Archive of articles - February 2004, page 4

Court frees Belgian border violator

Banáš leaves ANO

Social unrest of Roma continues

Poll says majority of people would attend referendum

Raids in east continue

From questionable to genius

The Wooden Prince Duke Bluebeard's CastleComposed by: Béla BartókWhere: Slovenské národné divadlo (Slovak National Theatre), Hviezdoslavovo námestie, BratislavaNext performance: February 27 at 19:00Ballet and opera in one act each, performed in HungarianRating: 5 out of 10 (The Wooden Prince) and 10 out of 10 (Duke Bluebeard's Castle)

Oil profits in the pipeline

THE OIL company Yukos has been present in the Slovak energy market since 2002, when it purchased a 49 percent stake in Transpetrol, the only Slovak oil transporter and the operator of the country's oil pipeline system.Through Transpetrol, Yukos has acquired better access to Western markets for its oil produced in Siberian fields. Thanks to the Russian company's plans, Transpetrol, whose pipelines are only used at about 50 percent of their capacity, should be able to increase the amount of oil it transports.

Drum commando eases the rhythm

"THE DRUM commando with the rhythmic hummingbird and - to your ears - exported live grooves," once read the slogan of the Czech band FruFru, whose style is difficult to pinpoint, as it ranges from jazz and funk to jungle and pop.This long, difficult to remember subtitle later shrank to "drum commando live", as did the number of the band's drummers, from five to three

Reforms reveal weaknesses

ALTHOUGH Slovakia has been greatly praised for its progressive reforms in nearly all walks of life, the easy manner in which they are being passed is a symptom of the state of Slovak society.Slovakia has never been considered a regional leader. Instead, it had always been the black sheep of the Visegrad Four [including the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland] and struggled for the very survival of democracy at a time when its neighbours were already in NATO and on their way into the EU.

New blood flows in old trade veins

TRADE contacts with Russia today have mostly shrunk to the import of gas and crude oil to Slovakia. During the communist past, the Soviet Union was the biggest business partner of the country, at that time part of Czechoslovakia.Slovak businessmen feel that today the huge, rising Russian market opens new perspectives. They would like to renew relations and join an international business community that is warming up to Russian customers.Apart from the collapse of the Council for Mutual Trade and Help in the communist economic bloc, it was mainly after the financial crises in Russia in 1998 that many Slovak companies lost contacts with Russian partners through failed financial operations.

Štastný to lead SDKÚ eurolist

Two states on the edge of their seats

SLOVAKIA is tensely anticipating the decision of South Korean carmaker Hyundai-Kia on the location of its new central European plant.News stories claiming to know the company's final word are becoming more and more frequent, but the carmaker executives have said they are still collecting final data.The decision is due to be announced in mid March.Koreans are now surveying Žilina - Slovakia's offered site for the $1.5 billion (€1.18 billion) investment, unofficially and "on their own initiative", the news wire TASR reported.

Whirlpool puts Sk3.5 billion into Slovakia

Reader feedback: Tolerance takes strength

Reader feedback: Europe comes first for Commissioners

Ryszard Horowitz displays in Košice

THE PIONEER of computer-modified photographs Ryszard Horowitz is exhibiting around 40 of his large-format works at the Eastern Slovak Gallery in Košice.Horowitz, a Polish artist living in the US, created the photographs between 1982 and 2000, most as posters and advertisements ordered by car and drink companies, and perfumeries.

Cartoon

Slovak contributions not a pipe dream

Arcelor in Euro Valley