Archive of articles - April 2002, page 12

VW Slovakia on track for 2002 goals

Visions of Slovakia: In search of leaders

Half way through the Dzurinda government's term in office, an academic and a journalist crossed swords over Slovakia's future, or more precisely, who was responsible for producing a vision of it.In an article titled "Crooked mirror: Slovak self-reflection is built on wrong foundations," Zuzana Wienk, a journalist with the Domino Fórum weekly, criticised a book published every year by the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) think tank, called Global Report on Slovakia.Wienk took issue with many things the book did and didn't do, but what stuck out was her remark that the Global Report ought to have given a view of the ideal future of Slovakia, rather than be content with chronicling last year's events. "If public debate over the identity of society is not led by the media, it's a pity. If it's not launched by the intellectual elite, it's a missed chance," she wrote.

Charges against Mojžiš dropped

Top Pick: Mime still bearing gifts

MIME Milan Sládek, 64, was on vacation in Bulgaria in the summer of 1968 when Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invaded his Slovak homeland. With the borders closed, he was unable to return or defend his Bratislava theatre company, which was dissolved by the hard-line communists as "undesirable".While initially a great shock, he says, the famous invasion eventually proved a source of artistic inspiration."We all needed to find a way to cope with the shock the invasion caused us. So, when I got an invitation to move to Göteborg in Sweden, where I had stayed shortly before my Bulgarian vacation, I began to work on a new play as a reaction to the tragic events of 1968," says Sládek.

Dunajservis again takes SPaP in repeat tender

FOR THE second time, the little-known Dunajservis, backed by corporate raiders Penta Group, has won a tender for shipping company Slovenská plavba a prístavy (SPaP). The only other bidder was excluded from the tender in late March, paving the way for the Dunajservis victory.The FNM privatisation agency announced on April 4 that Dunajservis had been selected to buy the agency's nearly 87 per cent stake in SPaP for Sk351 million, which is to be paid in a single instalment within 15 days of the contract's signing.The announcement drew promises of legal action from another tender participant, and claims by one of the government's five member parties that the tender had been rigged in Penta's favour.

Želba firm fighting for life and 1,300 jobs

Slovak crown sets new record

Government to discuss division of SPP sale proceeds next week

September 15 deadline for EU-related laws

SAD bus privatisation gathers pace

Verheugen: Beneš Decrees no obstacle to EU entry

Crown again near record strength

Tender for new jets in July

Sovereignty bill fails by two votes

Government frees funds for Roma

Non-banking clients protest

No more limits on currency

Retail Chain Law passes first reading

Čarnogurský finally presents measures to speed court work