Archive of articles - August 2003, page 7

Schuster's meetings with Kuchma criticized

State increases funds for papal visit

Neo-nazis publish list of enemies

Mafia slaying

THE KILLING of entrepreneur Ján Takáč may signal a start of fresh fighting between different organised crime groups in Slovakia's capital, say insiders.Takáč was shot on July 30 as he was getting into his car in front of an apartment building in Bratislava where he lived. An unknown perpetrator fired at Takáč from an automatic weapon. The man was killed by 10 bullets, a total of 15 shots are believed to have been fired.Takáč (37) had previously survived a shooting in one of Bratislava's nightclubs in October 2000, when his bodyguard was shot in the neck. The man behind the attack that occurred three years ago - Tibor V. - was sentenced to four years for inflicting bodily harm. He was released on parole on the day Takáč was killed.

Unions threaten early elections

Events countrywide

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Slovakia takes step to EU market

Cartoon

Prison expands to take prisoners without parole

Ministries find EU positions hard to fill

HUNTING down qualified bureaucrats to deal with the EU agenda is proving difficult for Slovak ministries as they near the deadline for filling new posts ahead of Slovakia's entry into the economic bloc.Low wages in the state sector are widely blamed as the root cause for not filling so-called Euro-bureaucrat positions ahead of the August 31 deadline. More than 400 of the 1,300 posts remain vacant.The public servants will be expected to work in various ministries programming special EU projects, and will be crucial to the country's effective communication with EU bodies after the May 2004 entry into the union.

Horsing around

THE SMALL village of Zálesie, a 19-kilometre drive east of Bratislava, is popular with people who enjoy the outdoors. Cyclists travel its rural roads and dirt tracks, while canoers and kayakers paddle the Little Danube river and several creeks in the area. And they share the countryside with another mode of transportation - the horse.Located just off of Staro-bystrická ulica, next to a cattle farm, is the Jazdecká Škola Zálesie (Zálesie Equestrian School). Here adults and children take horse-riding lessons through the Weekends on Horseback teaching program.Taught by the hour, lessons usually follow a twelve-lesson course. In the first set of lessons students learn the basic theory and practice of riding. In the second round they correct any imperfections. By the third set of lessons they are ready to ride alone out of the school, or to focus on jumping hurdles. Of course a student's advancement depends on how well they take to riding and follow the rising and falling rhythm of a horse's steps.

Businessmen blame officials for graft

Health Minister claims to have bribery cure

All set for a hot summer in the city

THE SUMMER sun is beating down on Bratislava, making it a nightmare to work in and a joy for visitors - an ideal time for the city leaders to try to persuade tourists to take a closer look at this central European capital.The last thing the city needs as it launches its campaign to promote Bratislava is a fresh wave of mafia-based violence after a lull of almost four years.However, that is exactly what seems likely to happen after the slaying of mafia boss, Ján Takáč, outside his suburban home on July 30. Like cockroaches, when one is killed another soon crawls in to takes its place. The scramble for the top and for revenge is set to be violent and bloody.

Trusting citizens lose their deposits

Around Slovakia

Biggest book in the country?Lost donkey found safePope to get statue and square named after himCommunist in trouble over Lenin statementsLose weight via hypnosis?Man sets patisserie on fireStealing from grannySwedish intriguePilgrims killed in bus crash

More firms considering Slovak investment

The castle built by fairies

THE MASSIVE fortress built in a rectangular shape, Červený Kameň Castle, sits above the village Častá hidden in the woods of the Malé Karpaty mountain range that spreads across southwest Slovakia. The well-preserved castle is a unique construction in central Europe, built according to the examples of the Italian fortresses from the 15th century. Only the castle Unnot in Schauffhausen, Switzerland, has been built a similar way.The castle was named Červený Kameň (Red Rock) after a nearby reddish rock. As the following legend has it, the castle should originally have stood there.