Archive of articles - May 2004, page 9

Florists get time in the sun

BEFORE it was easy. You entered a florist's shop and asked for one, three, or more carnations. Sometimes you could choose between red and white. In spring and summer, tulips, narcissuses, and sword lilies - the ordinary flowers one could find in any garden - enlarged the offer. But if you were late, the choice was definite: the red carnation.When communism fell, exotic flowers began to claim their place next to the traditional, local types.

Police VP sees organised crime in parliament

Events Countrywide

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAPrepared by Kristína Havasová

Billboart gallery adds new works

THE CIVIC association Billboart Gallery Europe, through its specifically Slovak branch, is presenting a new set of non-commercial ads by the Romanian artist Vlad Nanca on Bratislava's streets until the end of May.Simply named The Flags, it switches the red background of the Soviet Union's flag, which bears a sickle and hammer, with the blue background of the EU flag, with its circular 12 stars.

Opposition abandons recall attempts

Journalists fight for foreign broadcast

European artists compete for €5,000

HENKEL Central Eastern Europe invites artists from 18 countries of central and eastern Europe to participate in a contest for the Henkel Arts Price.This year in the category of Experimental Design, the reward of €5,000 attempts to increase interest in central and eastern Europe and its cultural background.

Now Brussels is closer than Prague

FORMER Defence Minister Ivan Šimko left the government and the ruling Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) late last year to launch the Free Forum (SF) party, currently in the opposition.After a surprising turn of events, the SF's founding congress failed to elect him as party boss, choosing the less politically experienced Zuzana Martináková instead. Still, Šimko was chosen to lead the party's ballot in June's elections for the European Parliament (EP).The Slovak Spectator spoke with Šimko on May 10 about European politics and his own political future.

Slovakia must learn to say no

THE CHRISTIAN Democrats (KDH) chose veteran member and current head of the parliamentary healthcare committee Anna Záborská for the top spot on their ballot for elections to the European Parliament (EP). The Slovak Spectator met with the former children's doctor to discuss her political priorities as a future MEP.The Slovak Spectator (TSS): How do you explain the role of the EP to voters you meet?Anna Záborská (AZ): Slovaks need to become personally involved in European matters. I strive to bring to life the European within each Slovak. Everyone should care about who is in the EP, about who speaks on behalf of Slovakia.

Doprastav will reinvest 2003 profit

Opera has a new chief conductor

THE NEW chief conductor of the Opera at the Slovak National Theatre (SND) is Jaroslav Kyzlink, TASR reported.Named to the position on May 1, the 31-year old Czech conductor worked as the chief conductor at the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre in Brno between 2001 and 2003.

French art festival invites Slovakia

THE INTERNATIONAL fine art salon Puls ďArt, which runs in the French town of Le Mans over a two-month period, has invited Slovakia to be its main guest, the news agency TASR reported.The Slovak part of the presentation, which features works by Daniel Fischer, Oto Bachorík, Milan Lukáč, and Dorota Sadovská, opened on May 5 at the Paul Courboulay Hall and will run until May 29.

Russian diplomat asked to leave

Post on pedals

NOT ALL packages cross long distances. To exchange documents quickly with their neighbours, firms in cities around the world have turned to bike messengers. In Bratislava, a few riders fight to make local hand deliveries on time, and in one piece.Martin Bačkády, 23, is one of three bike messengers who ride for B&F Courier in Bratislava, and one of a handful of brave, big-thighed riders who cruise the streets of Slovakia's capital

Samsung Electronics Slovakia invests big

Elections lack appeal

AFTER the two rounds of presidential elections and the void referendum on early elections in mid-April, the citizens of Slovakia will be expected to cast their vote in the elections to the European Parliament on June 13.Officials are concerned that Slovak voters might be too worn out by the campaigns they have been exposed to over the past couple of months to really care about this next set of elections.

Unemployment rate drops to 15.4 percent

Do firms have to pay to play?

INDIVIDUAL donors and companies who employ donors of the Slovak political parties gained Sk5.2 billion (€129 million) in state orders over the last three years - with many selected in closed tenders - the latest analysis by the Fair Play Alliance (AFP) watchdog has shown."This sum is so big that we consider it inevitable that the area where party interests intersect with the distribution of public finances be subjected to greater public control," the AFP stated."The control could be secured by effective legislation on conflicts of interests, the register of interests, lobbying, and the economic performance of political parties."

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