Archive of articles - January 2003, page 9

Family benefits not capped as claimed

Rybniček poised to take STV leadership

Police claim progress against organised crime

Reader feedback: End Bigotry

Independent Slovakia turns 10

NEW NATO and European Union (EU) invitee Slovakia has learned its lessons of democracy the hard way, observers agreed as the young post-communist state celebrated its 10th anniversary at the beginning of this year.The celebrations of the anniversary, which always coincides with New Year revelry, were no bigger this year than any other since independence, with the usual number of people gathering in the main squares of towns and villages across the country to watch firework displays.As the clean up began in the cold light of day, analysts and public figures took the opportunity to reflect on the past decade and take stock of the country's progress.

Fico: Early elections a possibility

Dzurinda lays charges against crime boss

PRIME MINISTER Mikuláš Dzurinda laid charges of disturbing the peace against Mikuláš Černák, a reputed gangland boss recently released from jail, in a holiday skiing incident in which Černák allegedly forced his way into a ski lift queue."I saw a person, who is sadly well known in Slovakia, terrorise people waiting for the lift. I saw Mr Černák, holding a ski pole in his hand, force his way through [the queue] by pushing into people and physically threatening them. It was a very unpleasant incident," said Dzurinda, who with his bodyguards had been only metres away when the alleged crime took place.Dzurinda originally laid the charges on December 27, and along with his bodyguards and two Polish skiers gave evidence before local police. A police investigator then declared a nationwide search for Černak, who had been let out of jail in November after serving only half of an 8.5-year sentence for extortion and tax evasion.

Supreme Court chief justice re-elected amid storm of criticism

THE RE-ELECTION of Štefan Harabin to his second five-year term as Supreme Court chief justice dashed hopes of reform in Slovakia's judicial system, with critics declaring that Harabin has a history of covering up rather than facing problems.Harabin's re-election was described as "bad news" by Justice Minister Daniel Lipšic, who was "a bit sceptical" that the country's top court under Harabin's leadership would be open to the reforms he thinks are needed to rid the judiciary of its reputation for bribery and tardy court proceedings.On December 20 Harabin was endorsed by 10 out of 18 members of the Judicial Council (SR), an authority entitled to decide on personnel matters in the judiciary. Two SR members did not cast ballots, so Harabin beat his only opponent in the race, Supreme Court Justice Sergej Kohút, by four votes. The election also automatically reconfirms Harabin as head of the SR.

No rights lesson from Schuster

North, west fear more flooding

What they said about Julo

Milan Lasica, Satinský's acting partner and friend:"Even though I sensed certain things, I was shocked by the announcement [of Satinský's death]. My friend and partner has departed and a part of me has disappeared with him. I am now incomplete. Julo was a renaissance personality, a person with great knowledge and an incomparable sense of humour. He made me laugh, time and time again for over 40 years - even last Monday, when we were together for the last time."

HZDS crisis reaching peak

Two countries that share a past and a future

JANUARY 1, 2003, marked the 10th anniversary of the existence of two countries - the Czech and the Slovak Republics - but it also marked the end of a union that had lasted for 68 years.Ten years ago, opinion polls showed that the majority of citizens on both sides of the border opposed division, not only because of their shared history but also because they were afraid of what might follow. A referendum was never held on the issue, and the split was agreed upon by the two national governments."It was perhaps because of this that the end of Czechoslovakia was connected with certain bitter aftertaste and sense of unease. No significant group of citizens protested against the division then, but no significant group celebrated it either," said Czech president Václav Havel in this New Year's address to the nation.

Roma writer dies

THE DISTINGUISHED Roma writer and playwright Elena Lacková died at the age of 81 at a retirement home in Košice on January 2.A leading light of original Roma literature in Slovakia, Lacková, was awarded the Pribina Cross of Second Class for her contribution to developing the cultural life of Slovak Roma. Her documentary work on the fate of Roma during the holocaust was acknowledged when she was awarded the Chatam Sofer memorial medal on her 80th birthday.A native of Veľký Šariš in the eastern Prešov region, she chronicled the wartime suffering of 400 local Roma in her play Burning Gypsy Camp. Written after the war, it was first performed by a travelling Roma theatre troupe based in Veľký Šariš. In the 1950s the play was staged by the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov, and in May 2000 by the first professional Roma theatre, Romathan, in Košice.

Class Warfare

A FEW weeks into my Introduction to the Slovak Language class, war broke out. Civil war, that is - teacher versus students - with no peaceful solution in sight.Our teacher was a trim and rather severe looking woman called Martina (not her real name). Martina did not have a face or personality that smiled easily; in fact, her down-turned mouth seemed fixed in a permanent grimace. To a group of Americans brought up with the principle of 'smile whether you mean it or not', Martina's dour expression made her slightly suspect.On the first day of class Martina introduced herself not only as our language teacher but also as a cultural liaison, someone who would help us adjust to our host country. She encouraged us to discuss with her anything that struck us as odd and we, perhaps foolishly, accepted her offer at face value.

Did Harabin pay to be re-elected?

THE DECEMBER 20 vote that returned Śtefan Harabin to the position of Supreme Court chief justice has been at the centre of a scandal, with the winner accused of paying high bonuses to two Supreme Court judges who nominated him to run for the post.According to the privately run TV Markíza, Milan Lalík and Juraj Seman of the Supreme Court received bonuses of Sk200,000 (5,050 euro) and Sk190,000 (4,800 euro) respectively shortly before the December 20 vote.Other judges at the top court, including Sergej Kohút, Harabin's only opponent in the race, received considerably smaller bonuses, ranging from Sk10,000 (250 euro) to Sk45,000 (1,100 euro). Harabin, however, categorically denied that he was rewarding his faithful.

Reader feedback: Slovakia is not alone

Dollar falls below 40 crowns

THE US dollar fell to below 40 Slovak crowns at the turn of the new year as a weak US economy, fears of a war with Iraq, and news of North Korea's nuclear programme pushed the American currency to an almost four-year low against the firming crown.Domestic money market dealers said they expected the dollar to fall lower against the crown this year, a sign of both the dollar's weakness and the crown's growing strength."The American currency hasn't been helped by several years of economic problems," said Vladimír Gajdoš, a dealer at commercial bank Slovenská Sporiteľňa.

Health reform takes next step