Archive of articles - August 2009, page 3

Selected universities in the V4 region

Czech Republic Charles University in Prague Masaryk University in Brno Czech Technical University in Prague University of West Bohemia in Plzeň Palacký University in Olomouc VŠB – Technical University in Ostrava University of Tomáš Baťa in Zlín

Visegrad Fund helps travelling students

SINCE THE 1990s, learning by travelling, getting to know other cultures and meeting the locals has been a favourite part of the university experience for many students in central and eastern Europe. Today, while most students from the region still prefer to head westwards to ‘check out’ the better study conditions in western European countries and the US, the Visegrad leaders are encouraging exchanges within the region as well as with its eastern neighbours.

Regulators veto lower gas prices

THE REGULATORY Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) has turned down a request to lower natural gas rates for households.

Companies & institutions active in the Visegrad region

Sharing what Visegrad countries have learned

WHAT Petr Vágner likes about the International Visegrad Fund (IVF) is that it is a living organism, able to adjust to the changing needs of the Visegrad Four countries, from the challenge of integrating Roma into the respective societies, to energy and environmental safety, and assisting regions in need. The IVF has had a role in transferring the integration experiences of the V4 group to countries which are pursuing the goal of joining European and Euro-Atlantic groupings.

Uhorsko

THE WIDELY-QUOTED claim that Eskimos have 400 different words for “snow” is probably completely false. If you want to amuse your friends with a similar anecdote, which by contrast is true, just replace Eskimos with Slovaks, 400 with two, and “snow” with “Hungary”.

International Visegrad Fund

The International Visegrad Fund is an international organisation based in Bratislava, founded by the governments of the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4), the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and the Slovak Republic on June 9, 2000.

Poland’s close ties with Ukraine

ENERGY security and the stability of Visegrad Group’s neighbouring regions, especially the western Balkans and Ukraine, are becoming the priorities for cooperation, said Emanuela Suprowicz, the Deputy National Coordinator of Visegrad Cooperation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the country with the closest cultural and historical links with Ukraine among the V4. The Slovak Spectator spoke with Suprowicz about the Polish point of view on the present and future challenges of the Visegrad Group.

Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA Bratislava CONCERT:“I AM like wine; it’s taken a while, but my reserve is quite popular right now” is how Anastacia, the 40-year-old American singer, characterises herself. On September 5, her fans can “taste” her latest production, as the writer of chart-topping hits such as Paid My Dues, One Day in Your Life and Cowboys & Kisses is heading to Bratislava for the second time in her career as part of her current European tour. Anastacia will present songs from her latest album, Heavy Rotation, as well as her best-known singles. The concert starts at 19:00 at the Sibamac Arena at Príkopova 6 and admission is between €30 and €69. More information can be found at 02/4446-0570 or www.212.sk

Visegrad Scholarship Programme

Master's and Post-Master's scholarships are awarded to selected scholars for periods of 1 or 2 semesters (with the exception of Master's scholarships within the In-Coming scheme where 1- to 4-semester scholarships can be awarded). Based on the annual budget of €1,884,000, the fund will award approximately 480 semesters in the academic year 2009/2010.

Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers due to meet on Sunday

Slovakia is focusing on a bilateral meeting between Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák and his Hungarian counterpart Péter Balázs that is due to take place in the Slovenian town of Bled on Sunday, August 30, Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano announced on August 27.

Smolík appointed interim director of National Theatre

Pavol Smolík will be appointed interim general director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), the Culture Ministry's press department said on August 27.

Fico wants Turský dismissed on Friday, present or not

If Environment Minister Viliam Turský, a ministerial nominee of the Slovak National Party (SNS), doesn't personally attend the ceremony to dismiss him from office due to be held on Friday, August 28, Prime Minister Robert Fico expects him to sign the dismissal decrees the same day instead, Fico's spokesperson Silvia Glendová announced on August 27.

Slovak National Theatre’s general manager resigns

Silvia Hroncová resigned from her position as general manager of the Slovak National Theatre and Štefan Bučko did as well from his position as head of the theatre’s drama department, the SITA newswire was told by Bučko himself and by the Culture Ministry spokesman, Jozef Bednár. The reasons for the two resignations were not given.

Deputy PM Čaplovič addresses Slovak National Uprising anniversary

The Slovak National Uprising is one the most important milestones in Slovakia's history, says Deputy Prime Minister Dušan Čaplovič. This year Slovakia commemorates its 65th anniversary, the SITA newswire rreported.

Two MPs from MOST-HID propose a revision of State Language Act

The revised law on state language that takes effect on September 1 might be amended again if a proposal of two independent MPs goes through at the parliamentary session in September, the SITA newswire wrote.

Slovakia will attempt to resolve dispute over X-ray scanner

Slovakia will later this month begin talks with Ukraine in an attempt to resolve the dispute over the safety of an X-ray scanner used on freight trains at the customs checkpoint in Matovce which Slovakia turned off at the urging of Ukraine, the government decided on August 26, the SITA newswire wrote.

PM Fico not keen on removing Becík as agriculture minister

Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday, August 26, that he sees no reason to remove Agriculture Minister Stanislav Becík who is facing calls from his nominating party, the Movement for the Democratic Slovakia(HZDS) to stand down. HZDS claims that Becík has favoured people from Smer, the party of the Prime Minister, when it comes to top-ranking posts in the ministry, the TASR newswire wrote. “My relationship with Mr. Becík is good ... He is a good minister who understands what he does at the agriculture ministry and I believe that he enjoys a good reputation within the agricultural fraternity,” said Fico following government discussions in Svidník in Prešov region, as quoted by TASR.

Palestinian refugees arrive in Slovakia

A plane carrying Palestinian refugees who had been granted protection by Slovakia landed at the Košice airport on August 26, the Interior Ministry's spokeswoman, Ľudmila Stanová, told SITA.