Archive of articles - February 2004, page 2

US delivers human rights report

THOUGH during 2003 there were no reports of politically motivated disappearances, the arbitrary deprivation of life, torture, or inhuman or other degrading treatment, and the Slovak government generally respected human rights, there were problems in some areas, the US State Department says in its annual report on human rights practices in the Slovak Republic."Police officers allegedly beat and abused persons, particularly Roma. The performance of the security forces, particularly the police, continued to improve during the year.

Roma unrest opens eyes

WHILE the current tensions within the Roma community present clear threats to government of Mikuláš Dzurinda and to the stability of the country as a whole, they also offer opportunities that need to be stressed, and taken advantage of.Firstly, the social unrest can have a most decisive impact on the results of the referendum on early elections scheduled for April 3. It is in the best interest of both the ruling coalition and the much-needed stability of the nation that less than 50 percent of voters show up for the vote, thus making the plebiscite invalid.Few things matter more to citizens of a nation than their safety and the safety of their property.

Severe but free

Chamber Music, Jozef Sixta, Published by: Music Fund, Price: Sk300, Available at: www.musicaslovaca.sk/A>IMPORTANT moments and tendencies in the work of Slovak Jozef Sixta, born in 1940, make the focus of this profile album. The composer, pianist, and teacher came to prominence when he struck out in an avant-garde direction in the 1960s and throughout his career maintained his strict formalist approach.

EU has a lot to recognise

BEFORE entering the European Union on May 1, Slovakia will have to shake one more legacy of the former communist regime.Until now, the qualifications of citizens of post-communist states and countries like India, Iraq, and Afghanistan have been automatically recognised in Slovakia.After May 1, these automatic recognitions would mean impermissible advantages for citizens of third countries, those outside the EU.

Court frees Belgian border violator

Slovak economy better off than thought

THE DARK cloud that passed over this central European country's sunny economic growth, when a statistical mistake last month predicted inflated exports, dissipated slightly after authorities released the revised data.The trade deficit now stands at Sk23.6 billion (€580.59 million), 2 percent of GDP, which is the best result Slovakia has posted during the past eight years. Compared to 2002, the trade balance has perked up by 75 percent.

Cartoon

Dance Houses this month

BRATISLAVA's V-Club and Petržalka's Zrkadlový háj will each hold another instalment of the Dance House series, on March 2 and March 19 at 19:00, respectively.The professional folk-dance group Dragúni will teach visitors to the V-Club entertaining dances from the Trenčín region and will perform the ceremonial burial of a double bass along with a mask parade symbolising the end of the Shrovetide period.

Around Slovakia

Chefs compete in cooking kapustnicaDead man discovered after 2.5 yearsSolo sax trioCastle threatens citizensFormer railway man embraces piracyStudent stabs friendMan courts death by trainA curious hotel

Jewellery from heaven

THE END of the totalitarian regime in 1989 opened doors for Slovak artists. They began to develop new activities, organise themselves into groups, and hold a variety of seminars and workshops that far exceeded the country's borders.One such group that originated at that time was the Association of Jewellery Makers AURA, which began to organise international summer symposiums, bringing local jewellers into contact with acclaimed foreign artists. But the seven-year tradition was abruptly cut short due to financial problems in the late 1990s.

Passports unnecessary for EU travel

Oil reserves commitments to be met

Slovaks use less water

Quote of the Week

Lufthansa to fly to Slovakia daily from May

Devils brought this fitness star to the City of Angels

TIMEA MAJOROVÁ, a fitness expert from Slovakia, is another example of a young and successful professional who has gone abroad for work.The awards she has won (see box at bottom) are a testament to her popularity all around the world.This 29-year-old fitness competitor, who has lived with her husband in Los Angeles for several years, has been involved in competitions since 1994.

Kukan says working restrictions unjustified

Public radio SRo in the red

Slovak charity ad among best 50

A TELEVISION advertisement by the Konto bariéry (Barrier Account) of Slovakia's Children's Fund entitled Exceptional Children was included among the world's best 50 advertisements for 2003.The ad is the first in Slovakia to make it to the prestigious Gunn Report, which annually lists the world's 100 best advertisements.