Archive of articles - April 2014, page 5
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Bomb threat stopped traffic in downtown Bratislava
TRAMS were suspended on Obchodna Street in downtown Bratislava the morning of April 23 after an anonymous person announced that a bomb had been placed in a bank on the street.
Slovak police revamp patrol car fleet
The Slovak Police Corps is carrying out the biggest revamp of patrol cars in its history. “They are replacing cars that have driven on average 300,000 kilometres or more, some 500,000 to 650,000 kilometres,” Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák told media on April 22, at the Volkswagen factory in Bratislava, where new VW Golf police patrol cars were handed over.
Chief-of-General-Staff Vojtek asks to step down
Chief-of-General-Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Peter Vojtek has requested to be released from his post, Defence Minister Martin Glváč announced on April 22. Vojtek approached him with the request about a month ago, Glváč told the TASR newswire. Glváč said that he will present the issue to the Slovak Security Council. He will also propose former Ground Forces Supreme Commander Milan Maxim, currently Defense Attaché in the Czech Republic, as Vojtek’s successor. Glváč thanked Vojtek for his work, adding that he’s counting on using him as an advisor in the future. “My health problems have led me to the decision,” said Vojtek. “I won’t cut my ties with the uniform, however. There were times when [the military] was my first family.” Glváč said that he expects President Ivan Gašparovič to react to Vojtek’s request soon. “Due to the current situation in Ukraine and other tasks of the Armed Forces, I expect that the president will respond as soon as possible - be it a positive or negative response,” said Glváč, as quoted by TASR.
OSMS organises public gathering in support of Hedviga Žáková
The Roundtable of Hungarians in Slovakia (OSMS) group on April 22 announced that it is organising a public gathering in Bratislava on April 30 in support of Hedviga Žáková (née Malinová) who nearly eight years ago “happened to be in the wrong place in the wrong time” and is now facing charges of providing false testimony concerning an alleged attack by Slovak nationalists. OSMS’s press conference on April 22 also featured representatives of ethnic-Hungarian parties Most-Híd, Béla Bugár, and Party of Hungarian Community (SMK), Guyla Bárdos and László Szigeti. “We’re remaining in the background. We support the event that is being organised by OSMS,” said Szigeti, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The event is also backed by the Reformed Christian Church, civil organisations such as Csemadok and the Association of Hungarian Parents in Slovakia. The Prosecutor-General’s Office earlier this month announced that it has pressed charges against Žáková for providing false testimony under oath. In August 2006, Žáková (who formerly went by the surname Malinová has since married) reported that she had been assaulted on her way to a university exam in Nitra. The police’s findings were released in September 2006, at a press conference by then interior minister Robert Kaliňák and then prime minister Robert Fico (both of whom currently hold the same positions), with Kaliňák stating “it is beyond doubt that the case did not happen”. He presented several pieces of evidence that he said backed his claim, including DNA samples. Kaliňák later went on to denounce her as a “pathological liar”. Žáková was charged in May 2007 with perjury and making false claims. The investigation of the case was closed in January 2014.
Government to fast-track change on privatisation of state property
The Economy Ministry is proposing to change the privatisation act in order to enable Slovak state to sell its shares of Slovak Telekom on the stock exchange. The majority owner of Slovak Telekom shares, the Deutsche Telekom company, was promised that the sale via the exchange will start before this summer, the Sme daily wrote in its April 22 issue. A memorandum on cooperation stipulates that Slovakia shall start looking for an investment bank as advisor on the transaction as soon as this month.
UPDATED: Fico spoke with Biden on phone again
PRIME MINISTER Robert Fico spoke with US Vice President Joe Biden by phone. The two discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, the TASR newswire reported on April 17.
Former ministry employee not linked to emissions case, says special prosecutor
NO HIGH-ranking official from the Environment Ministry profited from the 2008 emission quota sale, said special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik. This came in response to an earlier claim by the Fair-Play Alliance (AFP) that referred to documents provided by Swiss authorities who were looking into allegations of money laundering in the emissions case. The AFP considers the response insufficient.
Four construction firms involved in cartel excluded from tenders
THE NATIONAL Highway Company (NDS) has excluded four construction companies - Skanska, Doprastav, Strabag and Inžinierske Stavby - from participating in ongoing procurement tenders over their involvement in forming a cartel when competing for a highway construction order in a public tender over the Mengusovce-Jánovce stretch of the D1 cross-country highway, the Etrend.sk website reported on April 16.
Jobless rate down to 13.28 percent
THE NUMBER of registered unemployed in Slovakia stood at 13.28 percent in March, down by 0.21 percentage points compared to the previous month. In annual terms the number of jobless fell by 1.4 percentage points, the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (ÚPSVaR) informed on April 22.
General Staff member suspected of spying for Russia
AN OFFICER of the General Staff of Slovakia’s Armed Forces is suspected of engaging in espionage for Russia, private network TV Markíza reported in its main newscast on April 17.
Economy Ministry: Steel production crucial for Slovak industry
THE PRODUCTION of steel has been and will remain one of the main pillars of Slovakia's industrial development, and without industry, an indispensable part of which is steel production, it would be impossible to achieve stability in the country's economy and sustainable employment, the Economy Ministry wrote in a proposal for an Action Plan for a Competitive and Sustainable Steel Industry in Slovakia.
Interior Ministry silent on Ukrainian asylum applicants
THE INTERIOR Ministry has not provided any details about the Ukrainians who were reported to have requested asylum in Slovakia but were “talked out of it”, the Sme daily reported on April 18.
Slovakia spent €26.3 million on foreign missions in 2013
SLOVAKIA spent approximately €26.3 million on foreign missions in 2013, with the bulk of the sum - €25.35 million - covered from the budget of the Defence Ministry, the TASR newswire cited from the Report on Slovakia's Activities within the 2013 International Crisis Management set, to be discussed by the cabinet on April 23.
Slovakia against recording all interrogations of minors
SLOVAKIA opposes recording all police interrogations of minors, according to a preliminary stance on the European Parliament's Regulation Proposal on court procedures for children suspected of or prosecuted for crimes.
Stoko Plast to invest €3 million in Trnava
A COMPANY called Stoko Plast plans to invest €3 million in the production of automobile accessories at existing manufacturing sites in Trnava, according to the material submitted for environmental assessment, the TASR newswire reported. "With the implementation of this project, 40 jobs will be created in Trnava: 30 jobs in the manufacturing operations and another 10 technical administration jobs," said the investor, as quoted by TASR. The operation is scheduled to be launched in June.
‘Will Bratislava bury its history?’ asks Bratislava Open
THE RECENT archaeological research at Zuckermandel, an important part of the area at the foot of Bratislava Castle, known as Podhradie, is to be halted, the Bratislava Open civic association warned in mid April. The Zuckermandel findings were in a protected historical area, and as such they enjoy the biggest level of protection, activist claim.
Giant avalanche fell in Žiarska Dolina / Žiar Valley five years ago
IN THE Žiar Valley in the western Tatra mountains, a huge avalanche occurred on March 25, 2009. Luckily enough, the valley had been closed for several days, due to the imminent threat of the avalanche. The popular Žiar cottage was also closed.
Pit bull kills 78-year-old woman
A PIT bull fatally wounded a 78-year-old woman in the village of Figa, near the town of Rimavská Sobota (Banská Bystrica region) on April 6. The woman went to visit a neighbour on Saturday afternoon to get some eggs, but when she entered the fenced yard of the neighbour's house she was attacked by his dog. “The woman died during transport to the hospital,” the TASR newswire learned from Banská Bystrica police spokesperson Petra Vašková. “An autopsy has been ordered with the investigator to decide what charge will be laid afterwards based on its outcome.”
UPDATED: Harabin won't vacate chair easily; he gets a rival
SUPREME Court President Štefan Harabin is not ready to part from his job despite an earlier statement by Prime Minister Robert Fico that he would not recommend re-electing Harabin, whose five-year term ends in June. The Judicial Council, the top judicial body chaired by Harabin himself, proposed him as a candidate for the race on April 15, spurring critics to call on the justice minister to propose another strong candidate to face the incumbent president in the race.
Body of Žofia Bosniaková burned five years ago
THE BODY of Žofia Bosniaková, which had remained for 400 years in the chapel of the church in Teplička nad Váhom (close to the city of Žilina), was set on fire by a Žilina man, aged 31, five years ago, on April 1, 2009.
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- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
