Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NEWS
Drugs bust goes awry
Privatisation
A Czech truck driver spent
Christmas in a Turkish
prison cell after a bungled
returns to
sting operation involving
the Slovak police.
pg 2
the agenda
BY JANA LIPTÁKOVÁ
Making language legal Spectator staff
The deputy prime minister
for human rights and na-
tional minorities, Rudolf THE CHANGE of drivers at the wheel of
Chmel, spoke to the Slovak government in July re-opened the issue of
Spectator about his work privatisation in Slovakia. Compared to the
redrafting language laws negative attitude of former prime minister
and addressing issues fa- Robert Fico, the Iveta Radičová govern-
cing Roma citizens. ment wants to sell stakes held by the state
pg 3 in selected companies. But in its four-year
programme it has excluded privatisation of
what it calls strategic companies.
OPINION Even though any final decision has yet
to be made, analysts, experts and politi-
Misguided duty cians are already calling for the proceeds
SMK leader József Berényi's from privatisation to be used to patch up
application for Hungarian holes in the old-age pension saving scheme
citizenship poses more Epiphany is the end of holiday season for Slovaks. According to tradition, the legendary "three kings" visit Slovak and in the general government budget.
questions than it answers households to bring their wishes to families. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on that day. Photo: TASR Many analysts support the privatisa-
about how Slovakia's eth- tion plans of the Radičová government.
nic Hungarians are repres- “Basically there is no reason for the
ented.
BUSINESS FOCUS
pg 5
RTVS arrives; state to own any stakes in companies
whose main activity is the sale of services
which can be secured by the private
sphere,” Juraj Karpiš, analyst with the In-
stitute of Economic and Social Studies
Tweeting journalists
Social media, most signific-
antly Facebook and Twitter,
are changing the way
Nižňanský leaves (INESS) told The Slovak Spectator. “Mak-
ing business in these segments [heating,
telecommunications, transport, etc.] does
not belong among the basic functions of
the state.”
journalists do their job and
the way news is generated THE CONTOURS of Slovakia’s huge “During this transition period See SALE pg 4
and delivered. new public broadcaster are now we have to carry out a large number
emerging from the remains of its
BY BEATA BALOGOVÁ of administrative and legal steps
pg 6 Spectator staff
Analogue TV to end
predecessors, Slovak Radio (SRo)
and Slovak Television (STV), as part
of what the country’s culture minis-
linked to the establishment of the
institution since it is not emerging
on a green field but as a result of the
Ahead: a year
Digital TV will replace ana-
logue terrestrial broadcasts
by the end of 2012, but there
ter has called a substantial reform of
the public media in Slovakia. The
legislation to create Radio and Tele-
director of SRo. Her deputies Ľuboš
Machaj, formerly SRo programme
director, and Daniela Vašinová,
merger of two dissolved
institutions,” Zemková told SRo on
January 1. “It means that the new
of 'everyday
are some complaints about
insufficient information
during the transition.
vision of Slovakia (RTVS) came into
force on January 1, 2011. President
Ivan Gašparovič vetoed it twice, but
formerly financial director of SRo,
will manage television and radio re-
spectively. The interim manage-
institution is taking over all the ob-
ligations, receivables, legal status,
contracts, contractual relations and
politics'
pg 7 parliament overrode his objections. ment will now produce a provision- all the employees, thus it is a suc-
RTVS now has an interim dir- al budget and handle all the admin- cessor of those two institutions.”
ector in the form of Miloslava istrative tasks related to the merger
BY MICHAELA TERENZANI
Spectator staff
CULTURE Zemková, who was previously the of the two broadcasters. See RTVS pg 2
Join team!
citizenship, something made ernment should not have al- tion than just the citizenship
possible by a piece of legisla- lowed 2011 to arrive without of the SMK boss: it is the polit-
tion cooked up by Hungarian repealing the Fico-drafted le- ical representation of ethnic
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gislation. Hungarians in Slovakia, and
The Rock s.r.o./The Slovak Spectator is looking for a and his government. But it is highly doubtful whether politicians who cur-
The law allows ethnic that his Hungarian citizen- rently address their agenda
Hungarians living in coun- ship application will increase are able to abandon their petty
Circulation Manager tries bordering Hungary to in any way the likelihood of political fights for the sake of
acquire Hungarian citizen- this happening. what they claim to represent:
ship, if they chose to, with re- All it does is give Slota and better conditions for the Hun-
lative ease. his ilk oxygen for their sole garians in Slovakia to nourish
Job description Yet due to a counter- agenda: nationalism. In early their mother tongue and cul-
measure passed by the previ- January Berényi commented ture and use it without re-
ous Slovak government, led by that unfortunately there are striction or fear of penalty.
The Circulation Manager is responsible for the promotion and management of circulation and
distribution of all print and online products published by The Slovak Spectator. The position
involves communication both verbally and in writing with distribution partners, subscribers and
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increasing the Slovak Spectators’ circulation Ħgures. This requires the ability to communicate well
(verbally and in writing) in both English and Slovak.
EDITORIAL
Education: University education/student at university, preferably in Business or Marketing BEATA BALOGOVÁ - Editor - In - Chief
JAMES THOMSON - Assistant Editor
Language skills: English language - advanced (speaking, writing) DONALD SPATZ - Assistant Editor
JANA LIPTÁKOVÁ - Staff Writer
Computer skills: High degree of PC literacy (MS Oƍce, MS Outlook, MS Excel) MICHAELA TERENZANI - Staff Writer
DOMINIKA UHRÍKOVÁ - Staff Writer
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Additional
requirements: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to work independently, LAYOUT, WEB & IT
strong business acumen, good organizational skills, creative personality. TATIANA ŠTRAUCHOVÁ - Graphic Designer
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6 January 10 – January 16, 2011
MEDIA AND PR
TV in Slovakia to go fully BUSINESS FOCUS Next issue:
digital by 2012
Ministry of Culture
Minister: Daniel Krajcer
Social media have www.culture.gov.sk
changed how
Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSJ)
news is reported www.ssn.sk
JOB OFFERS
after botched sting operation
Experienced Java Developer
Continued from pg 2 It observed the UN Conven- KOGER (Information technology), Košice
tion Against Illicit Traffic in Min. education: University education (Master‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
Police criticised Narcotics, he added.
SAP SD Specialist (Junior - high potential)
The Slovak police have Consequences Accenture, s.r.o. (Information technology), Bratislava region
since come in for strong cri- Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
ticism in both Slovakia and The Office of the General
the Czech Republic. The Prosecutor confirmed to the Business Development Pre-Sales Specialist
Czech media wrote that the media that the operation ESET, spol. s r.o. (Information technology), Bratislava
truck driver had fallen victim was supervised by a special Min. education: University education (Master‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
to a bungled police opera- prosecutor and was fully in
tion, which they compared line with the law. The meth- AP/AR specialist
to an incident in early 2010 od of controlled delivery was GEODIS calberson Slovensko s.r.o. (Transport, logistics), Bratislava
which resulted in explosive used in order to enable the Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
material being carried aboard police to identify not only
an aeroplane from Poprad to the persons who directly C++ Developer
Ireland by an unwitting manipulated the cargo but PORTHUS SLOVAKIA s.r.o. (Information Technology), Žilina
Slovak citizen. also those who organised Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
Former interior minister and managed the deal.
Robert Kaliňák (Smer) called According to police, a IT Account delivery manager
on the Interior Ministry and Former interior minister Robert Kaliňák of Smer. Photo: SITA controlled delivery has been Grain Slovakia s.r.o. (Information technology), Bratislava
the police to apologise for used at least five times in the Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
their conduct. He claimed the last four years, most recently
Slovak authorities had lost in 2009, when the Czech Re- Senior Developer/Architect - Java
contact with their Turkish public asked Slovak police to REC Slovakia s.r.o. (Information Technology), Žilina
counterparts a day after the monitor a car which trans- Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
truck left Dunajská Streda, ported heroin from Turkey to
and under such circum- the Czech Republic via Slov- Continuous Improvement Leader/Process engineer
stances were obliged to halt akia. Swedwood Slovakia, s.r.o (Furniture making), Trnava, Majcichov
Min. education: University education (Master‘s degree)
the action, the TASR news- While Turkey has still not Languages: English - advanced
wire reported. provided an official explana-
While the Czech police tion of why their police de- Customer Service Engineer
were waiting for explana- tained the driver, Slovakia’s Nokia Siemens Networks s.r.o. (Other Commercial Activities), Bratislava
Min. education: University education (Master‘s degree)
tions from their Slovak coun- representative with Eurojust, Languages: English - intermediate
terparts, the Slovak Interior Ladislav Hamran, confirmed
Ministry announced that it to the Sme daily that he had IOS (iPhone, iPad) Developer
would demand an explana- already received “certain NESS KDC, s.r.o. (Information Technology), Košice
Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
tion from the Turks. answers” as to why the driver Languages: English - advanced
was detained.
Slovaks blame Turks The case might result in Program Manager
Slovakia being obliged to pay Orange Slovensko, a.s. (Telecommunications), Bratislava
Slovak Police Corps pres- damages to the driver and Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Current Police Corps president Jaroslav Spišiak. Photo: TASR Languages: English - advanced
ident Jaroslav Spišiak and the company that owns the
Interior Minister Daniel that Turkey is not yet ready to said they checked whether truck. The driver, although Underwriter
Lipšic both blamed the Turk- join the EU. the Red Crescent NGO had released from custody, was Amylum Slovakia, s.r.o. (Other industrial production), Trnava, Boleráz
ish side for the failure of the Police president Spišiak really ordered the disinfect- expelled by Turkey and Min. education: University education (Master‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
operation. Slovakia is plan- stressed that the Slovak po- ant that was declared in the banned from re-entering the
ning to file an official lice did not put the driver in customs declaration, even country for one year. That Manager Enterprise Security Risk and Compliance
protest, saying the Turkish danger, as they did not though “they must have means he will lose his job, as First Data Slovakia, s.r.o. (Information technology), Bratislava
police marred the operation, choose the shipper. He said known it was only a ficti- the company he works for Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: English - advanced
which had been intended to that if the police had not or- tious declaration”. Spišiak specialises only in transport
bust an international drug ganised the operation, the claimed the Turkish police to Turkey. Marketing Manager
gang. Instead, two people driver could have been de- breached the agreement ac- The company’s owner, Holcim (Slovensko) a. s. (Construction industry), Bratislava region, Rohožník
were taken into custody in tained in Turkey and faced a cording to which they were Martin Pavlát, said the truck Min. education: University education (Bachelor‘s degree)
Languages: Slovak - native speaker and English - advanced
Slovakia, but the organisers life sentence. supposed to let the driver un- is still being held in Turkey.
in Turkey were not caught. “In fact we saved him,” load the cargo and return to He said he has received no
“We have revealed an im- Spišiak said. Slovakia. help from Slovakia, and com-
portant group of drug produ- According to Spišiak, the According to Spišiak, the plained about suggestive re- Any interesting job offers
cers and we wanted to also problem arose when the operation was agreed on by marks by Spišiak that his
reveal the higher layers, the shipment arrived at a cus- seven countries, and came company might be a part of listed above? Find out
big fish,” Lipšic said, as toms warehouse in Turkey within the remit of Eurojust, an organised crime group, more at www.profesia.sk
quoted by the SITA newswire, and the Turkish police “star- the EU umbrella group for the Hospodárske Noviny
adding that this case proves ted behaving strangely”. He fighting international crime. daily reported.
SP 90256/8
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N A M E D A Y J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Weather updates and forecasts from across Slovakia Dá‰a Malvína Ernest Rastislav Radovan Dobroslav Kristína
A Slovak’s name day (meniny) is as important as his or her birthday. It is traditional to present friends or co-workers with a small gift,
In cooperation with the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute such as chocolates or flowers, and to wish them Všetko najlepšie k meninám (Happy name day)
CULTURE / NEWS January 10 – January 16, 2011 11
Benefit for
prisoners
THE OLD
3
School
Brothers
dance group
held a char-
ity perform-
A muted New Year ance on January 6 in the
town of Námestovo to sup-
port the work of the Orava
in some cities Youth Centre (Oravské
centrum mládeže) in help-
ing youths with drug prob-
THE TRADITION of celebrat- In Košice, several thou- lems, homeless people, as
ing the end of one year and sand people gathered around well as those in prison. The
the beginning of the next in the Immaculata sculptural fundraising programme is
the company of crowds in the group in the Main Street to traditionally organised for
street has become more pop- take part in a party hosted by January 6 as Epiphany, a
ular in Slovakia over recent Richard Hergott. As in Bratis- A traditional holiday season spread from Strečno in central Slovakia. Photo: TASR Slovak national holiday,
years and continued in 2010 lava, a new mayor, Košice’s means for most people a
too. In the capital, Bratislava, Richard Raši, personally took definite end of the holiday
Mayor Milan Ftáčnik praised
the fireworks but expressed
regret at the poor visibility
part in the celebrations.
In Prešov, local bands en-
tertained people; and after
Hidden cakes and stolen season and a large-scale re-
turn of employees to work
and students back to school
caused by heavy fog. The
head of communications for
the city council, Milan Vajda,
midnight a disco continued
well into the small hours.
Banská Bystrica welcomed in
violins: New Year in Zemplín and the replacement of the
festive atmosphere of pre-
vious weeks by everyday
explained to the SITA news- the New Year with a pro- THE FIRST day enter the house on the first that the man of the household normality. But the organ-
1
wire that this was caused by gramme full of music hosted of the New Year day of the year and the home was supposed to get up first isers of the traditional
significant humidity. The by Ján Snopko in SNP Square. in the Zemplín had to be tidied up and clean. and bring fresh water from the Orava event see things a
numbers celebrating in the Originally, there should have region in the “On this day, too, like dur- stream for the whole family to little bit differently.
streets were similar to previ- been no fireworks due to mu- easternmost ing Christmas, carol singers, wash themselves before put- “We have been organ-
ous years, with several thou- nicipal austerity measures, part of Slovakia or well-wishers, went round ting on clean clothes and leav- ising the benefit pro-
sands attending, including but a local businessman and had many folklore traditions. the houses in the village. Their ing for the New Year’s mass at gramme for this very day so
foreign visitors. councillor sponsored them at People, of course, wished each wishes were mostly oriented the village church. that we give the message to
The evening show was the last moment. other everything good in the towards the farm’s prosperity According to Kocák, mu- people that this is not true,
also comparable with recent In Trojičné (Trinity) coming year, but they also ob- but they also included wishes nicipal representatives were that the Christmas season
years. The main stage was in Square in Trnava, around 200 served many customs which of good luck, good health, and usually elected in the first did not end but rather con-
Main Square, while Hviez- people celebrated the New they believed would bring a peace and love in the family,” days of the year. “The muni- tinues. Although the decor-
doslavovo Square hosted a Year with a firework display, prosperous farm as well as Kocák explained. cipal council used to hire and ations at homes and in
simultaneous programme for only to leave soon after- family health and cohesion. He added that on New choose the communal at- streets disappear, the good
revellers. The main novelty wards. The city council de- “The first day of the New Year’s Day, villagers ate pork, tendant; administrative and the love in our hearts
in Bratislava was the mass cided not to offer any further Year had a special power, vari- symbolising wealth and companies elected the bell- that is shown by giving to
launch of Chinese, or Kong- programme, SITA wrote. For ous bans on specific activities prosperity. Part of the menu founder, sacristan and those in need cannot
ming, lanterns. The civic as- years, Trnava has been the were connected with it, oth- was also a cake called gravedigger,” he said. disappear,” Branislav
sociation Želaj si (Make a only regional centre with no erwise the household or the “kračun”. Members of the Kocák described another Kožuch, the head of the
Wish) came up with the idea, Silvester (New Year’s Eve) farm would not fare well,” household ate some of the cake curious local tradition from Orava Youth Centre told the
which found a ready re- celebrations other than fire- Štefan Kocák of the already on Christmas Day but when young men started or- SITA newswire.
sponse among Bratislava in- works. However, this year Hornozemplínske osvetové that evening the head of the ganising balls at the start of The dancers from the
habitants as well as visitors. Žilina too, after two years of stredisko (Upper Zemplín house was supposed to put it the 20th century, first on Old School Brothers presen-
Several hundred sky lan- hosting a wider range of Education Centre) in Vranov on the house-supporting tim- January 6, the Epiphany, and ted their show Z ulice hore
terns, which allow people to events, had only fireworks. nad Topľou told the TASR ber – called the mešterná later on New Year’s Day. To (Up from the Street) to those
make a wish and as they let Incoming Mayor Igor Choma newswire. hreda – and it was to be taken make sure they would have who paid an admission fee
the lantern fly high into the decided to cancel the celebra- He said one tradition was down only on New Year’s Day. musicians for their dance, the of €7 that will boost the
sky, floated off into the fog tions due to the city’s poor not to borrow anything on the Kocák explained that young men took the violin activities and work of the
from 23:00. financial situation. first day of the year so that the Zemplín residents also from the first violinist in the youth centre. “There was
farm would be held together in avoided eating poultry or fish local folk band to make sure more than an hour of dance
the coming year and nothing at the beginning of the year, that the musicians would and music where different
would go amiss. He added that fearing that their luck would really keep their promise and “street-dance styles” were
it also had to be a man to first “fly away or flow away” and play at the ball. intermixed,” Kožuch said.
2
arrived at the Danube not even have to use filters as the fog cre-
embankment on January ated natural protection,” Maštenová
4 to watch the partial ec- said. The partial solar eclipse was visible
lipse of the sun in a pro- from about 8:00 to 11:00.
gramme organised by the The next partial solar eclipse in Slov-
Slovak National Museum (SNM). “In the akia will be around noon on March 20,
morning the weather looked ideal; the 2015. The next total solar eclipse will be
sky was clear and Venus was shining very on November 13 and 14, 2012 but it will be
clearly in it. But later when the sun star- visible only from northern Australia and
ted to rise, the air became warmer and fog mostly uninhabited regions in the
started to form,” Katarína Maštenová of southern Pacific. The next total solar ec-
the Natural History Museum of the SNM The solar eclipse in Stará Lesná. Photo: TASR lipse in Slovakia will come on October 7,
told the TASR newswire. 2135 but it will be visible only in northern
Because it was then not possible to Danube, a group of enthusiasts drove to parts of Slovakia. The next total solar ec-
Lanterns with wishes: New Year in Bratislava. Photo: TASR see the solar eclipse from the banks of the Koliba, the highest peak in Bratislava. “It lipse in Bratislava will be on May 16, 2227.