Archive of articles - June 2004, page 3

International Glass Symposium 2004

RONA, the large glassmaker situated in Lednické Rovne, near the northwestern Slovak town of Púchov, will hold an International Glass Symposium from June 29 to July 3

Natives catch up with fellows abroad

IF THE TWO million people of Slovak origin scattered over the world joined the five million living in Slovakia, the Slovak population could compete in number with Switzerland. The bonds between Slovaks living in their homeland and those abroad get tighter every year.Around the Cyril and Methodius day on July 5, which is a national holiday celebrating the start of Christianity and education among the Slavic nation, the Slovak Republic invites its foreign countrymen to participate in the Days of Slovak Expatriates in Slovakia.

Moravčík wins Čepan award

FURNITURE designer Michal Moravčík won the 9th annual Oskár Čepan Prize, a competition organised by the Centre of Contemporary Art Foundation.Moravčík's furniture objects, which feature political and existential issues through various carved slogans, are exhibited at the Pálffy Palace along with works by three other finalists of the competition - Tomáš Agat Blonski (modern photography), Jaroslav Kyša (performance art, installation), and Peter Maukš Voda (contemporary painting).

Workers need a chance to relax

LG PHILIPS Displays, a producer of components for cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, employs about 1,200 people in the Slovak town of Námestovo. The company finds Slovakia's cheap, motivated labour a favourable factor for its business environment.However, the company would appreciate state help in building better housing and relaxation facilities for its workforce in order to attract more young people to the region.

Education remains free

THE DISPUTED introduction of tuition fees for university studies failed on June 17 when the parliament unexpectedly voted against the respective measure.The cabinet-tailored bill on student loans was to introduce yearly fees of up to 30 percent of annual expenditures on university students, which would be something between zero and Sk21,900 (€550). However, the proposal failed in the initial stage of the legislative process in parliament, falling two votes short of the required amount. Only 67 of the 136 MPs present supported the law.

The Ruthenian connection

THE CULTURAL centre Stanica Truc sphérique in Žilina will present part of the European art festival Togetherness, coordinated by the Warsaw theatre group Makata, on July 2. The international project presenting music, theatre, and film takes this year's inspiration from Ruthenian culture."The festival's mission is to discover European cultural heritage, and to bring people and European cultures closer together through art. It is mainly dedicated to young people, that's why it most often reaches for alternative art, which is closer to the younger generation," said Artur Lis, the director of the festival and the Makata group.

NOW PLAYING IN CINEMAS

A brand-new Bratislava

BRATISLAVA officials realise that the Slovak capital is not a well-known tourist destination and aim to improve its image on the tourist market."So far, the Bratislava 'brand' has lacked the main attributes [of a normal brand] - a logo and a slogan. As of last spring, it now has both. The new logo and the city's visual style are being enforced in the city's advertising and the new slogan is the 'Little Big City'," said Milan Vajda, spokesman of the Bratislava mayor.The city government wants to present Bratislava as a city that has everything that a metropolis should have but in "human dimensions", meaning that, though everything can be easily reached in the reconstructed historical city centre, it is never over-saturated with tourists, so visitors can relax and enjoy themselves

Former SPP finance director guilty of fraud

Will Bělohlávek return to the Philharmonic?

THE NEWLY assigned general director of the Slovak Philharmonic, Marián Lapšanský, would like to bring the recently resigned Jiří Bělohlávek back to the institution as the chief conductor."So far, I have not discussed the issue with Bělohlávek, but I will try to convince him to re-consider his decision of leaving the philharmonic," Lapšanský said on June 14, 2004.

Disabled lose state support

OVER 53,000 severely physically disabled people have lost their compensation benefits for care and higher clothing and hygiene expenses.The new social assistance law has implemented tougher criteria for granting these compensations. The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family said its ultimate goal was to reduce the abuse of the benefit system.However, the representatives of the physically disabled warn that the measure strikes at a vulnerable group of society and they are trying to push through changes to the legislation.

Around Slovakia

Walking the snakesFive bison set freeFlying to Croatia on a homemade planeHistory in bagsTrenčín tower to be equipped with liftTheatre in former oil boilerGirl eats rat poison

Žilina delivers mail history

OTTO Gáťa, 69, has been collecting stamps and mail artefacts for over 40 years. His collection has been exhibited on almost all continents, and the collector has received several awards. In 1981 he built a small postal museum in the village of Plevník, near Žilina, which is open to the public.Apart from stamps, seals, and old letters, Gáťa's collection consists of various objects used by postal workers - mailboxes, letter and package scales, uniforms, telegraph machines, inkpots, signboards, and even post pistols.

Cartoon

Young Slovaks skilled in languages

Arms traders get certification relief

Economy ministry pushes for transport of Caspian oil

Drunk drivers face stricter penalties

KDH wants referendum on EU constitution