Foreigners in Slovakia, page 41
News and features on living in Slovakia
An enduring trading relationship
WITHOUT much ado Austria has gradually become one of the most important economic partners of Slovakia over the last 20-plus years. The fall of the Iron Curtain, in both the political and physical sense, in 1989 brought business opportunities on both sides of the border, an inflow of investments worth billions of euros into Slovakia, and an intensification of bilateral trade. Economic cooperation between the two countries continues to grow, again without any great attention being paid to it, since official intervention has not been needed now for several years. Nonetheless, Austrian businesspeople have noticed conditions for doing business in Slovakia worsening recently, even though they remain optimistic with regards to the future.
Rail connections in the spotlight
SLOVAK Prime Minister Robert Fico paid an official visit to Austria in mid January, during which he met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, and other representatives of Austria, to discuss bilateral relations, with an emphasis on the economy, transport, energy and cross-border cooperation.
Austrian booth at Danubius Gastro
AUSTRIAN producers of food and gastronomic equipment, as well as winemakers from Burgenland, attended the 20th year of the international gastronomy fair Danubius Gastro. The event was part of the annual tourism fair held in Bratislava between January 24 and 27, the Austrian Embassy wrote on its website.They exhibited their products at a joint booth, at which the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, represented in Slovakia by Advantage Austria, was present too.
Austria: General facts
Political system: federal parliamentary republicCapital: ViennaTotal area: 83,855 square kilometresPopulation: about 8.3 millionOfficial language: GermanCurrency: euroSource: www.austria.at
Cooperation deepens
BRATISLAVA and Vienna will cooperate more closely in the area of crisis management, particularly in protection against catastrophes, based on a bilateral agreement signed by Bratislava Mayor Milan Ftáčnik and Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl in mid February in Vienna, the TASR newswire reported.
Hitting renewable energy targets
THE WORLD’S sole nuclear plant to have been completed but never plugged in was built in Austria. The country’s rejection of nuclear power in a national referendum prevented the plant from ever becoming operational. Today it is the site of the country’s biggest photovoltaic park, and has even been used as a filming location, explained Markus Wuketich, the ambassador of Slovakia’s environmentally conscious neighbour, Austria.
'Old–fashioned diplomacy no longer works'
A COUPLE is riding a yellow sleigh while a purple and magenta horse stands peacefully in a village framed by a purple meadow and a grass-green sky: this is a simplified description of a Slovak-inspired acrylic canvas painted by Nicolaos D Kanellos, the Greek ambassador to Slovakia. Kanellos believes that old-fashioned diplomacy no longer works and that one needs to search for different ways of self-expression and participation in society. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Kanellos about the dangers of shadow economies, reforms in his homeland as well as the challenges of developing tourism.
A paradise for English- language courses
MANY may think of English-as-a-foreign-language courses in Malta as a “holiday with a few hours of lessons for groups of partying young people”, says Colin Scicluna, adding that there might be some element of truth to that image. Nevertheless, Malta’s ambassador to Slovakia readily adds that language schools in Malta, the country which “has carved quite a niche for itself in the teaching of English”, are fully accredited and internationally recognised institutions, and the young are not the only beneficiaries. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Ambassador Scicluna about the challenges of immigration that Malta faces, the country’s energy dependence as well as the potential for cooperation between Malta and Slovakia.
Maltese institutions
Embassy of Malta (based in Vienna)Head of Mission: Colin Scicluna (Ambassador of Malta to Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Kosovo)www.foreign.gov.mt
Few economic ties; new investments
GREECE is known in Slovakia today primarily for its economic problems, but it has also been a favourite holiday destination for Slovaks. During the third quarter of 2012 it was the third most popular destination, after Croatia and Turkey. But business connections between Slovakia and Greece remain rather thin.
Malta: General facts
Political system: republicCapital: VallettaTotal area: 316 square kilometresPopulation: 400,000Official language: Maltese, EnglishCurrency: euro (€)Source: CIA World Factbook
'Preserving non-negotiable values'
EVEN when squeezed by an economic crisis, there are non-negotiable values which need to be preserved, as these have been passed on from generation to generation, says Marios Kountourides, ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Slovakia. He lists culture and traditions unique to each nation as being among such values. Slovakia has a special aura for the ambassador, who is enchanted by Slovakia’s natural beauty but above all the warmth of its people.
Potential not yet being exploited
IN THE PAST, replying to the question “Where did you spend your holiday?” with the phrase “Na malte” did not mean you had been enjoying the beaches of the Mediterranean, but had instead spent the break engaged in construction or repair works: “malta” in Slovak means “mortar”. This play on words has not been used so often lately, as Malta has become a popular travel destination, either for Slovaks interested in sightseeing or learning English. On the other hand, economic cooperation between Malta and Slovakia, while far from thriving, offers niches waiting to be filled.
Greek institution in Slovakia
Embassy of GreeceHead of Mission: Nicolaos D Kanelloswww.mfa.gr/bratislava
Cypriot institution in Slovakia
Cypriot EmbassyHead of Mission: Marios Kountourideswww.embassypages.com
Cyprus: General facts
Political system: presidential republicCapital: NicosiaTotal area: 9,251 square kilometresPopulation: 862,000 (in the Government controlled area, as of 2011)Official language: Greek, TurkishCurrency: euro (€)Source: CIA World Factbook and the Cypriot Embassy
Greece: General facts
Political system: parliamentary republicCapital: AthensTotal area: 131,957 square kilometresPopulation: 10.8 millionOfficial language: GreekCurrency: euro (€)Source: CIA World Factbook
Cyprus and the UNFICYP mission
Since 1964 the UN has been operating a peacekeeping mission, UNFICYP, to prevent clashes between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island, according to the official UNFICYP website.
Australia – where multiculturalism works
A glossary of words as well as an exercise related to this article are also published online.
Room for commercial ties to grow
ENCOURAGING young Slovaks to study in Australia seems to David Stuart a great way for Australians and Slovaks to learn more about each other and their countries, and he notes that 634 student visas were issued to Slovak nationals during 2011 and 2012. Australia’s ambassador-designate to Slovakia also explains that a bilateral work-and-holiday visa arrangement would make it possible for young people who have finished, or are undertaking, a university degree to combine tourism with limited periods working in each other’s countries. Stuart believes that such an agreement would result in an increase in the numbers visiting in each direction.
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