List of author's articles
Report tracks rise in domestic violence
DESPITE recent government approval of legislation to help victims of domestic violence the situation for many remains bleak, a recent study has shown.While violence in the home is growing, society continues to refuse to address what is considered a taboo subject, a report by the Bratislava International Centre for Family Studies (MSSR) has said. The situation gives little hope to victims and makes it impossible to accurately map the state of domestic violence in Slovakia, the centre added."Something must be done," Jarmila Filadelfiová, one of the authors of the MSSR report 'Domestic Violence in Slovakia' told The Slovak Spectator.
EC report warns of fiscal risks
GROWING budget risks must be dealt with if predicted economic growth over the next 18 months is not to be threatened, the European Commission (EC) has warned in a new report.In the midst of growing concerns over a possible massive overshoot of the Slovak state budget deficit this year, the EC has told the government that the economy will grow by as much as 4.2 per cent in 2003, but only if a tight rein is kept on public finances."Strict control of expenditures and the implementation of measures against budget risks are unavoidable if budget targets are to be fulfilled," the EC said April 24 in its regular spring economic outlook for EU candidate states.
Former spy boss Lorenc escapes jail
THE LAST head of the dreaded Czechoslovak secret police (ŠtB) will not go to jail for ordering the illegal arrest and detention of dissidents in the Velvet Revolution, a military court has ruled.An earlier ruling handing Alojz Lorenc a 15-month suspended sentence for abuse of public office was upheld by a court in Trenčín April 24, bringing a definitive end to a process that began with his arrest for communist crimes in 1990.But some politicians called the sentence an insult to those who had suffered under the ŠtB.
Old ŠtB agents enjoy security
A NEW law that would see former Czechoslovak secret police (ŠtB) agents pushed out of state security forces has failed to win the backing of cabinet.Just hours after the last ŠtB chief, Alojz Lorenc, escaped jail for communist crimes (see story this page), ministers decided on April 24 that legislation proposed by MP Ján Langoš would have to be reworked.Some politicians said immediately afterwards that public officials were refusing to deal with the country's communist past because of their own links to the brutal regime.
Pro-EU Slovaks hail defeat of nationalism in Hungary
STRAINED relations between Bratislava and Budapest appear set to improve following the victory of the Socialist Party and the Liberal Alliance of Free Democrats in Hungary's parliamentary elections.Stalled top-level political co-operation is expected to be revived and aggressive nationalist rhetoric over controversial legislation abandoned after the second and final round of voting April 21 that produced record voter turn-out."A European rather than nationalist direction has prevailed in Hungary's elections," Slovak Prime Minister (PM) Mikuláš Dzurinda said of the vote.
Mob boss cleared of murder charges
ONE OF THE most followed and controversial criminal processes in Slovak history has ended with an alleged gangland boss cleared of murder and possibly free within a year.The Supreme Court on April 23 cleared Mikuláš Černák of the 1997 killing of Polish citizen Grzegorz Szymanek, upholding an earlier ruling by a regional court and ending a five-year legal process dogged by witness murders and recanted testimonies.The verdict was greeted with dismay by some members of the legal community. "I heard his earlier testimony and I am convinced that Černák killed [Szymanek]," said Jozef Takáč, deputy attorney general, after the verdict was announced.
Slota wants SMK banned
THE RIGHT-wing Real Slovak National Party (PSNS) has launched legal action to have the ruling Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) banned for what it claims is attempts to "destroy the Slovak state".PSNS leaders have said comments made by SMK deputy leader Miklós Duray supporting the nationalist platform of the Hungarian Fidesz (Young Democrats' Union) party prior to Hungarian elections are evidence of the entire party's support for his views.
Civil Code reform to spark new lending
BUSINESSES in the under-invested small- and medium-sized sector will be able to get loans far more easily under legislation recently approved by government.Changes to the Civil Code approved by ministers April 17 will allow businesses in the sector, seen as crucial to the future competitiveness of the Slovak economy in an enlarged European Union, to use movable assets as collateral on loans, while banks' positions as creditors will also be strengthened."This is a really important change and a big step forward. It's perfect legislation and will bring massive opportunities," said Vladimír Tvaroška, advisor to Deputy PM for the Economy Ivan Mikloš.
ST again in hot water with Internet providers
FIXED-LINE telecoms monopoly Slovenské Telekomunikácie (ST) has rejected accusations by a civic association that it is deliberately delaying the introduction of new technology that would make Internet access cheaper and quicker.Reacting to claims from the group Internet for Everyone that it has deliberately delayed introducing DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology despite promises to do so last year, ST said the service was not yet being offered for technical reasons."Slovak Telecom is preparing to launch this service in the second half of 2002. Obviously this depends on the successful realisation of a pilot service. It is a demanding project which requires complex and precise technological preparation," the firm said in a prepared response to questions.
Justice Ministry gives up on court improvements
JUSTICE Minister Ján Čarnogurský has defended the judiciary amid growing discontent from his own prime minister at the speed of Slovak courts.Following a demand from PM Mikuláš Dzurinda for a report on the state of Slovak courts, the minister presented cabinet April 10 with a summary of the number of cases outstanding in courts and measures implemented so far that have improved judicial efficiency.Čarnogurský admitted that new legislation to speed up court processes could not be submitted now with only five months before parliamentary elections, but proposed measures for future governments to adopt.
Security laws get Nato-ready support
DEFENCE Ministry officials have welcomed what they see as a strong sign of across-the-board political consensus on Nato entry after the passing of new legislation on the state's role in war and crises.Replacing legislation dating back to the 1960s, the entire number of MPs present in parliament, 113, voted April 11 to support the Law on Security During War, Wartime Emergency, Martial Law and State of Crisis.Although the law was expected to be passed, the level of support took those who had worked on the new legislation by surprise.
Government downplays Jan-Mar budget deficit
THE FINANCE Ministry has claimed that this year's state budget targets are not under threat despite a first quarter deficit of 40 per cent of the 2002 target.Figures released at the beginning of this month showed that the state budget deficit had hit Sk15.2 billion from January to March, 40 per cent of the full-year target of Sk38 billion.Following the release of the data the Finance Ministry said the high figure had come on the back of early 2002 expenditures for financing the Sk100 billion restructuring of the banking sector that has been carried out over the last three years.
Arab residents protest for peace in Palestine
Arabs and Slovaks launched a joint protest in Bratislava over the continuing conflict in the Middle East.Carrying banners with slogans such as "Israeli generals are war criminals" and "Freedom for Arafat, freedom for Palestinians", as many as 100 Slovaks and members of the Arab community met April 5 on Bratislava's SNP square, demanding Israeli troop withdrawals from Palestine and calling for more awareness among Slovaks of the conflict."We want to show the people of Slovakia what is really going on in the West Bank. We are also doing this because there are a lot of Slovaks who support our cause and believe that we have a right to our own state," said Ibrahim Al Khatib, an Arab resident in Slovakia and one of the organisers of the protest.
Czechs, Slovaks trade beef bans
WORRIED Slovak cattle farmers, already fearing lower demand for beef at home, are warning of more problems following a decision by the Czech Republic to ban imports of cattle, beef and beef products from Slovakia.Having exported more than 2,500 head of cattle to the Czech Republic in the first quarter of this year, the farmers say contracts worth hundreds of thousands of crowns are now threatened."We've already exported 250 tonnes of meat to the Czech Republic this year. We had contracts prepared for exports of 100 tonnes a month. In Slovakia we've got nowhere to put that kind of volume," said Ján Svitek, manager at the Sereď Meat Company in western Slovakia.
Police target mob groups in 2002
The remanding in custody of Dalibor Listig is the latest in a series of high-profile police successes against organised crime groups.Since the beginning of this year police have deployed hundreds of officers in sometimes country-wide operations to break up organised crime gangs.In January police carried out nation-wide raids on extremist gangs' operations, following this up weeks later with action against a number of gangs involved in trafficking women.
Economic good mood expands to three-year high
THE STATISTICAL Office (ŠÚ) every month compiles an Index of Economic Sentiment (IES), a complex indicator of confidence in the economy derived from outlook surveys in industry, construction and retail, as well as consumer opinion polls. The Office said the IES rose four points last month to 102.4, with 1995 sentiment representing the base value of 100.The new high came on the back of strong optimism in industry regarding production rises and demand for industrial products.More than 85 per cent of industrial firms have said demand is at seasonal averages, while more than half predict industrial production in the second quarter of the year to grow.
Police probing soft treatment of alleged mob boss
POLICE say they have put one of the country's most feared underworld bosses behind bars.Dalibor Listig, the 21 year-old alleged head of an east-Slovak underworld gang, was remanded in custody at the end of March on charges of causing grievous bodily harm and blackmail, Police Presidium Vice-President Jaroslav Spišiak announced on March 27.The arrest, which came after a woman told police that she had been hospitalised following a brutal beating by Listig, is the latest in a series of police crack-downs on organised crime gangs this year (see related story below).
Drukos boss Mojžiš charged with fraud
CHARGES of fraud have been laid against František Mojžiš, one of the country's most prominent businessmen.Police said March 27 that Mojžiš, head of the unlicensed finance company Drukos, used misleading advertisements to raise over Sk60 million this year from 2,091 people for his firm. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.Drukos closed branches of its daughter company, BDV Družstvo, on February 25 in the midst of a nationwide crisis over failing non-banking entities. The firm held billions of crowns in client deposits when its doors shut.
Slovakia wins case on EU tax chapter
SLOVAKIA has closed a key European Union entry 'chapter', winning important concessions from Brussels on transition periods for taxes.Following 15 months of negotiations Slovakia closed the taxation chapter in the acquis communautaire - a pre-accession legal harmonisation document - on March 21.Ján Figeľ, Slovakia's chief negotiator for EU entry, announced that the country had been granted several transition periods on taxes, guaranteeing lower tax rates on gas, electricity, and distilled spirits for a number of years after entry into the Union.
Border shooting a call for action
SLOVAKIA'S Chief EU negotiator Ján Figeľ has said more co-operation is needed with neighbouring states, especially Ukraine, to ensure the safety of the country's eastern border.Following the fatal March 19 shooting of a soldier and a border guard after what is believed to have been a security lapse, Figeľ and Interior Minister Ivan Šimko have admitted more can be done to beef up security on what may be part of the European Union's easternmost border in two years."This event could indirectly affect our pre-accession negotiations. We are now approaching discussions on justice and interior legislation, and this event has given a climate of reality to our negotiations," Figeľ said.
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