Archive of articles - September 2002, page 10

Dzurinda expects right wing government

Embraco promises another $20 million investment

Gabor expects shoe production to double

Church offers election advise

Slovakia finds solace in 9/11

AS SLOVAKIA prepared to honour the first anniversary of murderous attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, foreign policy experts said the country's efforts to join Western alliances had indirectly been aided by the international response to the terrorist actions.The attacks, which killed over 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, strengthened resolve in both the European Union and Nato to bring new members into alliances supporting democratic principles, diplomats said.The change had made it increasingly likely that Slovakia would be invited to join both the EU and Nato at summits later this year, despite continued fears that democracy had not yet taken firm root in the young central European nation.

SMK - Trust unites us

Here, kitty kitty: Another election programme

I RETURNED last night from work (take note, Spectator owners: at 1:30 a.m.) to find a letter taped to my door. I opened a beer and sat down at the kitchen table to find it was a complaint from my neighbour, who has been harassed by our male cat. In a tremulous hand she described how she suffers from allergies and high blood pressure, neither of which have been soothed by our Spunky and his habit of scrabbling through her bedroom window.I almost laughed aloud. I could just imagine it - she works nights, sleeps days, and wakes regularly to find this arrogant morsel either sitting on her face or washing his whiskers on her pillow. He doesn't even bother to purr.But what am I to do? How do you teach a cat not to wander? If I kicked his arse he would only spend more time outside. If I kept the windows shut we would suffocate in the late summer warmth and the miasma from his litter box. Should I erect screens? Should she?

Health workers leaving for better pay, respect

OVER the last month reports of growing departures by Slovak nurses and doctors for better conditions primarily to the Czech Republic have added to worries about the future of the country's health care system.Slovak medical workers have complained for years that they are underpaid, and that they can only make a living by working overtime in long shifts that may stretch up to 36 hours.Added to spiralling debt in the Slovak health care system, and a almost complete lack of reform in the sector since the current government came to power four years ago, the feared medical brain drain has been a major topic of the campaign leading up to September 20-21 elections.

Quote of the Week

Rusko accuses Council of censorship

SDKÚ - A chance for a better life

Crown rise linked to opposition party woes

CHANGING political tides, say analysts, are a big part of the Slovak crown's recovery from three-year lows last spring.While other factors, including increased foreign trade this summer, undoubtedly play a part, the dramatic fall in popularity of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) party of former Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar has helped assuage foreign doubts over the credibility of Slovakia's European ambitions."Until recent political developments, investments in Slovakia were considered very risky," said Marek Senkovič, an analyst with Istrobanka.

Telecom Office to strip Profinet of mobile license

STATE OFFICIALS are weighing calling yet another contest for a third GSM and UMTS mobile service operator following the failure of July tender winner Profinet to pay the first Sk500 million ($11.5 million) installment of its license fee on time.The Telecom Office market regulator announced on September 3 that it would strip Profinet of its operator's license after the firm failed to meet an August 30 payment deadline, which had itself been extended from the original August 14 limit."Failure to make the first payment is a gross infringement of the license conditions," said Telecom Office spokesman Roman Vavro, adding Profinet had 15 days following receipt of the Office's decision to appeal.

Around Slovakia

Female elephants entertain visitorsSlovak Prague helps the Czech capitalCar hits pigs, all dieCoffee billboard stolenWife beats husband to death

Mečiar an election issue only for West

Council of Europe warns Hungary

KDH - Certainty, hope, future

New regional investment offices

2002 budget tight, 2003 questionable