Archive of articles - February 2008, page 12
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Haraszti: Culture minister's arguments didn't convince me
After meeting Slovak Culture Minister Marek Maďarič in Bratislava on February 7, Representative of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for freedom of the press, Miklos Haraszti, said that Maďarič's arguments didn't change his mind on the draft Press Act. He said this at a joint press conference with the ministry's state secretary, Ivan Sečík. Haraszti mainly criticised the rights of the culture ministry to judge whether the contents of newspapers was in accordance with moral values, such as spreading hatred, not promoting drugs and so on.
Fico: Second pillar beneficial only for people earning over Sk29, 000
According to Prime Minister and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico, the second pension pillar is beneficial only for those who earn at least Sk29,000 (€862), with a steady income, providing that they save for at least 25-30 years. That is why the Government gave people an opportunity to re-evaluate their original decision, made under the influence of misleading advertising. This was the reply of Smer-SD MP Branislav Bacík, who during Question Hour in Parliament on February 7 asked how he viewed the fact that so far this year some 4,900 people had opted out from the capitalisation or second pillar.
Vote on Lisbon Treaty ratification postponed again -- indefinitely
On February 7, Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška again postponed the vote on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, but this time indefinitely. For the third time, opposition parties SDKU-DS, KDH and SMK nullified the vote by vacating the House.
Prices of petrol and diesel decline in February
The average retail price of 95-octane petrol in Slovakia was Sk39.08 per litre as of February 1, according to data from the Slovak Statistics Office. The price of LPG was Sk22.19 per litre and diesel was Sk41.03 per litre. Compared with prices from January 18, the average price of 95-octane petrol went down Sk0.22, the price of LPG increased Sk0.04 and the price of diesel went down Sk0.22.
Visa-free travel to the US could be two years away
On February 7, the Hospodárske noviny economic daily reported on a statement by Richard C. Barth, assistant secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department, who visited Prague on February 6.
Sme: Sečík, who scrutinised the media, is now drafting the laws
On February 7, the Sme daily wrote about Culture Ministry State Secretary Ivan Sečík, one of the main architects of the controversial Press Code now being discussed in parliament.
Parliament continues debate on troublesome Press Code
The controversial Press Code is on the parliamentary agenda again for February 7. The opposition still conditions its support for the EU'S Lisbon Treaty on new wording for the bill that would bring it into line with democratic standards, the SITA newswire wrote.
Slovak banks approve Sk28.4 billion in mortgages
Banks approved mortgages worth Sk28.4 billion (€850 million) in Slovakia last year, bringing the total amount since this type of loan was introduced fully in 1999 to Sk116.2 billion, the Slovak central bank (NBS) said on February 6.
Kašický relocates to Foreign Ministry
Former Defense Minister František Kašický joined the Foreign Ministry last week and is about to embark on a diplomatic career, Foreign Minister Ján Kubiš said after a Government session on February 6. According to unconfirmed information, he will be appointed Slovakia's Ambassador to NATO in Brussels.
Lisbon Treaty still waiting
Parliamentary parties didn't reach an agreement on February 6 regarding the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, according to Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška after the Parliament. Opposition party chairmen Mikuláš Dzurinda (SDKÚ-DS), Pál Csáky (SMK) and Pavol Hrušovský (KDH) came to the same conclusion.
Kramplová opposed to perlite mining in Tokaj region
Agriculture Minister Zdenka Kramplová continues to oppose the mining of perlite in the Viticultural Region of Tokaj (Košice region), ministry spokesperson Eva Horňáčková told the TASR newswire on February 6.
Cabinet discusses amendment to Freedom of Information Act
At its regular meeting on February 6, the Slovak Cabinet will again debate a proposed amendment to the Freedom of Information Act. The Good Law on Access to Information civil association fears the meeting will result in more restrictions on information.
ContourGlobal to build a steam-gas cycle power plant in Slovakia
A new steam-gas power plant is going to be built next to the Coca-Cola Beverages factory in Lúka, near to Nové Mesto nad Váhom.
Mayors incensed over Euro funds registration
Mayors of towns and villages are outraged by the new methods of applying for the EU funds for reconstruction of schools, the Sme daily writes on February 6.
PES Chaiman meets with Fico
On February 6, Hannes Swoboda, an Austrian Member of European Parliament for the Party of European Socialists (PES), visited Slovakia to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Slovakia set to back UNEP medium-term strategy
The environment and foreign affairs ministries on January 5 advised the Government to approve their proposal for Slovakia to back a draft United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Medium-term Strategy for 2010-13. The ministries want Slovakia to support the strategy at the tenth UNEP Governing Council session set for February 20-22 in Monaco, in line with European Union policy, the TASR newswire wrote.
Lipšic calls on coalition to make privatisation contracts public
Opposition KDH MP and former justice minister Daniel Lipšic urged the governing coalition in parliament on February 5 to make all privatisation contracts public. He was speaking during a debate on a damning report on the 2002 privatisation of natural gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP), a sale that was carried out by the current opposition parties while in government.
Kaliňák: Police know perpetrators of shooting at Polus Center
Police say they have identified the perpetrator of the fatal shooting in Polus Center on February 1 and are now looking into his whereabouts, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák said on Tuesday, February 5, in Bratislava without revealing further details.
Criticism on internet lands man in hot water
On February 5, the Pravda daily reported that Slovak police have brought their first charges for libel via the internet against a 46-year old resident of Martin.
Smer returns to PES after suspension
Several MEPs informed the Hospodárske noviny economic daily on February 5 that the Party of European Socialists (PES) will reinstate Slovakia’s Smer party on February 14, 18 months after it was suspended for including the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) in its coalition.
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- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
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- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access More articles ›
