President Ivan Gašparovič has praised the skill of Slovakia’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in obtaining financial resources in the form of grants and sponsorships.
He was speaking at a New Year's meeting with representatives of NGOs and non-profit organisations on Wednesday, January 21.
Gašparovič said that the activities of NGOs specialising in education, science and social issues were indispensable. He thanked the organisations for their work and help, noting that they sometimes take on the role of the state, the TASR newswire wrote.
Branislav Mamojka, chairman of the National Council of Citizens With Disabilities praised the government's statement, released when the country took over the chair of the European Council in 2007, in which the role of NGOs and the government's will to co-operate was stressed.
However, Mamojka expressed disappointment with the Social Services Act and the amendment on budget rules, which he said is too strict, as it allows funding to be obtained only for activities that are specifically mentioned in the act.
Mamojka also asked Gašparovič for his help in ratifying the European Social Charter, because the Government has proposed only limited backing for the document, expressing objections to some parts of it. "These objections are unjustified," he said. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
