Archive of articles - October 2013, page 9
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Kažimír: Yield from the sale of Slovak Telekom to be used to reduce debt
The yield from the sale of the 49-percent state stake in the Slovak Telekom should ideally be used to reduce the state debt, Finance Minister Peter Kažimír said after the government session October 16. Stakeholders of the Slovak Telekom - the state and Deutsche Telekom AG – this summer agreed on drawing up a memorandum on a joint course of action that should set up the formal framework for co-operation of future shareholders, the TASR newswire wrote. The Economy Ministry on October 16 informed the government that working groups are currently preparing comments on the memo, which should stipulate conditions for the sale. Previously, there had been an assumption that this money would go toward the government’s intention to buy out the two private health-insurers, Dôvera and Union, en route to installing a single-payer state health system.
Government drops cannabis seeds from the list of narcotics
The seeds of cannabis sativa should be dropped from the list of narcotics in Slovakia as of March 2014, the government decided October 16. The decision must still be confirmed by parliament and the president, but it is considered to be only a formality, given that the parliament is dominated by the ruling Smer party and President Ivan Gašparovič is widely viewed as a Smer ally, the TASR newswire wrote. The proposal drawn up by the Health Ministry states that the seeds of Cannabis sativa do not contain psychoactive chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. However, the plants of cannabis sativa will remain on the list of forbidden substances. Meanwhile, eight more substances will be added to the blacklist, including Buphedrone, Desoxypipradrol and 4-Methylamphetamine. An intoxicant called GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) will be also reclassified from the 3rd group of narcotics to a less-restrictive 2nd group based on a resolution of the United Nations. This will allow doctors to prescribe drugs containing the substance.
Government blocks name change for Tešedíkovo municipality
In a 2012 referendum residents of Tešedíkovo (in south-western Slovakia, near the town of Šaľa) voted to officially change the town’s name to Pered – the Hungarian version of the municipal moniker. But the government rejected that proposal October 16.
Electoral Commission for regional elections sworn in
Thirteen members of the Central Electoral Commission (ÚVK) for the upcoming regional – or as officially called “Higher Territorial Units (VÚC)” – were sworn in October 16, Based on drawing a lot, Štefan Škrabák (Communist Party of Slovakia), who also sat on the commission for VÚC elections four years ago, became the commission chairman this time round, the TASR newswire wrote.
Government approves 2012 report on status of national minorities
The first detailed document on national minorities - the report of the government proxy for ethnic minorities on the status and rights of national minorities in 2012 - was approved by the government October 16. The report gives a comprehensive picture of the status of national minorities in the Slovak social, economic, political context, and looks at how the rights of national minorities are respected in terms of compliance with national and international laws and conventions. It also provides information on the use of minority languages, as well as on education, culture and participation in public affairs of minorities. The report also includes a comparison of the status of national minorities in 2012 with the previous years. Among other things, the report points out that in 2012 and 2013, the Government Office received only two complaints related to the potential violation of national minority's rights to use their language, the TASR newswire wrote. The report is based on facts and documents collected by the Office of the Government Proxy for National Minorities and on figures from the 2011 census, according to which 651,943 members of ethnic minorities live in Slovakia.
Corruption scandal at the State Fund for Housing Development uncovered
Two people have been accused within the corruption case concerning the allocation of state contributions from the State Fund for Housing Development. The Fund is tasked to support housing, especially for young families, through a system of advantageous loans and grants.
EU-harmonised inflation down to 1.1 percent in September
EU-harmonised inflation reached 1.1 percent year-on-year in September, the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) announced on October 16. Average harmonised inflation for the 12-month period up to September amounted to 2.2 percent year-on-year. The month-on-month figures in September were influenced mainly by downward price developments in food and non-alcoholic beverages (by 0.07 percentage points), in recreation and culture (0.03 p.p.), in furniture, household equipment and ordinary household maintenance (0.02 p.p.), and in alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.01 p.p.). Meanwhile, the following sectors increased the overall rate - accommodation, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.01 p.p.), clothing and footwear (0.02 p.p.), transport (0.02 p.p.), miscellaneous goods and services (0.02 p.p.), and education (0.05 p.p.), the TASR newswire wrote.
Conference on development aid opens in Bratislava
Slovakia’s share in development aid is the motif of the “10 Years under the SlovakAid Logo” conference that opened in Bratislava October 16, marking the anniversary of the agency. “SlovakAid is a success story of aid, solidarity and co-operation,” said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák – who opened the conference – as quoted by the TASR newswire. “Through SlovakAid, we have been present in almost 20 countries, and we have implemented more than 400 projects.” In addition to several foreign ministers attending the conference, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs attended and discussed Slovak aid in sub-Saharan Africa. Lajčák participated in several bilateral meetings as well, including signing an intergovernmental agreement on development co-operation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Natalia Gherman. Later in the day, Lajčák met with Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister for Information Society and Telecommunications of Montenegro Vujic Lazovic, as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Kenya Amina Mohamed.
Shutdown
THE AMERICAN shutdown looked like something that you would expect to happen in Slovakia. But although we left the presidential palace vacant for 15 months, had no attorney general for two and a half years, and aren’t really trying to find a new boss for the Supreme Audit Office, even after more than 600 days passed since the previous one finished his term, we have never managed to bring the entire government to a halt.
Slovakia faces hefty bill for Union
A COURT ruling makes it increasingly unlikely the state will avoid paying the €25-million bill that Achmea, the Dutch owner of the health insurer Union, has submitted to the country over controversial legislation which prevented privately-owned public health insurers from retaining profits.
Košice promotional video wins at Tourfilm festival
A VIDEO promoting Košice, Slovakia’s second biggest city and this year’s holder of the European City of Culture, has won the first prize at Tourfilm, an international festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.
Slovak diplomat quits OSCE in Montenegro without explanation
SLOVAK diplomat Lubomir Kopaj no longer heads the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the republic of Montenegro.
Bojnice citizens to protest against Baťa family’s demands
BOJNICE, a small town in central Slovakia dominated by its castle, is set to witness a protest on Saturday October 19.
Slovakia’s air third most polluted in Europe
A STUDY on air pollution recently published by the European Environment Agency shows that nine out of 10 Europeans are breathing bad air, with Slovakia having some of the most polluted air among the EU countries, the Sme daily reported on its website.
Slovakia close to losing arbitration against Achmea
Slovakia is a step closer to paying reimbursement to the Dutch company Achmea that owns the health insurance company Union. Last December, the arbitration court decided that the state has to pay €22 million in reimbursement and court fees of €3 million to Achmea, for the profit ban approved during the first tenure of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
If approved, Most-Híd will take 2014 budget to Constitutional Court
The state keeps adding new powers to municipalities but this is not accompanied by providing the required funding, Most-Híd MP and Martin Mayor Andrej Hrnčiar said.
Inspectors find Labour Code breach in Šibenik tunnel accident
National Labour Inspectorate (NIP) finished the investigation of an August 12 accident in the Šibenik highway tunnel under construction in the village of Spišský Hrhov in the Prešov Region that caused the death of a construction worker and injured five others.
U.S. Steel Košice preparing a huge energy investment
The metallurgical company U.S. Steel Košice is getting ready for a large energy investment. The steelmaker plans to modernise and reconstruct its coal-fired boilers for some €80 million euros.
Government press department head Tomáš rejects Raspberry award
THE ASSOCIATION of Spokespersons grants awards not only for the best spokespeople in Slovakia, but also a prize for the worst, known as the Raspberry. However, the association had to cancel this year’s Raspberry after its intended recipient, government press department head Erik Tomáš, intervened before the ceremony.
Chair of EU Parliament group visits Roma wall in Košice
THE PROBLEM with Roma is not the wall raised at the Luník VIII borough in Košice, but their integration, said Hannes Swoboda, chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, during his visit to the eastern Slovak city on October 14.
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- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
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- 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
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
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- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
