Archive of articles - April 2012, page 13
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Dangers of innovation
INTERNATIONAL standards in human rights and treatment of minorities are not the result of an afternoon tea where a group of politicians came up with a bunch of rules. The democratic parts of the world have been shaping these standards, based on historical and sometimes bitter experience, for decades, if not centuries.
Judges’ work habits to go online
THE JUSTICE Ministry has started publishing online annual statistical reports containing specific details about the work of every judge in Slovakia. Reports about all judges will have to be published by the end of April, ministry spokesperson Peter Bubla told the SITA newswire.
24 destinations available from Bratislava
A TOTAL of 24 destinations in 12 countries will be covered by scheduled flights operating out of Bratislava’s M. R. Štefánik Airport this summer season, between March 25 and October 27. Six air carriers – Danube Wings, El Al, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, Travel Service and UTair Aviation – will operate regular flights, airport spokesperson Dana Madunická told the TASR newswire on March 22.
East-west broad-gauge railway plans are dusted off
THE RETURN of Robert Fico to the prime minister’s office may dust off plans to build a broad-gauge railway track across Slovakia, a project originally mooted during his first government. Ľubomír Vážny, Fico’s previous transport minister who is likely to fill a new position as deputy prime minister for large transportation and energy projects, has already indicated that the idea – which carries a price tag of over €6 billion – is being considered, pending further evidence showing it is feasible and financeable. But Vážny seems convinced of its merits, saying that the arguments “undoubtedly speak in favour of the project”.
Truckers bemoan crisis conditions
SLOVAK road transport firms are complaining about tough times in their industry. Many were struggling even before the arrival of the global financial and economic crisis, and the subsequent economic contraction has worsened conditions and squeezed their already thin margins, driving many to the verge of bankruptcy. The outlook for 2012 is not exactly rosy either, especially given the continuing rise in the cost of fuel and the uncertain forecasts for economic growth.
Ancient ritual ends winter in Prešov
A SLAVIC goddess variously named Maržanna, Mara, Maržena, Morana, Moréna, Mora, Marmora or Morena is associated with winter, death and nightmares. Some scholars equate her with the Latvian goddess named Māra who is said to take a person’s body after death. Some medieval Christian sources, such as the Mater Verborum, compare the Slavic goddess to the Greek goddess Hecate, associating her with sorcery. The ancient tradition of symbolically drowning Morena to bid farewell to winter and welcome in a new spring has survived in some parts of Slovakia.
OĽaNO MP Hraško takes parliamentary oath dressed in folk costume
Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) MP Igor Hraško said that he chose to dress in Turiec regional folk costume to the first session of the new parliament in order to uphold traditional values of national culture.
Fico: Government programme to be submitted by May 2
The newly-elected government plans to create a governing programme based on an intensive dialogue with social partners, Smer chairman and Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a press conference on Wednesday, April 4.
Glváč: Military intelligence services should merge as of January 2013
Slovakia's two existing military intelligence services – the Military Intelligence Service (VSS) and the Military Defence Intelligence (VOS) counter-intelligence service – should merge as of January 2013, Defence Minister Martin Glváč (Smer) said, as reported by the TASR newswire.
President appoints new government ministers
President Ivan Gašparovič on Wednesday, April 4, appointed 13 new cabinet ministers based on a proposal submitted by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer), who had been appointed earlier in the day.
New MPs take oath in parliament
The 150 MPs who were elected to the Slovak Parliament in the March 10 general election were sworn in on Wednesday, April 4, the TASR newswire learnt.
Regulatory Office starts review of solar power plants
The Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) has again started inspecting photovoltaic power plants in Slovakia saying it is doing so based on information from various sources on large-scale as well as small-scale fraud and unfair practices during their construction and installation, the SITA newswire wrote.
Head of Slovak Tourism Board steps down
Peter Belinský, the head of the Slovak Tourism Board (SACR), told a press conference on April 3 that he will step down after 19 months in the post, the TASR reported. "After coming to an agreement with Transport Minister Ján Figeľ I've decided to step down from my post as [SACR] general director," Belinský said.
Malatinský will be economy minister; Valko will head the SIS
The head of the Association of Employers' Unions, Tomáš Malatinský, will definitely be named the economy minister and the person originally vetted for the post, Ján Valko, will become the head of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), the Sme daily reported on April 4.
Lipšic claims more irregularities are found at Penta’s Privatbanka
An inspection by Slovakia’s Financial Police at Privatbanka, owned by the Penta financial group, has revealed suspicions of unusual transactions that may cost the bank its licence, said outgoing Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) to the media on April 3. Lipšic stated that the Financial Police reported that the bank failed in two instances to report money transfers worth around €7 million. Lipšic claims this may be sufficient reason to withdraw Privatbanka’s banking license. The outgoing minister also laid accusations against the General Prosecutor's Office, saying it became unusually active after Privatbanka filed a criminal complaint on March 27 over suspicions of malfeasance at the office. "Under the mode of special circumstances" the office asked for documentation related to the police inspection at Privatbanka, Lipšic said. Lipšic added, as reported by the TASR newswire, that the General Prosecutor’s Office started urging the Office for Fight Against Organised Crime (ÚBOK) to immediately provide all documents and all copies of inspections concerning Privatbanka to it.
Police say they are ready for a Gorilla Protest planned for April 4
Bratislava police have prepared security measures for the Gorilla Protest announced for Wednesday, April 4, the TASR newswire was told by the Bratislava regional police spokesperson, Petra Hrášková. "An adequate number of police officers will be deployed to secure public order, lives, health and property of citizens," said Hrášková. "If any violations of public order are detected, we stand ready to get the situation back under control via legal means."
Fico to return Igor Federič to head the Government Office
Igor Federič will become the next head of the Government Office head, said Smer chairman and future Prime Minister Robert Fico at a news conference on April 3, the TASR newswire reported. "I'm going back to a person who already had that post in 2006-10," Fico stated, as quoted by TASR.
Transparency International reports on tenders handled via e-auctions
One of every five tenders in Slovakia over the past 12 months were conducted via an electronic auction according to findings released by Transparency International Slovensko that were published on April 3 and they accounted for 12 percent of the total financial value of all tenders, the TASR newswire reported. "Over the 12 months since electronic auctions were made obligatory in the public sector in April 2011, auctions have been used in 764 tenders worth €148 million, excluding VAT," said Transparency International Slovensko director Gabriel Šípoš to TASR.
Kia Motors Slovakia launches second generation of Cee'd model
Kia Motors Slovakia in Teplička nad Váhom launched serial production of the second generation of the Kia Cee'd on April 3 and the plant has started to run at full capacity in a three-shift operation, said Eek-Hee Lee, CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia, at a press conference, adding that the original Cee'd represented a milestone for Kia Motors Slovakia in terms of changing people's view of the brand, the TASR newswire reported. "We believe that the new model will help us increase production this year to a total of 285,000 vehicles. Kia Motors Slovakia invested €200 million in production technologies last year. We've hired more than 900 people thanks to the new model and we've had a three-shift operation since January 2012. We plan to invest around €110 million this year while production of the wagon version of Cee'd will launch in the second half of the year," said Eek-Hee Lee, as quoted by TASR. Kia Motors Slovakia spokesman Dušan Dvořák reported that the plant has produced a total of 635,000 Cee'ds since production was started in late 2006. More than 13,000 Cee'ds have been sold in Slovakia and 900 Cee'ds have been purchased by the Slovak Police Corps.
Fico's new cabinet takes the reins
“THE SMER party enters our political history by this act,” stated Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič in formally installing Robert Fico as prime minister to lead his cabinet and the country for the next four years. Fico said he will not promise any “castles in the air” but rather a government programme that will result from intensive dialogue and work between government officials and a wide circle of social partners.
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