Archive of articles - October 2010, page 3
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Prime Minister Radičová to participate in European Council session
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová (SDKÚ) will take part in a session of the European Council held in Brussels on October 28-29 to discuss changes to the EU's budgetary rules, preparations for the G20 summit on the global economy, the conference on climate change in Cancún (Mexico), and relations with the United States, the TASR newswire reported. The EU leaders are expected to pass a comprehensive set of recommendations based on a concluding report designed to strengthen economic management within the EU.
STV Council remains without a chair
The Slovak Television (STV) Council remained without a chair after its Tuesday, October 26, meeting, the SITA newswire reported.
Government approves plan for 70 legislative tasks for remainder of 2010
The Slovak government on Wednesday, October 27, approved a plan involving 70 legislative tasks that should be carried out by the end of 2010, the TASR newswire wrote.
Smer to object to the functioning of Transparency International Slovensko
The opposition Smer party will send a letter to the headquarters of Transparency International in Berlin to officially protest what the party deems as politicising of the organisation's Slovak branch, Smer chairman Robert Fico told a press conference on Wednesday, October 27, the TASR newswire reported. Transparency International Slovensko (TIS) is a political institution and a branch of the major governing party, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), said the former prime minister. His comments came in the wake of the release of the organisation's 2009 annual report, with the document indicating that Slovakia's corruption rating had worsened by 0.2 points to 4.2, with the country dropping five places in the global table and receiving the worst score among the Visegrad Four (V4) countries. "This list represents the final evaluation of Robert Fico's government," Gabriel Šipoš from TIS said on Tuesday.
Final parliamentary session keeps Radio Council members, elects disciplinary court judge
On Tuesday, October 26, the Slovak Parliament decided not to dismiss three members of the Slovak Radio Council, the governing body of public broadcaster Slovak Radio. Thus, Alexander Koreň, Eva Jaššová and Stanislav Háber remain members of the council, despite questions being raised about their impartiality.
Parliamentary committee to interview candidates for general prosecutor's job
Three candidates for the position of general prosecutor will attend a hearing of parliament’s constitutional and legal affairs committee on Wednesday, October 27, the SITA newswire reported, citing committee chairman Radoslav Procházka.
Slovakia and Norway sign aid agreement
Slovakia and Norway have signed an agreement on the European Economic Area Financial mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism as part of the ongoing visit of the king and queen of Norway. The agreement designates €80.75 million that will flow as grant aid to Slovakia between 2009 and 2014.
Cabinet plenipotentiary to deal with tensions in Plavecký Štvrtok
The government plenipotentiary for Roma communities, Miroslav Pollák, has begun dealing with the tense situation between villagers in Plavecký Štvrtok, western Slovakia, and a neighbouring Roma community. The mayor of the village, Ivan Slezák, continued to demand the demolition of houses built illegally in a protected zone under which a high-pressure natural gas pipeline passes, even after negotiations with the plenipotentiary on Tuesday, October 26.
Slovak calendar to feature two new memorial days from 2011
An amendment to the law on state holidays approved by parliament on Tuesday, October 26, means that Slovakia will get two new memorial days next year: August 10 will be commemorated as the Day of Mining Disaster Victims, and May 1 as the Day of Slovak Accession to the EU.
TI: Slovakia's corruption rating worsens, based on last year's data
Slovakia's corruption rating, evaluated annually by Transparency International (TI), has deteriorated by 0.2 points to 4.2, with the country dropping five places in the global table and receiving the worst score among the Visegrad Four (V4) group of central European countries. "This list represents the final evaluation of Robert Fico's government," Gabriel Šipoš from Transparency International Slovensko (TIS) said at a press conference on Tuesday, October 26. The collection of data for the list took place in 2009. The best possible score is 10, and the worst 0. "The creation of the table is based on the perceptions of domestic and foreign businessmen and the opinions of experts," said Šipoš. This time around Slovakia was ranked joint 59th (with Latvia and Tunisia) among 178 countries. The states ranked best in the table were New Zealand (9.3), Denmark (9.3) and Finland (9.2). The worst evaluations were given to Afghanistan (1.4) and Somalia (1.2). Slovakia's score improved between 2000 and 2007, but has worsened in the past two years. According to Šipoš, this is mainly because of non-transparent public procurement processes carried out by Robert Fico's government, the lack of will to close loopholes in the law, and problems in the judiciary. He added that a poor political culture and a lack of systematic measures in the struggle against corruption didn't help either.
Norway's King Harald looks forward to learning more about Slovakia
Norway's King Harald V says he believes that that his current visit to Slovakia will contribute to the deepening of relations between the two countries. He made the comments after meeting Slovakia's head of state, President Ivan Gašparovič, in Bratislava on Tuesday, October 26.
MPs and judges keep their immunity from prosecution
Slovak MPs will retain their immunity from criminal prosecution, after only 75 MPs voted in favour of a constitutional amendment to restrict the immunity of MPs and judges at a parliamentary session held on Tuesday, October 26.
Parliament approves withdrawal of Slovak troops from Kosovo
In a vote on Tuesday, October 26, parliament approved the withdrawal of Slovak troops from the KFOR mission in Kosovo by the end of 2010. Following the withdrawal, Slovakia will continue to carry out international crisis management tasks in the western Balkans.
King and Queen of Norway will stroll through Bratislava
On Tuesday, October 26, citizens and visitors of Bratislava will have a unique possibility to see the Norwegian royal couple since after the welcoming ceremony in front of the Presidential Palace at 10:00, his Majesty King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja will enjoy a walk through centre city Bratislava accompanied by Mayor Andrej Ďurkovský. At around 16.00 the King and Queen should be passing through Primacial Square, the Main Square and then will continue to Hviezdoslavovo Square, the SITA newswire wrote.
Victim of Devínska Nová Ves shooting is transferred to Czech hospital
A young man seriously wounded by Ľubomír Harman in the Devínska Nová Ves shooting at the end of August is now in the care of doctors in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, the SITA newswire wrote.
Harabin will not face prosecution for denying Finance Ministry audit
Štefan Harabin, the President of Slovakia’s Supreme Court, did not commit a crime when he did not permit auditors from the Finance Ministry to examine the use of public funds at the court, the spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General Jana Tokolyová informed the SITA newswire.
Responsibilities of several Slovak ministries to change in November
President Ivan Gašparovič on Monday, October 25, signed a legislative amendment to the Central State Administration Organisation Act according to which the powers of individual ministries will be changed as of November, the President's Office press department told the TASR newswire. The tourism agenda and the coordination of the use of EU Funds will be transferred from the Culture and Tourism Ministry to the Transport Ministry. In line with the plans, the Culture Ministry will lose its minority culture agenda. The deputy premier for human rights and minorities will participate in ensuring the provision of radio and TV broadcasting for national minorities. The Transport Ministry will also co-ordinate regional development policies, and will be responsible for the sphere of construction work and products, housing policy and land planning. According to the amendment, the Economy and Construction Ministry will lose its remit over foreign trade consulates, which will be transferred to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as will the coordination of carrying out EU policies.
Defence Minister from Montenegro visits Slovakia
Slovakia is prepared to assist Montenegro in its efforts to become part of Euro-Atlantic structures, Slovak Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko said, as reported by the SITA newswire, following talks with his Montenegrin counterpart Boro Vucinic who is visiting Slovakia.
Slovakia’s Supreme Court refuses another audit attempt by Finance Ministry
The Supreme Court turned aside another attempt by Finance Ministry auditors to carry out an inspection on Monday, October 25, the TASR newswire was told by the court’s press and information department. The dispute between the two government institutions is already before the Regional Court in Bratislava. "Only the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) wields the right to supervise the Supreme Court. Why doesn't Mr. Mikloš hurry on over to supervise the Hayek [Consulting] case ... instead he is besieging the Supreme Court just as the Tipos case is about to get decided? He's probably afraid that he'll have to assume responsibility for illegal machinations before the Regional Court in Bratislava, and so he's politically paving the way for the Special Task Force intervention at the Supreme Court," said Supreme Court Chairman Štefan Harabin, who was Justice Minister until 2009.
‘Ordinary People’ may set up new party but remain in SaS parliamentary caucus
The chairman of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party’s parliamentary caucus, Jozef Kollár, stated that he expects the four MPs from the ‘Ordinary People’ faction headed by Igor Matovič might soon set up their own party, the TASR newswire wrote. Kollár told TASR on October 25 that he does not expect the four to leave the SaS caucus even after December 31 when their agreement with SaS on pursuing the same policies will expire.
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