Archive of articles - February 2002, page 6

Verheugen supports ‘big bang’ expansion for Nato

Salt works goes to domestic buyer

EU to applicant countries: Not one euro more

Slovakia falling off EU pace

SPP sale OK: cabinet

State carrier drops rates to meet competition

HZDS wants new faces

KDH names post-election partners

US Steel to make Czech move

Government to sit on SPP

Danes talk farm subsidies

Police investigating AgriMin official

Nurses fleeing low pay

Problems mount as EU sends warning

UNRESOLVED privatisation disputes, recalls of top ministers and financial scandals are affecting Slovakia's chances of entering the European Union, according to the Deputy Prime Minister for Integration.Speaking just days after it was suggested Slovakia is viewed as a "problem" candidate state by some EU representatives, Mária Kadlečíková warned of concern in Brussels over the sale of gas giant Slovenský plynárenský priemysel (SPP), non-transparent transactions with state shares and the recent removal of Brigita Schmögnerová as Finance Minister.

VW promises new factory, more cars

Roma demand asylum in Norway

Olympic hockey dream dashed at Salt Lake

TEAM captain Róbert Petrovický's voice trembled as he described the Slovak Olympic hockey squad's elimination from competition at the Salt Lake City Winter Games."This was supposed to be the high point of my career," he said. "I was really emotional when I was carrying the flag of the Slovak Olympic delegation into the stadium. Unfortunately, the powers that be in the National Hockey League decided, for the sake of a few days' business receipts, that the world was not going to see some of the best hockey players on the planet, such as [Slovak forward] Peter Bondra."Speaking after a 6:6 tie with Latvia on February 10, Petrovický expressed bitterness at an Olympic system that required Slovakia to play three preliminary round games without many of the 29 Slovak nationals who play in the NHL, the world's premiere league.

Pensioner beats conductor

Troubled Sario investment agency gets another director

FORMER Eurotel boss Artur Bobovnický has been named as the latest head of Sario, Slovakia's beleaguered investment agency. Bobovnický was appointed by Economy Minister Ľubomír Harach on January 29.Sario, a key instrument in promoting exports and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Slovakia has suffered a number of operational difficulties since its founding in 2000.While significant increases in FDI were made during that time, conflicts with the Economy Ministry, a shortage of financing and the lack of a clear mandate have prevented Sario from becoming the one-stop investment shop that it was created to be.