Archive of articles - April 2010, page 12
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Fico wins lawsuit over magazine article
PRIME Minister Robert Fico has won a lawsuit against 7 Plus, the publisher of the Plus 7 Dní weekly at a Bratislava district court, the Sme daily reported.
Court approves airline restructuring
THE BRATISLAVA I District Court permitted restructuring of the indebted air carrier Air Slovakia with its ruling of March 31.
Prospects for the west
POSITIVE signals pointing to the arrival of new investors or a revival of activities by existing companies have started cropping up in statements by regional representatives in western Slovakia when they talk about their region’s economic situation. But the economic crisis and its impacts continue to resonate. The crisis has deepened unemployment in all four regions of western Slovakia, but rates remain below the national average of 12.97 percent in February. Part of the reason is that the west has enjoyed by far the biggest share of foreign investment in Slovakia: by the end of 2007, the inflow of foreign investment into western Slovakia made up as much as 94.95 percent of the total inflow into the whole country.
Rezoning of national park draws fire
THE CHORUS of critics of a new scheme to redraw protection zones within Slovakia’s oldest national park has been growing in number. They complain that the scheme’s authors have turned a more sympathetic ear to developers than to the preservation of mountains, forests, animals and plants.
Nine Slovak-Russian contracts signed
NINE new bilateral and commercial contracts were signed by Slovak and Russian representatives during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Slovakia, the TASR newswire reported.
Saving migratory birds
WORLD Bird Day was celebrated on April 1 this year with the motto “Let us save endangered migratory birds – each species is important”.
Three die in train accident
A SERIOUS train accident in Spišská Nová Ves claimed three lives and caused several injuries on April 1.
Quote of the week
"The company that bought it doesn't exist."
Slovakia mourning over Polish national tragedy
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák has expressed its deepest condolences to his Polish counterpart Radek Sikorski in connection with the tragic crash of the airplane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski along with many of the country's top officials near the Russian town of Smolensk on April 10, TASR was told by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Car industry's share of total production set new record in 2009
The car industry's share of total industrial production in Slovakia reached a record-breaking level of 37 percent in 2009, Car Industry Association (ZAP) president Jozef Uhrík said at a press conference on April 8. "Total industrial production last year exceeded €45 billion, with the car industry representing €17 billion," said Uhrík, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
US and Russian embassies embrace new nuclear disarmament treaty
Embassies of the US and Russia in Slovakia welcome the signing of a new treaty to cut nuclear arms in Prague on Thursday, April 8, the TASR newswire was informed.
International Roma Day marked by controversy in Slovakia
Amnesty International (AI) blasted Deputy Premier for Minorities Dušan Čaplovič and Education Minister Ján Mikolaj for keeping Roma children in segregated classrooms and special schools and for working towards the setting-up of separate schools for the minority on International Roma Day on April 8, as reported by the TASR newswire. The global human rights watchdog urged both government officials to publicly admit that the above practices have been ongoing for a long time in Slovakia and that this calls for the educational system to be overhauled. AI described the findings of research into Roma education as alarming. It noted that no more than 3 percent of Roma pupils successfully complete secondary-school education and that Roma youngsters make up 60 percent of the pupils attending schools for children with special needs. Čaplovič gave assurance of the government's support for this ethnic community and its development via a variety of programmes relating to health care, education, culture and other social areas. The Roma form the second-largest minority in Slovakia after ethnic Hungarians. Official data indicating that the Roma make up 1.9 percent of Slovakia's 5.4 million is thought to be inaccurate, with the real figure said to be much higher.
Volkswagen Bratislava starts production of Touareg Hybrid
German car-maker Volkswagen on Thursday, April 8, formally launched serial production of the Touareg Hybrid model at its Slovak factory in Bratislava, with Prime Minister Robert Fico driving the first vehicle up to staff and visitors, the TASR newswire wrote. Volkswagen Slovakia chairman Andreas Tostmann told TASR that this is one of the most mechanically complicated vehicles in terms of manufacturing. Bratislava is the only site at which this sports utility vehicle will be manufactured and exported the world over. According to Tostmann, the Touareg Hybrid with its average consumption of 8.2 litres per 100 km sets a new standard for off-roaders with petrol engines.
Minister: Interblue Group doesn't exist, we don't have any partner
Slovak Environment Minister Jozef Medveď announced after a government session on Wednesday, April 7, that he sees no reason to communicate with the claimed legal successor of the now defunct US-based Interblue Group, which bought Slovakia's surplus carbon-dioxide emissions quotas in a much-criticised deal in 2008. "The Interblue Group doesn't exist in the USA, and we don't have any partner ... there is nothing to discuss ... some reports or presentations by project managers – I don't have any interest in those," Medveď said, as reported by the TASR newswire, adding that he will not communicate with a company that doesn't exist.
Harabin lashes out at foreign diplomats
Štefan Harabin, the chairman of Slovakia’s Judicial Council and president of the Supreme Court, said on April 7 that he views attendance by foreign diplomats at public disciplinary proceedings as “intimidation” of the members of the senates judging the cases.
Ministry blames judges for release of alleged gangland boss
Robert Okoličány, who is alleged in a lawsuit filed by the Special Prosecutor’s Office to be a Košice gangland boss, was released from custody on Wednesday, April 7, based on a decision by the Specialised Criminal Court.
Complaints against Slovakia at European Court of Human Rights rise
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) awarded €512,425 to Slovak plaintiffs last year, states a report on the activities of the Slovak representation at the ECHR, which was acknowledged by the government on Wednesday, April 7.
KDH says Slovak-Russian communiqué lacked mention of Soviet cruelties
The joint communiqué on the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe issued by Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and Russian head of state Dmitry Medvedev on April 7 lacked any mention of the forced deportations of Slovak citizens to the Soviet Union in 1944-46 and the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968, said the leader of the opposition Christian Democratic Party, (KDH) Ján Figeľ, the TASR newswire reported.
Medvedev holds talks and attends ceremonies in Bratislava
On April 7, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, visiting Slovakia on his way to sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty with US President Barack Obama in the Czech capital Prague, met his counterpart Ivan Gašparovič in Bratislava to discuss Russia’s relations with the European Union and NATO, the TASR newswire reported. Discussions on the second day of his visit kicked off with the focus on energy, transport, and military co-operation. The talks were followed by a ceremony at which Russian veterans were awarded the Double White Cross Second Class, while Slovak veterans will receive the Order of Friendship.
German consultancy to draw up broad-gauge railway project study
Transport Minister Ľubomír Vážny confirmed on April 7 that Planungs Gesellschaft mbH, a joint venture of the state rail operators of Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Austria, agreed earlier this week to commission a German consultancy, Roland Berger, to draw up a feasibility study on the construction of a broad-gauge railway line from Kosice to Bratislava and Vienna. Before this study is carried out, Vážny would not speculate as to when the broad-gauge railway could carry its first train. According to him, Slovakia lacks resources to pursue the project for the time being. The feasibility study contract was set at €3 million including VAT, with Slovakia contributing €1.49 million, the TASR newswire wrote.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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 More articles ›
