Archive of articles - September 2014, page 12
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Journalist accused of libel receives support from media watchdogs
JOURNALIST Dušan Karolyi, a former reporter for the Trend economic weekly who could face a five-year prison sentence for libel, received support from OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović, media freedom watchdog International Press Institute (IPI) as well as several public Slovak figures. General Prosecutor Jaromír Čižnár filed a motion to scrutinise the legality of his prosecution.
Priest offended Holocaust victims in speech
PRIEST Emil Floriš said during a mass in the town of Čadca (Žilina Region) that Jews in the whole of Europe were transported to concentration camps because they faced public hatred and many times drew that hatred upon them themselves, according to video published by the Sme daily webpage on September 5.
Smer wants to recall Harabin critic
ONE week ahead of the election of the Supreme Court chairperson by the Judicial Council, the deputy speaker of parliament, Jana Laššáková of the ruling Smer party, proposed to recall from the council Dušan Čimo, elected in February 2012 by the rightist parties.
Third round of sanctions should not significantly affect Slovakia
A THIRD round of sanctions should not affect Slovak firms exporting to the Russian market nor the Slovak branch of the Russian bank Sberbank. The sanctions are to be adopted on September 8 and effective the following day. However, it is possible that the current truce between the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian separatists could postpone the acceptance of the sanctions.
Fico: Ukraine joining NATO would be big mistake
UKRAINE’s accession to NATO would be a big mistake, Prime Minister Robert Fico said during a political discussion on public broadcaster RTVS on September 6, adding that Slovakia’s eastern neighbour should remain neutral. The possibility of joining the EU is an opportunity for this country; however, adopting painful measures would be necessary, according to him.
Kiska: No doubt that Russian soldiers are fighting in eastern Ukraine
THE TRUTH cannot be found anywhere in between when it comes to the Ukrainian crisis, Slovak President Andrej Kiska stated after the NATO summit in Newport on September 5. He added that he appreciates boosting NATO’s military presence in eastern Europe.
Slovakia might build NATO logistics base in Poprad
SLOVAKIA is planning to build a logistics base in Poprad for use by NATO, Slovak Defence Minister Martin Glváč stated after the end of the NATO summit in Newport, Wales on September 5. Prime Minister Robert Fico supports providing training and logistical aid for NATO forces, but rejects having a NATO base on Slovak territory.
Penta group enters media sector
IN ADDITION to real estate, health care, retail and financial services, the financial group Penta Investments has now entered the media market via cooperation with the Dutch investment group V 3 Holdings.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Polish institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of the Republic of PolandAmbassador: Tomasz Chłońbratyslawa.msz.gov.pl
Legendary train Slovenská strela turns 78
THE LEGENDARY train Slovenská strela (Slovak Missile, in reference to its speed), which connects Bratislava and Prague, celebrated its 78th anniversary. On July 13, 1936, the train appeared on the tracks for the first time and transported passengers between the two cities in 4 hours and 52 minutes.
Slovakia up in competitiveness
SLOVAKIA slightly improved its competitiveness ranking, up three places from last year to 75th in the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on September 3.Róbert Kičina of the Business Alliance of Slovakia (PAS), however, still considers the country’s position unfavourable and calls for measures to improve the situation.
Referendum goes to court
JUDGES of the Constitutional Court will have to decide on the constitutionality of the questions posed in a referendum on the so-called protection of family.
Difficulties in air travel connection
EVEN though Poland and Slovakia are divided by mountains, and existing cross-border road infrastructure is far from ideal, there are currently no direct regular flights between the two countries. There have been some attempts to launch such routes, but interest was too low to maintain them. Yet, hopes that direct routes will be made available again in the future have not faded completely, as tourism experts believe that a direct flight would help foster tourism in the High Tatras.
General facts: Poland
Political system: Parliamentary democracyCapital: WarsawTotal area: 312,679 square kilometresPopulation: over 38 millionLanguage: PolishCurrency: złoty
Slovakia marks national holidays
THE FINAL weekend of August was longer than usual for Slovaks, as the country marked two major national holidays on August 29 and September 1. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) in Banská Bystrica on August 29, SNP Museum Director Stanislav Mičev estimated for the SITA newswire.
Reverse gas flow launched
WITH the winter approaching and Russia and Ukraine having yet to agree over the resumption of natural gas supplies, the reverse flow pipeline from Slovakia to Ukraine has been officially launched. High Representative of the European Union Klaus-Dieter Borchardt together with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk ceremonially turned on the valve of the Vojany-Uzhgorod pipeline on September 2.“The introduction of the reverse gas flow from Vojany to Uzhgorod is an important event both in Slovak-Ukrainian relations and in the European context,” said Fico, as cited by the TASR newswire. “The solution of the reserve flow was the best possible solution from the technical, time, as well as legal point of view.”Fico added that the reverse gas flow will only be possible if the supplies for Slovak consumers are not endangered. He stressed that the reverse pipeline will contribute to increasing the energy security of Ukraine.“Slovakia, as a country almost 100 percent dependant on the import of energy sources, understands themes like energy security or diversification of energy supplies,” said Fico.
Journalist might face prison
POLICE have charged journalist Dušan Karolyi with libel for his story published in the Trend weekly in August 2013 about a former employee of the Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (ÚBOK), Jaroslav Dujava, who allegedly abused his powers.
Gas interconnection
SLOVAKIA and Poland should be interconnected by a gas pipeline within several years as Slovak gas transmission system operator Eustream is making progress in implementing its planned investment projects. These projects form a vital part of the proposed North-South Gas Corridor as envisaged and supported by the European Union, which includes building gas infrastructure connections between Hungary and Poland.
Economic cooperation far from fully tapped
BEING neighbours does not automatically mean that opportunities for economic cooperation are fully tapped. This is the case with Poland and Slovakia, two countries which, despite sharing a border more than 540-kilometres long, are divided by mountains and far-from-ideal cross-border road infrastructure. Experts cite this underdeveloped transport infrastructure as one of the main obstacles to better cooperation.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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 ›
