Archive of articles - June 2009

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Javier Solana visited the Slovak Government's Office.

Solana praises Slovakia’s progress

THE ADOPTION of the euro at the beginning of this year has helped to protect Slovakia from the most severe impacts of the global financial crisis, said EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Javier Solana, who visited Slovakia on June 30 to meet Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak and Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Most-Híd has enough signatures to register as political party

Representatives of the Most-Híd political party have collected over 28,000 signatures in 11 days, well above the 10,000 that they need to register the party, a member of the Most-Hid preparatory committee, Béla Bugár, said on Monday, June 29, the TASR newswire wrote.

Luxury housing in Bratislava is most expensive in central Europe

Bratislava is the most expensive capital in central Europe when it comes to luxury housing, reports a new analysis by UniCredit Bank, the TASR newswire wrote.

Slovak lawmakers resume 39th parliamentary session on June 30

The 39th session of the Slovak Parliament resumed on Tuesday, June 30 with discussion about the cabinet's draft bill concerning the public service media Slovak Radio (SRo) and Slovak Television (STV), the SITA newswire reported.

Transpetrol shares never left “state hands”, Slovak court says

The package of shares – 34 percent in total – of the company Transpetrol, a.s., never changed ownership from state hands to a group of businessmen surrounding Ignác I., the Regional Court in Žilina rules on June 30, the SITA newswire reported.

Smer would have won June parliamentary election in Slovakia

The latest opinion poll results released on Monday June 29 show that the strongest governing coalition party in Slovakia, Smer, would have won a parliamentary election if one would have been held in mid-June as it garnered 44.8 percent support from those polled, the TASR newswire wrote.

Slovakia’s SPP signs gas supply contract with E.ON Ruhrgas

Slovak gas distributor Slovensky plynarensky priemysel (SPP) has signed a gas-supply contract with E.ON Ruhrgas, said SPP chairman Bernd Wagner at a press conference in Bratislava on June 29, the TASR newswire reported.

Hoax bomb threat to Slovak President's plane

With a delay of one hour and forty minutes, Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič finally left on his official visit to the Czech Republic on Monday, June 29, after the take-off of his aircraft was held up due to a bomb threat, the TASR newswire reported.

Czech tourist drowns and three injured in Slovakia’s Dunajec River

A strong storm with a drenching rainfall probably caused a tragedy on the Dunajec River in Slovakia on June 29, as an elderly Czech tourist died and three other people were injured in the swollen and wild water, the SITA newswire reported.

Another alleged Nigerian drug smuggler is in custody

A Nigerian man, Kelly A., who on Monday allegedly tried to smuggle heroin in his stomach into Slovakia, is in custody after the District Court Bratislava II so ordered, the TASR newswire wrote.

UNESCO recognises Levoča and medieval carver Master Pavol

The town of Levoča in Prešov region and the works of Master Pavol of Levoča who was one of the most important medieval carvers in Europe have been entered into the UNESCO World Culture and Natural Heritage List. The decision was made in Seville, Spain on Saturday, June 27, the TASR newswire reported. “At the 33rd session of the Committee of UN World Cultural Heritage for the Education and Culture, Levoča was decided on as the last, but one of the 37 nominated sights. It's interesting that the proposal was approved unanimously without any comments,” Levoča mayor Miroslav Vilkovský, told TASR.

Flood waters still threatening parts of Slovakia

Flood waters were still threatening 16 municipalities in eastern Slovakia in the regions of Prešov, Bardejov, and Svidník but it seemed that they were calming down on Monday, June 29. After the damage caused in recent days by local storms, hailstorms and wind, the highest flood alert was rescinded in the districts of Humenné, Prešov and Stropkov.

Re-enactment of Napoleonic troops besieging Bratislava

“We Have Defended Ourselves” is the name of the event through which military history aficionados commemorated the 200th anniversary of the siege of Bratislava by French Napoleonic troops in 1809 on Saturday, June 27. Peter Kováč of the Slovak Society of Military History and Historical Firearms Shooters told the TASR newswire on that day that this was the seventh re-enactment of the battle from 200 years ago. The public could see also accompanying attractions, such as the demonstration of the movement of troops in the field and equestrian and weapons training. A park in Bratislava over the last weekend thus became a contemporary home for the members of French Napoleonic troops and Austrian troops who set up their camp here on Friday afternoon. Kováč estimated that some 100 tents had been set up at the site.

Bringing business closer to students

BUSINESS-BASED management simulations enable students to use their theoretical knowledge in doing “real business” and provide them an opportunity to run their own businesses using computer programs. Students can analyze market conditions and make various kinds of business decisions as if they were doing so in the real world. Innovative educational techniques like these are the best method for learning to do business, say educators and students at the University of Economics in Bratislava (EUBA).

The dogs are barking and the caravan goes on…

“THE DOGS are barking and the caravan goes on.” So said a leading representative of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) at a time when the media, opposition and the international community rained criticism down on the 1990s government of Vladimír Mečiar.

Beata Balogová

Some Irish companies in Slovakia

Ballymore, www.ballymore.co.ukCPL Jobs, www.cpljobs.skEasyLink Business Services, www.easylink.skEmerald, www.emerald.skInvesta Consulting Group, www.investa-group.comMurray O' Laoire Architects, www.murrayolaoire.comOdenberg Engineering, www.odenberg.comPPI Adhesive Products, www.ppiadhesiveproducts.com

Compiled by Spectator staff

Study and training grants

Ireland’s long and honourable tradition in educational excellence makes it a popular destination for studying. Ireland is an English speaking country and it is also recognised as an international location for high quality scientific research, just to mention few reasons why to pick Ireland for studying.

Compiled by Spectator staff

UN office is now seen as too expensive

SLOVAKIA’S cabinet has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) regional office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in Bratislava. The decision was made at a cabinet session on June 24 due to the high costs for the office, estimated at more than €200,000 per year.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Businesses content, but lament red tape

Bureaucracy, the need to upgrade public infrastructure, heavy payroll taxes and an inflexible labour code are listed by British investors or representatives of UK businesses in Slovakia as being among the hindrances to doing business here. On the other hand, the Slovak market still lacks a number of services common in a mature market and thus also offers many business opportunities even during the current economic downturn.

Jana Liptáková

Protesters and unidentified Chinese clashed on June 18.

Conflict over Hu's visit

CHINESE President Hu Jintao’s visit to Slovakia on June 18 and 19 was supposed to nourish economic cooperation between the two countries. However, the arrival of the Chinese president, who during his visit met with several high representatives of the Slovak state, differed somewhat from Bratislava's experience of previous visits by senior foreign officials.

Michaela Terenzani

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