the worst day of my life," remembers Lipšic. "It was horrible."Lipšic could have just as easily been writing a term paper on that afternoon in early 1999 as reshuffling personnel at the Slovak Ministry of Justice. A precocious legal student, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study law at Harvard in 1998. He had been there for only a month when elections brought a new government to Slovakia, and with it a tempting offer to return home.

Info Law awareness queried

Since January 1, people living in Slovakia have had the right to obtain information from all state institutions, including ministries, control offices, local administration offices and parliament, unless the information has been classified.The much anticipated law on free access to information has moved Slovakia further down the path of transparency, making its government more accountable than before, and immediately increasing the transparency of state bureaucrats. The authors of the law have dubbed it a "miracle" in helping Slovakia secure an open and transparent civil society.

Roma unhappy with plans for census

Slovakia's planned 2001 census is still several months away, but some members of Slovakia's minority community have already questioned whether it will be fair.In an open letter to Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda on January 2, Roma leaders complained that the decision to not translate the census form into the Roma language constituted 'clear and significant' discrimination, pointing to plans to distribute bilingual Slovak-Hungarian, Slovak-Rusyn, and Slovak-Ukrainian census forms in some districts.

Community Corner

Austrian Embassy Lecture, Classical Concert and ExhibitionsFrench Institute ExhibitionBahá'í Community ConcertGoethe Institute ExhibitionAlcoholics Anonymous MeetingBratislava Zen Centre