Archive of articles - April 2008, page 15
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Independence, creativity and discovery
FOR JANA Jakubíková, a medical researcher at the Slovak Academy of Science (SAV), these three words define the qualities that make her field fascinating and engaging.
Poland: Managing Heritage of Post-Communist Europe
THE INTERNATIONAL Cultural Centre in Krakow has announced a summer programme on preserving the heritage of post-Communist Europe to be held in Krakow from July 10-24, 2008. The two-week programme is organised jointly with the Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa, in Vienna.
Schengen lands at airports
SLOVAKIA’s three main airports – M. R. Štefánik Airport in Bratislava, Košice Airport and Poprad-Tatry Airport – joined the Schengen airspace on March 30.
Slovak medical team leaves for Afghanistan
A Slovak medical team that will form part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) left Prague early on the morning of March 31 for Afghanistan.
ECHR: Delays in court proceedings appear in all European countries
Delays in court proceedings are a problem in all European countries, not only in Slovakia, Philippe Boillat, Director General of Human Rights and Legal Issues at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), said at a press conference on April 3.
Milbradt: Slovakia should not fear introduction of euro
There is no need to fear the introduction of the euro in Slovakia, German Free State of Saxony Minister-President George Milbradt said on April 3 during his two-day visit to Bratislava.
Assessment of electronic toll system tender not completed yet
The evaluation process of the tender for the operator of an electronic-toll collection system on Slovak motorways is not completed yet, National Highway Company (NDS) spokesman Marcel Jánošík said on April 3 in response to media reports that a winner has been selected.
Coalition won’t submit or support any fundamental changes to the Press Code
On April 3, the Coalition Council agreed at its meeting to support changes to the Press Code proposed by Smer-SD MP Ján Podmanický, which are to be discussed in the media committee, the SITA newswire wrote. Prime Minister Robert Fico said on on Thursday that coalition partners had submitted no new proposals; however, he added that some amendments by both coalition and opposition MPs may be proposed in parliament.
Slota plays hooky, but still gets paid
On April 3, the Sme daily highlighted the poor parliamentary attendance record of Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Ján Slota. He is a member of three committees, but has actually attended meetings of only two of them – and only one meeting of each. Nor has he apologised for his absence in writing. According to a parliamentary standing order, if a deputy does not attend at least two meetings of a committee each month, he can be punished by salary deductions. In Slota’s case, 701,100Sk should have been docked from his pay since the election. However, it appears nobody wants to punish him for his absences. Committee chairmen, who are responsible for managing such issues, have taken no steps to address the matter. SITA
Prime Minister sees no problems on Slovakia’s path to euro
Prime Minister Robert Fico says that Slovakia is meeting all the criteria for joining the euro as planned next year, the SITA newswire wrote. Following a session of the Coalition Council on April 3, he stressed that the country was fulfilling some of the Maastricht Criteria with room to spare. Fico said he expects a positive decision from European institutions on Slovakia’s adoption of the euro from January 1, 2009. In terms of inflation, consolidation of general government finances, general government debt or the stability of interest rates and the currency itself, Slovakia is meeting the criteria ahead of schedule. The Prime Minister said it seems that the country is on course to be the first country in the region to introduce the single European currency.
Italian consortium has won e-toll tender, report says
Also on April 3, the Sme daily reports that a consortium led by Italian highway company Autostrade per I'Italia S.p.A., Rome (Slovakpass) has allegedly won the tender to build and manage Slovakia’s electronic road toll collection system, according to the SITA newswire. The paper says it obtained a copy of the minutes of the tender committee's meeting during which bid envelopes were opened. The minutes indicate that Slovakpass submitted the best bid, which means that the consortium should end up building the toll system in Slovakia. The National Highway Company (NDS), which organised the tender, admitted that the minutes of the meeting were genuine. The tender committee opened the envelopes on March 13. However, the results have not yet officially been made public. SITA
Ďuračka withdraws headlight amendment
SNS MP Ján Ďuračka withdrew his amendment requiring the use of headlights during daylight hours all year round, which he had attached to the law on public service and customs, after he was assured that it would be discussed as a part of to the law on transport communication. SITA
Gašparovič leaves for NATO Summit
Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič left on April 2 for the NATO summit in the Romanian capital of Bucharest. The Alliance's top-level meeting will also be attended by Foreign Minister Ján Kubiš and Defence Minister Jaroslav Baška.
Coalition Council to discuss disputed Press Act
Slovakia's governing coalition leaders will meet on April 3 to discuss unresolved points of the controversial Press Act.
Eurowallet: Likelihood of euro adoption by Slovakia hits record 82%
The estimated probability of Slovakia adopting the euro on the planned date of January 1, 2009, increased from its February level of 80 percent to a record-high of 82 percent in March, according to a survey by the Institute for Economic and Social Reforms (INEKO) and the Club of Economic Analysts (KEA), Peter Goliáš from INEKO told SLOVAKIA.
HZDS changes to draft Press Code, paper reports
The April 2 edition of the economic daily Hospodárske Noviny reports that the junior coalition party Movement for a Democratic Slovkia (ĽS-HZDS) has pushed through changes to the new draft Press Code which would mean that the right of reply might only be used if newspapers publish false information, and that the response of the affected person would not have to be printed in the same place and with the same prominence as the original story. The paragraph referring to the right of reply will certainly be re-formulated, SMER-SD deputy Dušan Jarjabek told the daily. However, he refused to specify what changes will be made. SITA
Parliament: lights on by June?
Car drivers should have their headlights turned on throughout the year, says junior coalition partner the Slovak National Party (SNS). SNS MP Jozef Ďuračka submitted an amending proposal to the twentieth session of parliament on April 2 suggesting that the change come into force on June 1 this year, the SITA newswire wrote. MPs are supposed to decide whether to approve the revision on Wednesday afternoon. Parliament had previously approved a proposal obliging drivers to leave their lights on year-round but it was halted when President Ivan Gašparovič refused to sign an amendment to the law on land communication traffic in March 2007 . The President disagreed with the dates for the entry into force of paragraphs related to the minimum speed limit for motor vehicles on highways. At present, drivers need not have their headlights on from March 15 to October 15.
Cabinet to discuss human rights cases, Roma education
Complaints against the Slovak Republic arriving at the European Court for Human Rights fell in number last year, compared to 2006, the SITA newswire wrote. While the court examined 486 complaints in 2006, there were 347 in 2007. In 286 cases the court decided to turn down the complaint or erase it from the list, with the result that the Slovak government was notified of 59 cases, and nineteen were accepted for investigation, according to a report on the activity of Slovakia's representative at the European Court for Human Rights in 2007. Cabinet was due to discuss the report at its regular meeting on April 2.
Slovak Land Fund reform submitted for review
The Ministry of Agriculture has submitted its draft amendment to the law on land conversion, settlement of land ownership, land register offices, the Slovak Land Fund and land communities for interdepartmental review, according to the SITA newswire. The revision, which it is planned will take effect on July 1, proposes reducing to two the number of bodies in the organisational structure of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF): the fund’s council and its director-general. A board of directors is not necessary since the SPF is not a corporate entity, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
Retailers face having to close shops on certain holidays
Retailers may have to close on certain national holidays if a Labour Code amendment proposal is successful, it was announced on April 1. The amendment, which was proposed by coalition MPs Marta Damborská (SNS), Ľudmila Mušková (ĽS-HZDS) and Ján Podmanický (Smer-SD), was moved on to its second reading in Parliament on April 1.
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