Archive of articles - December 2003, page 2

Reader feedback: Making sense

Reader feedback: Sharing Slovak traditions

Reader feedback: Hoping for healing

Quote of the Week

European future uncertain

SLOVAKS entered the year almost certain of their entry into the EU in May 2004, after the September 2002 elections put in power pro-democratic forces acceptable to the West. The EU's decision to accept 10 new members, Slovakia among them, came as one of the last news items of that year.The last major hurdle the country had to clear was a successful referendum in which citizens would make their decision on EU accession.

Support for NATO entry almost 55%

Slovakia plays growing role on the Western stage in 2003

AFTER the general elections in 2002, four centre-to-right parties; the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), the New Citizen's Alliance (ANO), the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) - gained a slight majority in the 150-seat parliament.

Britain need not fear Roma exodus

Presidential hopefuls revealed in January

Slovaks in Iraq's reconstruction

Budget saves cabinet's credit

PRIME MINISTER Mikuláš Dzurinda, who suffers from the most acute lack of public support ever, had a weight lifted off his shoulders on December 12 when the ruling coalition managed to pass the 2004 state budget, which was believed to be the ultimate test of its resilience.After a fiery discussion, 78 of the 149 lawmakers present voted in favour of the budget with a deficit projected at Sk78.5 billion (€1.91 million) on revenues of Sk231.96 billion (€5.65 billion) and expenditures of Sk310.45 billion (€7.56 billion).

Cartoon

Former minister to Prague embassy?

MPs sing Silent Night at last 2003 session

PM to Afghanistan

Roma migration not critical

Pension reform on track

AROUND Slovakia 2003

Parrot is a PC freakLorry-load of pickled cucumbers stolenStudent fakes kidnapping to blackmail parentsMan shaves wife's pubic hair as revengeMore haste, less speedMan stabs himself after his drink is takenValentine's Day ruins business for hookersElementary schools ban cell phones in classHungry man eats dog's dinner, sleeps in kennelPolish leg fallsoff train in ŽilinaLucky gambler takes Sk39 millionMan who missed bus beats driver unconsciousBoomerang-shaped eggTractor collector dreams of opening a museumMan naps behind wheel after crashing carSirens roar alertBikers' mass weddingHeating the dead back to lifeHonking in a friend's earGuinness record: 358 people squeezed in communal bus

Trnka elected with ease

IN A SUPRISINGLY easy vote, chief military prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka was elected in a December 12 parliamentary secret ballot to lead the nation's prosecutors as the new attorney general for a seven-year term.Trnka, a 40-year old army professional, will be the country's fifth attorney general since the fall of communism in 1989. He will also be the first to lead the office when Slovakia becomes a new EU member in May 2004.