Newspaper editor cites owners' interference

Národná Obroda published a statement by its editor-in-chief, Tatiana Repková, on June 28 that she remains responsible for the daily and is currently negotiating with VSŽ Košice, the paper's new owners. In an interview with Radio Free Europe the previous day, Repková said she recently handed in her resignation to the paper's publisher, NOFRA, which is almost wholly-owned by VSŽ, the eastern Slovak steel giant. She said interference in her work by NOFRA representatives was the reason for her decision. VSŽ reportedly also now owns about half of the most popular private radio station in Slovakia, Fun Radio. This comes on the heels of VSŽ's purchase of the opposition eastern Slovak daily Slovenský Východ last fall, which it merged with the pro-government regional daily Lúč.