Archive of articles - August 2008, page 5
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A problem shared is a problem halved
HELMUT Wessely is a true EU enthusiast; and not, he says, just because he is expected to be one. He believes that trust is the added value of relations within the European Union but warns that allowing discrimination to seep into relations can destroy that added value. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Austrian Ambassador to Slovakia Helmut Wessely about the challenges that nations face in the post-Iron Curtain era, about the prospects for the Twin City concept and about the continuing importance of German as a language that links many of the region’s people.
From parrots to social security
A MAN WHOSE ability to land plum positions is equalled only by the unevenness of his record while occupying them has just been offered yet another. Dušan Muňko, currently State Secretary at the Environment Ministry, is to become the new director of social security provider Sociálna Poisťovňa, the cabinet decided at its session on August 20.
Antitrust Office re-imposes Sk885m fine on Slovak Telekom
THE SLOVAK Antitrust Office (PMÚ) has re-issued an order for Slovak Telekom, the country’s dominant fixed-line operator, to pay a fine of Sk885 million (€29.38 million) for misusing its market dominance. According to the PMÚ, Slovak Telekom failed to provide local loop access as required to its competitors, the SITA newswire wrote.
Mochovce vexes Fico
FOR ALMOST a year Prime Minister Robert Fico waited anxiously for the European Commission’s verdict on Slovakia’s plans to complete two units of the Mochovce nuclear plant. But with the EC on July 15 giving the go-ahead, subject to safety recommendations, the prime minister has found another reason for nervousness: the pace of construction.
Čachtice museum displays Blood Countess’s dress
A REPLICA of a dress shown in a portrait of Alžbeta Báthoryová went on display on August 15 as part of an exhibition about the Blood Countess at Čachtice’s Draškovič Castle.Báthory is pictured wearing the dress in a portrait exhibited at the National Museum in Budapest. The replica is worth more than Sk200,000 (€6,638.78), the SITA newswire wrote.
Euro effect price monitoring begins
THE SLOVAK Statistics Office has started monitoring the growth of the average prices of the 169 most frequently purchased goods and services. It began checking at the beginning of August; prices will be monitored until the end of June 2009, the SITA newswire wrote.
Aerial view unveils Nitra history
THIS POSTCARD shows the oldest part of Nitra as viewed from the air during the 1920s. This view clearly indicates some of the changes the city has undergone during the ensuing 80 years.
Countrywide events
Western Slovakia Bratislava EXHIBITION: THE EXHIBITION Contact-Kontakt, subtitled Contemporary Norwegian and Slovak Art, presents work by nine Norwegian and 14 Slovak artists. The aim of the project is to present original contemporary Norwegian and Slovak art as it confronts the world's current artistic trends. It is a presentation of paintings, graphic art, sculptures, site installations and video art. The display in the exhibition premises of the Slovak Union of Visual Arts (SVÚ) at Dostojevského 2 will last until September 11. It is open daily except Monday from 12:00 by 18:00. For more information, go to www.svu.sk.
Smer remains most popular party
THE PARTY of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Smer, has retained its position as the most popular party in Slovakia. A survey conducted by the opinion poll institute of the Slovak Statistics Office between August 1 and 7 showed that Smer remains in the top spot despite a 3-percent fall in support. Of 1,247 respondents, 44.9 percent said they would vote for the party if elections had been held in August, the SITA newswire wrote.
Pezinok loses battle over dump
A CAMPAIGN by citizens of the western Slovak town of Pezinok to halt construction of a waste dump in their town suffered a severe blow on August 18. The Slovak Environmental Inspectorate turned down all appeals by the town of Pezinok and by civic activists and ruled that a waste dump can be built only 400 metres from the town centre, the Sme daily reported.
Quote of the Week:
"This is what I learnt from 1968." Prime Minister Rober Fico (referring to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia 40 years ago), on why political disputes should be solved in parliament and not by force.
Unemployment up slightly in July
THE UNEMPLOYMENT rate in Slovakia was 7.47 percent at the end of July, up 0.05 percent from June. Compared with July 2007, it was down 0.83 percent, the SITA newswire reported, citing statistics from the National Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office.
Popular sites are just behind the border
TOURISM between Austria and Slovakia has grown beyond the busloads of Austrian opera lovers that come to Bratislava. The exchange now operates the other way as well, with an increasing number of Slovaks enjoying opera and art in Austria and discovering historical and natural sights just behind the border.
New ministers face scrutiny
CONTROVERSY has already surfaced about one of the two new ministers appointed to the Robert Fico cabinet, just days into his term in office. Ján Chrbet and Stanislav Becík were appointed on August 18. Chrbet was nominated by the Slovak National Party (SNS) to be the environment minister and Becík was nominated by the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) to be the agriculture minister.
The fall of the ministers
THE MURKY dealings which have surrounded the recent departure of two members of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s cabinet have led analysts and the opposition to argue that the government has made cronyism its “modus operandi”. But analysts say that despite the administrative disruption caused by the cases, the governing coalition seems unlikely to see much of a fall in its popularity any time soon.
Apollo shareholder breaks ranks with other private insurers
AGEL, the new majority shareholder in the private health insurance company Apollo Zdravotná Poisťovňa, has said it believes health insurers should not earn a profit.
Kramplová and Urbáni keep positions in HZDS
HZDS MP Zdenka Kramplová, who was recently dismissed as agriculture minister, will remain the central secretary of the HZDS, according to an announcement by Stanislav Husár, chairman of the HZDS Republican Arbitration Commission, on August 21.
Exhibition commemorating Dubček opens at Deutsche Welle
German radio station Deutsche Welle launched an exhibition entitled “I believe in the good of people” dedicated to the memory of former Czechoslovak statesman Alexander Dubček, the main figure of the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia four decades ago.
OLYMPIC WINDOW: Musuľbes regrets losing against friend in semi, pleased with bronze
Slovakia's David Musuľbes won a bronze medal in the men's 'royal' freestyle wrestling 120kg class on August 21, beating Cuba's Disney Rodriguez 2-0 (4-0 and 4-0).
Smer MPs to enact Dubček's achievement in democracy
Coalition Smer MPs Boris Zala and Oľga Nachtmanová introduced a law that would mark the achievements of Alexander Dubček, the leading exponent of the 1968 Prague Spring, which is widely credited with helping to achieve democracy, human rights, and freedom for the Slovak nation.
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
