New highways plan tabled

MORE HIGHWAYS and better

roads have topped the wish-
lists of investors and busi-
nesses in Slovakia for the past
two decades. But despite
promises to build them com-
ing from all sides of the polit-
ical spectrum over the past 20
years, a cross-country high-
way linking the western part
of the country with the east
still remains unrealised.
The government of Robert
Fico, which ended its term in
office in2010 without deliver-
ing on its original highway
promises, handed the chal-
lenge on to the government
of Iveta Radiov. Minister of
Transport, Construction and
Regional Development Jn
Fige has now tabled for in-
terdepartmental review a
plan for highway and dual
carriageway construction for
the period2011 to 2014.
The minister says the
plan, which among other
things assumes a complete
connection with tunnels
between east and west by
late 2016 or early 2017, is real-
istic. ubomr Palk, direct-
or of the ilina-based Trans-
port Research Institute
(VD), says it can be de-
livered if the state meets cer-
tain conditions, for example
by allocating more money for
highway construction from
the state budget.
But Figes predecessor as
minister, ubomr Vny,
remains sceptical, arguing
that the governments ambi-
tions do not seem to have
appropriate financial cover-
age, while tenders for high-
way construction are not
properly prepared.
SeeROADpg12
SELECT FOREX RATES
benchmark as of June 2
CANADA CAD 1.41
CZECHREP. CZK 24.53
RUSSIA RUB40.40
GREAT BRITAIN GBP 0.88
HUNGARY HUF 265.95
JAPAN JPY 116.60
POLAND PLN 3.97
USA USD 1.45
NEWS
Nationalistssplit
Anna Belousovov, once the
most prominent represent-
ative of the Slovak National
Party (SNS), has left and
will seek to establisha new
political party.
pg 2
Nomoreillusions
Transport Minister Jn
Fige spoke to The Slovak
Spectator, setting out his
newplans for highway con-
struction, reformof the
railways, and leasing of the
Bratislava Airport.
pg 4
OPINION
Out of theshadows
Exposure to diversity still
makes many Slovaks un-
comfortable. Leading
politicians could play a
stronger role inshowing
themthat they have no
reasonto fear.
pg 5
BUSINESSFOCUS
Thestate's roleinCSR
Corporate social responsib-
ility (CSR) is not analien
concept inSlovakia, but the
government is looking to
see howit cannudge the
process along, using ex-
amples fromabroad.
pg 6
Alawonvolunteering
Ina move that NGOs have
long called for, the gov-
ernment is considering a
draft lawonvolunteering
that may clear up some is-
sues that have plagued this
area.
pg 7
CULTURE
Openchurches
Churches around Slovakia
opened their doors to curi-
ous visitors onthe evening
of May 27. Among them
were several inTrnava,
where crowds queued to see
some of the churchs' hidden
nooks and crannies.
pg 15
Justice Minister Luciaitansk, speakinginparliament onJune 1, urgedMPs tovote for achange tothe lawonpro-
secution. Her call was heededthe next day, whenthe lawpassed(see story below). Photo: TASR
Prosecutors forced to
open up by new law
IN ORDER to increase public confid-
ence in the judiciary it will also be
necessary to shine more light on the
prosecution process, Justice Minis-
ter Lucia itansk argued earlier
this year. The 76 MPs who voted on
June 2 for a revision to the law on
prosecution seem to agree. They
have helped itansk move one
step closer to her declared goal:
bringing more transparency to the
prosecution process, while opening
it up to greater public control.
The revision requires prosec-
utors to publish their decisions on
the internet and also bans the same
person from performing as general
prosecutor for more than one term.
It also means that prosecutors will
no longer be appointed by the gen-
eral prosecutor but instead be
picked through a public competi-
tion by a six-member selection
committee consisting of three
people from the prosecution and
three from parliament, according to
the SITAnewswire.
The revision has opponents,
for example the opposition Smer
party, which argues that it opens
avenues for interference in the
prosecution department. Smer
also claims that the legislation
hands too much power to the
justice minister.
But the minister rejected these
claims. Neither the ministry nor
the justice minister will, based on
this draft law, have any authorities
making it possible for them to in-
terfere in any way in the operation
of the prosecution neither gener-
ally in the system, nor in relation
to particular cases, itansk said.
SeeLAWpg2
Vol. 17, No. 22 Monday, June 6, 2011 - Sunday, June 12, 2011
FOCUS
of this issue
On sale now On sale now
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of this issue
CORPORATE
RESPONSIBILITY
Train strike
causes short
service halt
TRAIN operators turned their engines off
for one hour at the end of May to express
disagreement with the states plan to sort
out the financial crisis affecting the
countrys struggling railway companies.
The state-owned passenger rail oper-
ator branded the May 27 strike, which af-
fected about 40 to 50 percent of passenger
trains, as an irresponsible act and said it
lacked clearly formulated demands.
SeeRAIL pg11
BY BEATABALOGOV
Spectator staff
Walking
with pride,
once again
LESBIAN, gay, bisexual and transgender
people, as well as supporters of diversity,
planned to gather in Bratislavas largest
square on June 4 to demonstrate their
solidarity and perhaps in some way repu-
diate the tumultuous and troubling exper-
iences of a year ago when the first Rain-
bowPride Parade was held inBratislava.
As The Slovak Spectator went to
press, the programme for 'the Pride', as
Slovaks refer to it, called for opening ce-
remonies and speeches in Hviezdosla-
vovo Square by the event organisers, sev-
eral members of the European Parlia-
ment and foreign ambassadors who are
supporting the event.
SeeLGBTpg3
BYMICHAELATERENZANI
Spectator staff
BYBEATABALOGOV
Spectator staff
BYBEATABALOGOV
Spectator staff
hk}ly{pzltlu{
Ihe S|evak Spectater
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preperty maaua| |er S|evak|a
0ut aext week
kEA| ESIAIE
& 00NSIk00I|0N
60|0E 2011
Smer polls over 47 percent in May
SMERwould have received
the votes of 47.1 percent of
Slovaks if a parliamentary
electionhad beenheld in
early May, according to a
poll carried out by the Fo-
cus polling agency, mean-
ing that Smer would have
beenable to forma gov-
ernment without any co-
alitionpartners.
Following Smer, accord-
ing to the poll results,
were: the Slovak Democrat-
ic and ChristianUnion
(SDK) on12.2 percent; the
ChristianDemocratic
Movement (KDH) on9.5
percent; the Slovak Nation-
al Party (SNS) on8.1 per-
cent; Most-Hd on6.1 per-
cent; Freedomand Solidar-
ity (SaS) on5.2 percent; the
HungarianCoalitionParty
(SMK) on4.7 percent; and
the Movement for a Demo-
cratic Slovakia (HZDS) on
3.4 percent.
Names of border agents released
THE NATIONS Memory Insti-
tute (PN) published the com-
plete organisational and per-
sonnel structure of the units
involved inguarding the bor-
ders of communist
Czechoslovakia from1951 to
1973, thus completing its on-
line overviewof the secret
polices border unit during the
entire period from1951 to 1989.
Our researchidentified
100 cadre members of the in-
telligence units of the 11th
brigade of the Border
Guards, IvanA. Petransk,
the director of the PNs
board, said as quoted by the
SITAnewswire.
The principal activity of
these individuals was spying
onpeople living in
Czechoslovakia and prevent-
ing themfromfleeing
abroad, since after 1948 the
borders withGermany and
Austria were the sites of nu-
merous escape attempts.
Many who attempted to flee
were shot dead by the border
police or killed by landmines.
According to the Sme
daily, MilanLovich, cur-
rently anofficial at
Slovakias Environment In-
spectorate, was a member
of the border unit of the
secret police, the tB.
Lovichsaid he had no
comment, while a spokes-
manfor the Environment
Inspectorate, Michal
tefnek, said Lovichhad
the best qualifications for
his position.
The border between
Czechoslovakia and Austria
near Bratislava was also
protected by anAustrian
pub owner and by Austrian
customs officers who re-
ceived money for spying
and delivering persons back
to Czechoslovakia, Sme re-
ported, writing that a cer-
tainAustriancustoms of-
ficer fromKittsee provided
165 pieces of intelligence in-
formationat 52 meetings
withthe border police and
received 39,000 Austrian
schillings inreward.
Council tries to ban Roma frompubs
THE MUNICIPAL council of
Diakovce inthe Nitra region
has drawnup a list of names
of people it has labelled
problematic Roma citizens
inanattempt to get them
banned fromentering local
pubs. The council action,
whichthe local mayor ve-
toed, came inresponse to a
recent violent incident at a
pub inthe village, the Sme
daily reported.
The altercationinthe
pub involved five local res-
idents, age 15 to 50, who al-
legedly attacked a 68-year-
old customer, leaving him
withhead injuries. When
police were called to deal
withthe situation, a
15-year-old young manpoin-
ted a gunat themand
threatened to shoot. Four
persons were charged with
disorderly conduct.
The mayor of Diakovce
and local council members
claimthe police mishandled
the interventionand sub-
sequently wrote a letter to
police president Jaroslav
Spiiak to complainabout
what they called unbearable
Roma problems inthe vil-
lage, Sme wrote.
Inthe evening people
are afraid to leave their
homes, its normal for
[Roma] to carry knives, speak
obscene language, and they
are most daring after theyve
had a drink, anunnamed
Diakovce citizentold Sme.
The local council pro-
posed to bansome Roma
fromlocal pubs witha de-
cree but the mayor, Lszl
Hajdu, refused to signit be-
cause he believed it violated
humanrights and instead
recommended that pub
owners hire their ownsecur-
ity service, Sme reported,
adding that Hajdusaid he is
planning to start projects in
the village aimed at Roma
inclusion.
They get 60 [a month];
if youhad suchanincome,
youwould go stealing too,
the mayor told Sme. Its easy
to say they should go to work,
but nobody wants them; the
state has forgottenthem.
CompiledbySpectator staff
frompress reports
Nationalist politicians
split up again
SLOVAK nationalist politi-
cians and their supporters
could be forgiven for experi-
encing a spot of dja-vuat the
moment. Anna Belousovov,
once the most prominent
representative of the Slovak
National Party (SNS), has left
her party to establish a new
political party based on what
she called a non-xenophobic
and non-confrontational
patriotism.
Her action is an almost ex-
act re-runof a previous split in
the party a decade ago, a pois-
onous spat which resulted in
the SNS and its splinter party
losing all their seats in par-
liament for one election term.
Apolitical analyst says he does
not expect the new party to
have a verybright future.
Belousovov and Rudolf
Puk, two of the nine mem-
bers of SNS's parliamentary
caucus, announced on May
24 that they were leaving the
caucus to become independ-
ent MPs. They stated their
membership in the caucus
recently had been only a
formality as the caucus had
stopped inviting
Belousovov to its sessions
and Puk only sporadically
receivedinvitations.
The departure of the two
MPs from the SNS caucus pro-
voked discussion among some
lawyers and parliamentarians
about the future of the SNS
caucus in this parliament be-
cause the applicable law says
eight MPs are required for cre-
ation of a caucus. The Speaker
of Parliament, Richard Sulk,
announced that he had con-
sulted with parliaments law-
yers who had concluded that
the law does not specifically
authorise the speaker to dis-
solve a caucus with less than
eight MPs.
LikeGeert Wilders?
Three days after she left
the SNS caucus, Belousovov,
accompanied by Puk, an-
nounced she was starting a
petition to found a new polit-
ical party named Nation and
Justice (NAS). The signatures
of 10,000 Slovak citizens are
required for a political party to
be legally registered.
Belousovov said she be-
lieves it is necessary for a new
political party to emerge in
Slovakia, one that would be
based on what she called the
current civilised, democratic,
non-xenophobic and non-
confrontational patriotism,
which she said is represented
by newly-emerging move-
ments and parties in Europe
and beyond: the Tea Party
movement in the US; the True
Finns party in Finland; the
Party of Freedom of Geert
Wilders in the Netherlands;
and nationalist parties in Aus-
tria and Switzerland that are
currently on the rise in their
countries.
The leaders of the tradi-
tional ruling parties and rep-
resentatives of the UK, Ger-
many and France are rejecting
late-20th-century multicul-
turalism and are speaking out
loud about the need for new
approaches, Belousovov
also stated.
Not relevant, analyst says
Political scientist Grigorij
Mesenikov does not foresee a
bright future even if NAS is
legally established, believing
that it has little potential to
become a relevant player on
the Slovak political scene.
SeeSNSpg12
BYMICHAELA
TERENZANI
Spectator staff
LAW: Vote for GP challenged again
Continuedfrompg2
She argued that the prosecution
needs to be under public control, because
a system which is closed in on itself and
functions without any control mechan-
isms cannot functionwell.
The goal of the proposal is that the
prosecution is no longer a mysterious in-
stitution behind those heavy doors; in-
stead it allows us to see how prosecutors
are selected and how they reach
decisions, she said.
Among other things, the revision re-
stricts the possibility for so-called negat-
ive orders, which in the past have made
it possible for senior prosecutors to order
their junior colleagues not to bring
charges or order them not to take
someone into custody, and has even al-
lowed themto completely halt a prosecu-
tion. From now on, if top prosecutors
take a case away from a subordinate they
will have to publish a written explana-
tionfor their decision.
While itansk is confident that the
deputies have approved a good law, Peter
Murnsky of the Christian Democratic
Movement (KDH) said that he would sign
a proposal challenging the law at the
Constitutional Court. Murnsky, who
first criticised the law and then voted for
it, said that he would wait for the de-
cision of the presidential office. He be-
lieves the law might be at odds with the
constitution, SITAreported.
Smer leader Robert Fico accused the
ruling coalition of politicising the pro-
secution in a way which is unpreceden-
ted even by the standards of the 1950s. As
an example he cited giving the justice
minister the authority to issue binding
orders inrelationto the prosecution.
Acting General Prosecutor Ladislav
Tich said that he is disappointed by the
adoptionof the lawsince inhis words the
prosecution had done the maximum to
persuade deputies that passing the revi-
sion in such a form would not be a good
thing. Tich said that it is unpleasant
that the development of the law on pro-
secution has been linked to the ongoing
process of selecting the general prosec-
utor, TASRreported.
Bumpyroadtoopenelections
Tich himself has become closely in-
volved in that process. The ruling coali-
tion went to considerable lengths over
the past six months to turn the secret
method of voting previously used by MPs
to select the general prosecutor into a
public vote. But Tich has now lodged a
challenge against the public voting
method withthe Constitutional Court, in
what appears to be another twist in an
increasingly complicated and politicised
saga. Tich, who got his job by default
when the previous general prosecutor,
Dobroslav Trnka, left office in February
before MPs were able to choose a suc-
cessor, has also requested that the court
issue a provisional ruling that would ban
MPs fromholding a public vote.
Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulk
meanwhile announced that a public vote
for the position would nevertheless take
place, inviting deputies to submit the
names of candidates by June 10 at 20:00.
Sulk was quick to add that his call for
candidacies was not intended to pre-
empt the Constitutional Courts decision.
The court assigned the case to a judge on
June 1, meaning that a ruling could take
as little as a week.
I do not consider the reasons in Mr
Tichs proposal to be serious enough to
stop us from holding the vote, Sulk
said, as quoted by the Sme daily.
Nevertheless, according to Sme, Sulk
has not ruled out the possibility of a
secret ballot, adding that it is still pos-
sible to hold the vote in secret if 15 depu-
ties request it and parliament backs
them.
Trnka, whose bid to retain his posi-
tion has been supported by the opposi-
tion Smer party, failed to get enough
support in a secret ballot of MPs held on
May 17. The ballot was a re-run of a previ-
ous secret vote held in December which
was ruled unconstitutional by the court
after a challenge by Trnka.
By rejecting him, MPs apparently
heeded a threat by Prime Minister Iveta
Radiov to resign if Trnka, about whom
she has expressed strong reservations,
were to prevail.
Trnka has not announced yet wheth-
er he will run again for the post in an
openvote. Fico said that if the vote onthe
general prosecutor was secret, his Smer
party would run Trnka again as its can-
didate. Fico claimed that Sulk had made
a mistake in announcing a vote without
waiting for the verdict of the Constitu-
tional Court, TASRreported.
The candidate of the ruling coalition
is prosecutor Jozef ent.
Belousovovwants to foundanewpolitical party. Photo: TASR
2
NEWS
June 6 12, 2011
Gay rights still taboo
for some Slovaks
THE COLOURS of the rainbow
were due to shine over Bratis-
lava on June 4 in the form of
the Pride march, but the
world had become slightly
greyer for Slovakias non-het-
erosexuals a few weeks earli-
er. It was then that gay people
living in Slovakia came very
close to getting an official
body, working under the aus-
pices of the government, to
look after their interests but
the initiative to set up a com-
mittee to do that ultimately
failed. And while politicians
tend to use the unprepared-
ness of Slovak society as a jus-
tification for their timidity,
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) com-
munity insists that society is,
in fact, ready for some
changes.
In March 2011, the cabinet
dissolved several of its advis-
ory bodies the council for na-
tional minorities and ethnic
groups, the council for NGOs,
for seniors, for disabled
people, for gender equality
and the committee of minis-
ters of children. The agenda of
these bodies was transferred
to a newly-established Council
for Human Rights, National
Minorities and Gender Equal-
ity. The new council then pro-
posed that seven committees
be created under its auspices,
among them a committee on
the rights of non-heterosexual
people. But while the cabinet
agreed to establish the other
committees, it baulked at the
idea of one for gay rights.
The decision, which some
LGBT activists called an act of
homophobia, was made on
May 11, less thana week before
the International Day Against
Homophobia was marked
around the world.
Activist: failureis
'homophobic'
We perceive it as a polit-
ical decision, said Romana
Schlesinger, an LGBT rights
activist from the non-gov-
ernmental Queer Leaders For-
um and a Rainbow Pride or-
ganiser, adding that the Chris-
tian Democratic Movement
(KDH) made clear to all the
participants in the debate that
either the statute of the new
council would be passed
without the LGBT committee
or it would not be passed at all.
We regard this commit-
tee as being redundant, since
the human rights issues of all
citizens are dealt with by the
Government Council for Hu-
manRights, National Minorit-
ies and Gender Equality, KDH
spokesperson Matej Kov
told The Slovak Spectator.
Rudolf Chmel, the Deputy
Prime Minister for Human
Rights and National Minorit-
ies, who proposed the creation
of the committee, argued
along withother supporters of
the idea that the committee
would bring together repres-
entatives of the community
and representatives of all the
ministries and be a platform
for experts to discuss issues,
including related legislation,
but also anti-discrimination
practices, educational pro-
grammes and data gathering.
I am convinced that it
would be an advantage for all
those concerned to create a
space for the formulation of
concrete solutions to improve
the life of the LGBT
community, Martin Poliaik,
an MP for the Freedom and
Solidarity (SaS) party, told The
Slovak Spectator. His party
presented registered partner-
ships as part of its election
campaign for the 2010 parlia-
mentary election, but failed to
get them adopted as part of
the coalition governments
programme.
Most-Hd, the party of
Deputy Prime Minister
Chmel, considers the non-ex-
istence of the committee to be
a deviationfromthe European
standard, but not an insur-
mountable problem that
would fatally divide the cur-
rent ruling coalition, the
partys spokesperson Nora
Czuczorov said.
Jlius Koleni, a board
member of the Inakos (Oth-
erness) initiative, remarked
that such a platform would
cost the state no money, but
could have helped signific-
antly to improve the quality of
life of the LGBT community,
which constitutes a consider-
able portionof the population.
We regard this to be a
homophobic act by Iveta
Radiovs government, since
other proposed committees
had been created, Koleni
said, hinting that the LGBT
community is the only minor-
ity (based on grounds for dis-
crimination as defined by the
Slovakia's Anti-Discrimina-
tion Act) not to be represented
withinthe council.
Opinions onLGBT
discriminationvary
We do not believe that
Slovak citizens are discrimin-
ated against in any way based
on their sexual orientation,
KDHs Kov said. If these
people suffer violation of
their basic human rights,
they have the possibility to
turn to the existing
institutions.
Most-Hd spokesperson
Czuczorov, however, said
that the institute of registered
partnerships, for instance,
remains taboo in Slovak soci-
ety despite the fact that in
neighbouring countries like
the Czech Republic and Hun-
gary it has existed for several
years now.
We are lagging behind
our neighbours in Europe
concerning many legislative
solutions, SaS MP Poliaik
admitted, listing issues like
inheritance, common owner-
ship of property, and access to
health records in the event of
illness or injury. All these
things concern the everyday
life of equal citizens of Slov-
akia and we should be dealing
withthem.
Despite the odds, Koleni
said, support for the LGBT
community from the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister for
Human Rights and National
Minorities is nowgreater than
it was in the past. He cited
conferences organised by the
office and brochures that they
are planning to issue.
But its still too little, he
said, adding that the com-
munity is less than satisfied
with the current position of
the non-heterosexual minor-
ity in society, the main fail-
ure being the fact that only
NGOs are keeping alive public
discussion on related topics
through events such as the
Rainbow Pride march or the
Inakos FilmFestival.
Readytoaccept
same-sexlove?
Politicians tend to excuse
their lack of action in the
sphere of LGBT rights with
the argument that society is
not yet ready to accept some
legislative steps that would
improve the rights of non-
heterosexual people in Slov-
akia. But the LGBT com-
munity itself dismisses this
as a false argument, saying
that society is becoming more
and more open and accepting
of people with other-than-
heterosexual orientations.
According to Schlesinger,
there has been limited re-
cognition by all govern-
ments, regardless of their
ideological basis, that there
is no room in terms of public
debate about registered part-
nerships of same-sex
couples, for instance, and
that expert discussion needs
to be launched first.
Politicians keep talking
about the need for public and
expert discussion, but their
deeds are the exact opposite
of that as seen from their
recent decision to not estab-
lish the LGBT committee
within the governments
council, Koleni agreed,
adding that there are parties
in the government unable to
free themselves from the
unjustified, panicked fear of
losing voters.
Paradoxically, Koleni
said, most people in Slovakia
long ago understood that
human rights are no threat to
anyone and that all people,
including LGBT people, have
the right to a dignified life.
Schlesinger also said that
the community feels a change
in the perception of LGBT
people among the majority,
and added that research that
the Queer Leaders Forum
conducted a couple of years
ago showed that more than
half of Slovakias population
has nothing against re-
gistered partnerships, al-
though there were still some
negative sentiments when it
came to the adoption of chil-
dren. She put this down to the
fact that this issue has been
discussed for a much shorter
time inthe public arena.
The only thing people are
missing is information,
Schlesinger said. And if they
get the information, their
view of things changes. Our
feeling is that society is chan-
ging and becoming much
more open not only towards
otherness in sexual orienta-
tion but also towards any oth-
er differences.
BYMICHAELA
TERENZANI
Spectator staff
Last year's Pride marchinBratislava. Photo: Sme-TIbor Somogy
LGBT: Police
readied for march
Continuedfrompg1
The parade has the offi-
cial backing of the embassies
of the UK, Norway, Finland,
the Netherlands, Ireland,
Spain, Switzerland, and
France.
We, as members of the
international community,
stand bothliterally and fig-
uratively withparade parti-
cipants as they peacefully
assemble to stand up for
their humanrights, and
raise awareness of the LGBT
community inSlovakia,
reads the joint statement
signed by 20 ambassadors.
Everyone, including LGBT
people, should be free to en-
joy the rights and freedoms
laid out inthe Universal De-
clarationof HumanRights.
The programme preced-
ing the marchincluded sev-
eral concerts, headlined by
the well-knownand openly
lesbianCzechsinger-song-
writer Aneta Langerov.
Despite fears inspired by
violence at last years
march, whenanti-gay ex-
tremists attempted to dis-
rupt the parade, Romana
Schlesinger, one of the or-
ganisers, told The Slovak
Spectator prior to the march
that they expected a bigger
crowd thanlast year, when
anestimated 1,000 people
took part.
We believe that our al-
lies inthe straight com-
munity will come out in
greater numbers to support
the Pride, Schlesinger said.
Tight securitymeasures
Security measures will
be tighter thanlast year, in-
cluding a doubling of the
police presence to approx-
imately 400 officers. The or-
ganisers will also not re-
lease the exact route of the
Pride marchuntil just be-
fore it begins.
Three alternative routes
have beenplanned and the
decisiononwhichto take
will be made right there on
the spot, ubomr An-
drassy, the spokespersonof
Bratislava Mayor Milan
Ftnik, told the Sme daily.
Unlike last year, the re-
cently-elected mayor is tak-
ing a lead inthe security
measures surrounding the
Pride march. Andrassy said
several other events have
beencancelled inBratislava
onthat day to make sure
there will be enoughpolice
officers onhand to maintain
public order inthe streets.
Mayor Ftnik, who was
elected to his post inautumn
2010, announced that he was
planning to jointhe march
as well.
Slovakias Deputy Prime
Minister for HumanRights
and National Minorities,
Rudolf Chmel, was also re-
portedly planning to speak
at the Pride, along withAus-
trianMEP Ulrika Lunacek
who attended the gay pride
parade last year.
First Pride sawclashes
The first RainbowPride
gathering took place inBrat-
islava onMay 22 last year.
Whenseveral hundred sup-
porters of the event gathered
inHviezdoslavovo Square,
around 100 anti-gay protest-
ers attacked the gathering by
throwing tear-gas canisters,
rocks and eggs at the audi-
ence as well as the speakers
onthe stage.
Inresponse to the at-
tacks, the Pride organisers
modified their plans, includ-
ing the route of their march.
Thoughthe original plan
was to parade throughthe
streets of Bratislavas Old
Town, the Pride participants
wound up marching only
fromthe downtownsquare
across the NewBridge that
spans the Danube River to a
ship anchored onthe south-
ernbank where they staged
anafter-marchcelebration.
Police arrested 29
people following last years
march, all of themanti-gay
hecklers.
Some Slovaks readiedtheir rainbowcolours again. Photo: SITA
3
NEWS
June 6 12, 2011
Cabinet fails to
establish a
committee on the
rights of LGBT
people
State budget deficit falls, y-o-y
AT THE ENDof May 2011,
Slovakias state budget defi-
cit was nearly one-quarter
less thanat the same point a
year ago. According to data
published by the Finance
Ministry, the budget gap
stood at 1.567 billionat the
end of May, down24.6 per-
cent year-on-year, the SITA
newswire reported.
Inmonthly terms, the
deficit grewby 550 million.
Behind the improvement of
the state budget deficit in
annual terms was an
11.1-percent year-on-year in-
crease intotal revenues to
4.396 billion, as well as a
moderate decrease inex-
penditure of 1.2 percent to
5.964 billion.
The year-on-year increase
instate revenues was based
mainly ongrowthintax rev-
enues, as well as revenues
fromtransfers and grants,
according to the ministry.
Tax revenues reached 3.187
billionby the end of May, up
7.6 percent year-on-year, and
amounting to 36.3 percent of
forecast full-year tax receipts.
Corporate income tax reven-
ue swelled 60.6 percent to
610.7 million. VAT collection
grew1.1 percent year-on-year
to 1.812 billion. Proceeds
fromexcise tax declined 2
percent incomparisonwith
the same period in2010 to
778.6 million, while collec-
tionof withholding tax fell by
0.9 percent to 67.5 million.
Personal income taxes,
whichas part of fiscal decent-
ralisationend up almost en-
tirely inthe budgets of local
and regional governments,
were downby 99.6 million
as of the end of May.
Non-tax revenues were
lower compared withthe
same period of last year, de-
clining 6 percent to 275.4
million. However, grants and
transfers posted a significant
increase of 32.6 percent to
933.5 millionand revenues
fromthe EUbudget rose 38
percent to 923.5 million.
Onthe spending side,
expenditure inthe first five
months fell by 2.1 percent
year-on-year to 5.293 bil-
lion. Capital expenditure
rose 6.5 percent to 670.8
million, SITAreported.
According to the state
budget lawadopted by par-
liament, the state should
receive 13.148 billionin
revenue and spend 16.958
billionin2011. The budget
deficit is thus forecast to be
3.81 billion. The deficit of
the general government as
a whole, including all pub-
lic institutions, not just
the state, should be 4.9
percent of GDP. The gov-
ernment plans to squeeze
the deficit below3 percent
of GDP in2013.
Confidence in Slovak economy rises
BASEDonseveral positive
trends, Slovakias Index of
Economic Sentiment (IES)
increased by 1.2 points in
May to 95.4, returning it to
the level seeninMarch, the
countrys Statistics Office
announced onMay 30, as
reported by the TASR
newswire.
Improved figures in
three of the IES components
services, industry and con-
sumers helped raise the
overall confidence level in
May. The index was up by 4.9
points year-on-year, but re-
mained 3.5 points belowits
long-termaverage.
The indicator of confid-
ence inconstructionre-
mained unchanged onthe
month, at minus 41.5. There
were some less optimistic
expectations inemployment
but better results for con-
sumer demand.
Confidence inindustry
increased inthe monthby 1.6
points to 8.3, mainly because
of positive productionfigures
that are expected to emerge
over the next three months.
After confidence inretail im-
proved inApril, the indicator
inthis sphere fell inMay by
1.7 to 17 points, still above the
long-termaverage. Confid-
ence inservices also went up
inmonthly terms by 9.7
points to reach35 points in
May. Consumer confidence
rose by 5.1 points month-on-
monthto minus 24.7.
Ministry offers e-vehicle recharges
ANEWcharging stationfor
electric vehicles opened in
Bratislava at the building of
the Economy Ministry on
May 31. The following day
Minister Juraj Mikov star-
ted using anelectric car
himself, the SITAnewswire
reported.
The ministrys charging
stationis the first public
charging stationinBratis-
lava and until the end of
2011 anyone canuse it to re-
charge electric vehicles free
of charge, according to
SITA.
The first charging station
inSlovakia for electric cars
opened inlate 2010 inKoice,
SITAwrote.
The Economy Ministry
stated that electric cars do
not represent competition
for traditional vehicles since
they canonly be used for
shorter journeys of up to 150
kilometres.
CompiledbySpectator staff
frompress reports
No more illusions over
highways, says Fige
NUMEROUS illusions have
been created about highway
construction in Slovakia. So
says Jn Fige, who now man-
ages an extensive ministerial
portfolio including, among
other things, transport, con-
struction and regional devel-
opment. However, Fige says
that he has now put on the ta-
ble a feasible highway plan
that does not mislead people
into thinking that fromlimited
public resources it is possible to
build everything ina very short
time. The Slovak Spectator
spoke to the Minister of Trans-
port, Construction and Region-
al Development about the
countrys highway plans, his
approach to the troubled state-
owned railway companies, the
challenges that the capitals
airport faces, and about the pit-
falls of public procurement.
The Slovak Spectator (TSS):
The Ministry of Transport,
Construction and Regional
Development has introduced
the Programme for the Con-
struction of Highways and
Dual Carriageways for 2011 to
2014, which sets out some
fundamentals for the upcom-
ing years. What are these
fundamentals? Will this gov-
ernment be able to deliver a
cross-country highway for
the nationduringits term?
Jn Fige (JF): The cross-
country highway between
Bratislava and Koice should
have been completed back in
2010, if we were to believe the
promises given by the previ-
ous government. There have
been numerous illusions cre-
ated around highway con-
struction but for this very
reason we had to reassess
some of these approaches after
I took over as minister. This
was because the previous gov-
ernment based the strategic
plans on public-private part-
nerships (PPP), which should
not be the dominant but rather
a supplementary form of fund-
ing. Backing out from this
model, which was overpriced
and in some of its provisions
even unconstitutional, I have
to say required some courage.
Yet, I consider our four-year
programme realistic.
In more specific terms, the
plan includes a connection
between ilina and Preov,
which are [D1] sections of the
first and third packages that,
originally, a concessionaire
had been expected to build and
operate for 30 years at a lavish
price. In June, the construc-
tion of the first of these sec-
tions, near Levoa west-
wards, will be launched.
When compared to the over-
priced PPP package, our nego-
tiated price is one third lower
than the price recommended
in an opinion by a state ex-
pert and the nominal value
set out in the call for tenders
by the state.
The largest package has
been held up by one section,
between Hubov and
Ivachnov, due to environ-
mental concerns; we still do
not have the consent of the
European Union, which is why
it was very important to re-
openthis package.
The programme assumes
the construction of sections of
the D1, as well as the D3 high-
way in Kysuce and the launch
of construction of the D4,
which will bypass the capital.
It also concerns dual carriage-
ways, which are a little cheap-
er but at the same time very
necessary for the overall road
network: the finalisation of
the R1, which will link Trnava
and Bansk Bystrica, will
make it the longest uninter-
rupted section of dual car-
riageway. We will also launch
construction of the R2, linking
Trenn and Koice, and sec-
tions of the R3 inOrava are also
planned. The R4, which will
connect Svidnk and Koice
with Poland and Hungary (in
the direction of Miskolc, in
Hungary), is also on our list,
including some additional sec-
tions, for example the R5 and
R6 heading to the border with
the CzechRepublic.
What I consider funda-
mentally newis that we planto
extensively invest in the res-
torationof first-category roads,
which have been neglected
over the past 20 years. These
roads make up 49-50 percent of
the transportation network in
Slovakia but have been very
poorly taken care of. We are
planning the reconstruction of
almost 700 kilometres of first-
category roads altogether.
TSS: In terms of duration,
does your government aimto
wrap all this up by 2014? Is
this also the timeframe for
delivering a cross-country
highwaylink?
JF: Yes, this should be
covered during four years,
while some sections will take
more time. I am referring to
the tunnel in Viov near
Streno, which is the most dif-
ficult section, but also a key to
the connection between ilina
and Preov, and is of symbolic
importance. We want to
launch construction at the be-
ginning of next year at the
latest, and the time required
for construction is estimated
to be 5 years. Thus a complete
connection, with tunnels,
between east and west can be
expected by 2016 [turn of 2017],
but most of the sections will be
finishedby 2014.
TSS: However, it will be
equally important to secure
financing for the plan. After
you took over and cancelled
two PPP projects for high-
way construction, you said
that the government would
aim to make more extensive
use of EU funds for highway
construction. How success-
ful have you been in ful-
filling this ambition?
JF: Numerous sections
have been included in the pro-
gramme up to the eastern bor-
der, while the volume of fin-
ances stands at 5 billion, and
most of this should be
launched within this term but
will also continue in the years
after 2014. The basic source is
the European Union budgetary
framework for 2007 to 2013, in
which, for example, we had
included for highway con-
struction, again due to the in-
correct approach of the previ-
ous government, some not-
very-well-prepared projects;
thus, the drawing of funds had
been very weak. Currently we
are in the fifth year of the
7-year budget for drawing
funding from the EU Opera-
tional Programme for Trans-
portation, which is now
roughly 20-percent drawn.
Thus we have the core of the
work ahead of us with much
less time remaining, but I con-
sider this a key responsibility:
to be able to use the EU fund-
ing in times of crisis and in a
country which has extensive
environmental and infrastruc-
ture deficits.
From the 2007-2013
budgetary period, we still have
700 million for highway con-
struction, but within this
amount are also included re-
sources for railways and first-
category roads, while the total
amount of money allocated for
transportation stands at 3.2
billion. Intensive negotiations
on the 2014-2020 budget are
expected next year and we are
already counting on assistance
for financing longer sections,
the so-called line construction,
so that we do not cover only
shorter stretches but can
plunge into construction and
strategies that last longer than
3-4 years. After all, the con-
struction of a tunnel lasts
longer than one term of a gov-
ernment, thus it is logical to
link periods together.
Then there is also the fin-
ancing from the state budget,
which will co-cover some
projects, and in some other in-
stances construction will be
entirely covered from the state
budget, since the state budget
should reflect the priorities of
the country and transporta-
tion is one of the priorities of
the current ruling coalition.
Another important form of
financing is the European In-
vestment Bank (EIB), the
largest bank on the continent,
in which Slovakia is a share-
holder: our country has an act-
ive loan open for large projects
of up to 1.3 billion. Some con-
struction we would cover from
this loan and then sub-
sequently have re-financed
fromEUfunds.
The electronic highway toll
system serves as another
source of financing, and its
launch was planned in such a
way that highway users con-
tribute to the maintenance and
operation but also the con-
struction of roads. We are now
modifying the systemso that it
is not loss-making but, on the
contrary, generates profits.
Highway bonds will be an-
other source, and the revision
to the law on the pension sav-
ing system already assumes
this option, within which the
so-called pension fund man-
agement companies, or DSS,
will be given the opportunity
to invest in highways through
state bonds.
Last but not least, there are
the PPP projects, and we have
already started discussing this
formof financing inthe case of
the D4 bypass of Bratislava,
which, also thanks to the
highway toll, could have been
differently tuned, with more
balance in terms of the distri-
bution of risks between the
concessionaire and the state.
SeeJFpg11
BYBEATABALOGOV
Spectator staff
Minister JnFige Photo: Sme
4
BUSINESS / NEWS
June 6 12, 2011
Hrdza
NOT THE government office,
not parliament, and defin-
itely not the presidential
palace. The one place in Brat-
islava where you can meet
anyone who is anyone is the
Danube levee (hrdza). It was
here that Supreme Court
chief tefan Harabin was bik-
ing when Vladimr Meiar
called in 2006 to offer himthe
post of justice minister. It
was here that former prime
minister Robert Fico was
photographed rollerblading
with his alleged lover. It was
here, on his morning jogs,
that attorney general
Dobroslav Trnka used to find
funny smelling plastic
bottles, supposedly left be-
hind by reckless
environmentalists, with
whom he had long-lasting
legal disputes. And where
Trnka himself was last week
caught driving, using a spe-
cial permit which he says he
needs to do his job but many
suspect he uses just to bypass
the morning traffic jams. And
it is here that Fico has now
been filmed parking in a no-
entry zone.
But there is also another
place, where youll meet many
of the same people as on the
levee the Constitutional
Court. It is not rare for top ju-
dicial bodies to have a big in-
fluence on policy. But the
court in Koice is exceptional
in two ways to the extent to
whichit gets involved in polit-
ical issues, and in the unpre-
dictability of its decisions.
Lets not deal with the
cases of the late 1990s, when
the court had to rule on the
constitutionality of throwing
an MP out of parliament, or of
prime minister Vladimr
Meiars amnesties, with
which he shielded members
of the secret service from pro-
secution for the kidnapping of
president Michal Kovs son.
There are plenty of examples
inits more recent history.
Two key pieces of Ficos
legislation were a ban on
profits for health insurers,
and a law enabling the con-
struction of highways to be-
gin on private property even
before the land in question
had been properly expropri-
ated. Both went before the
court. Neither of the cases was
decided while Fico was in
power, keeping private in-
vestors and real estate owners
waiting for years before fi-
nally learning that their
rights had beenviolated.
In a much criticised de-
cision, the court said the ex-
istence of the Special Court,
set up to fight the most seri-
ous forms of crime, was
against the constitution, giv-
ing a huge victory to then-
minister Harabin, a promin-
ent opponent of the special-
ised judiciary. Now, the Con-
stitutional Court is getting
heavily involved in the elec-
tion of the new general pro-
secutor. It first told parlia-
ment to hold another round of
secret voting, and will now
decide whether the coalition
can make such votes public. If
it rules it cannot, there will be
further secret votes, which
could in the end bring down
the government.
The key problem with the
court is that a majority of its
judges were appointed under
the Fico government, many
have close ties to Harabin,
and they do not always place
their respect for the law
above the particular interests
of their friends in politics.
That is why it often fails to be
a functioning element in the
system of checks and bal-
ances. And serves as a levee
against justice.
Stepping from the shadows
EXPOSURE to diversity still
makes many Slovaks uncom-
fortable. The concept of oth-
erness remains a challenge
for those who differ from the
majority but also for those in
the majority who refuse to
accept that sameness and
uniformity are an illusion fed
to them by people who want
to exercise exclusive control
over others lives.
It is still not always easy
and natural in Slovakia to
speak a language different
from what the majority un-
derstands and expects to
hear, to nourish cultural tra-
ditions dissimilar from those
valued by the majority, to
have a skincolour darker than
what is predominantly seen,
or to accept something other
than the male-female part-
nerships traditionally recog-
nised by the countrys laws.
This is why people of a
different nationality, cul-
ture, skin colour or sexual
orientation always carefully
watch the responses of the
majority to festivals that cel-
ebrate diversity. For ex-
ample, the way a society re-
sponds to a gay pride parade
can transmit clear signals to
many others about how ma-
ture and ready a society is to
accept and interact with this
idea of otherness.
Last year Slovakia made
its first attempt to host a
Rainbow Pride event de-
signed to celebrate peoples
authentic identities, regard-
less of their sexual orienta-
tion or gender identity. The
events parade had to be
called off not because of a lack
of participants, but because
of the aggressive behaviour of
hundreds of skinheads as-
sembled in side streets along
the planned route. The organ-
isers clearly stated that the
participants in last years
parade were not given ad-
equate police protection.
Perhaps if there had been
more top Slovak politicians
showing their support for
Rainbow Pride and for the
ideals of diversity, then the
police would have had more
incentive to carefully watch
for those shaven-headed pro-
vocateurs seeking a chance to
disseminate hate against
anyone displaying a sign of
having a more openmind.
Those who expect that
this years Rainbow Pride
event will find much more
fiery support among Slovak
politicians might find they
are wrong. Among those who
will certainly be there,
however, are many diplo-
mats from countries that
walk miles ahead of Slovakia
in recognising and nourish-
ing diversity.
We, as members of the
international community,
stand both literally and fig-
uratively with parade parti-
cipants as they peacefully as-
semble to stand up for their
human rights, and raise
awareness of the LGBT com-
munity in Slovakia, states
an open letter prepared by
ambassadors and diplomats,
urging that everyone, includ-
ing LGBT people, should en-
joy the rights and freedoms
set out in the Universal De-
clarationof HumanRights.
The diplomats state that
they celebrate the contribu-
tions made by LGBT com-
munities in their home societ-
ies and salute the efforts of
the Slovak authorities in en-
suring LGBT rights are protec-
ted here.
Some Slovaks still fail to
understand that LGBT persons
and those who support their
rights are not coming togeth-
er to have a joyous, early-
summer party but are march-
ing to draw attention to the
fact that they are here and ex-
pect that Slovak society will
progress as well in its ability
to see and hear them. Seeing
and hearing those at Rainbow
Pride would be a good start
towards finding acceptable
legislative measures to pro-
tect their rights and sanction
their partnerships.
And these citizens do de-
serve dignified attention in-
stead of narrow-minded re-
sponses from politicians who
live in dark, imaginary caves
where in the gloom even the
shadows of people have the
same shapes and colours.
Many in the majority say
they do not mind them as
long as they do not ask for
more than just tolerance. As
well, the discourse is often
punctuated by talking about
their issues which might
marginally concern us be-
cause we are declaring our
openness to universal hu-
man rights and thus cannot
ignore them. But then too
many politicians find that
there are more urgent social
issues to address at this mo-
ment and it seems this will
be their mantra for some
time to come.
Some say Slovakia is not
yet ready to accept the idea of
otherness, but might be
ready in a decade or two,
pointing to other countries
which indeed did need to
walk a long way to eventually
reach more open societies.
But others rightly say politi-
cians in Slovakia could
provide some encourage-
ment that can help society
make that walk a bit faster
and with more confidence
so that another generation
does not grow up only living
in the shadows, not even
thinking about adding their
owncolours to the rainbow.
5
OPINION
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I amcautious about it on principle.
SDKMP Pavol Kubovi, after being asked whether he will observe a newrule on not
talking on the phone in the main chamber of parliament, despite being spotted doing so.
SLOVAK WORD
OF THE WEEK
EDITORIAL
BYBEATABALOGOV
Spectator staff
BYLUK FILA
Special to the Spectator

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June 6 12, 2011
Where only prosecutors fear totread(or drive). Photo: Sme
Building better CSR
with government help
WHENdiscussinggovernment
responsibility, it is impossible
not to mention transparent
procurement processes which
use public resources wisely
and encourage environment-
friendly products and techno-
logies. But another important
government responsibility is
making sure businesses and
public offices obey the law and
also keep to the principles that
are promised in their official
documents and reports. Gov-
ernments in some countries
have dozens of years of experi-
ence in this latter responsibil-
ity and in some cases have
crystallised the concepts into
legislation or into accepted
best practices.
How governments should
support corporate social re-
sponsibility(CSR) was thetopic
of apanel discussionheldat the
8th international conference
on corporate responsibility or-
ganised by the Pontis Founda-
tion and the Business Leaders
ForuminBratislavaonMay12.
The discussion featured a
distinguishedpanel consisting
of TrineSkymoen, Ambassador
of Norway, Daphne Bergsma,
Ambassador of the Nether-
lands, Anita Hugau, Ambas-
sador of Denmark and Andrew
Pittam, Deputy Head of Mis-
sionof the UKtoSlovakia. Each
presented the policies and ini-
tiatives through which their
governments are supporting
corporatesocial responsibility.
Slovakia, represented by Eco-
nomy Minister Juraj Mikov,
had an opportunity to seek in-
spirationand encouragement,
as the traditions of CSR in
Norway, Denmark, the Neth-
erlands and the United King-
domare mucholder andbetter
established.
Slovakia supports all the
processes which have a posit-
ive impact on economic
growth, Minister Mikov said
in his opening speech to the
conference. This is also de-
clared in the National Pro-
gramme of Reforms adopted by
the Slovak cabinet on April 20.
Our programme supports the
goals of the Lisbonstrategyand
theEurope2020strategywhose
aim is to secure economic
growth in a sustainable way
during the post-crisis period,
aswell ascreatenewjobs.
At the conference Mikov
introduced an example of con-
crete support for corporate so-
cial responsibilityinSlovakia.
In cooperation with the
regional office of the UNDevel-
opment Programme in Bratis-
lava, the University of Eco-
nomics inBratislava, andother
partners a project to support
corporate social responsibility
in Slovakia was launched
which will result also in the
draft of a National Strategy of
Support for Corporate Social
Responsibility, said Mikov,
adding that apart from the
draft it will alsoprovidemon-
itoring and evaluation of cor-
porate social responsibility
inSlovakia.
SeeCSRpg9
Year of Volunteering in Slovakia
THE EUROPEANYear of Volunteering (EYV) 2011, which
the EuropeanCommissionceremonially launched on
December 2 last year, is designed to celebrate the
commitment of millions of people inEurope who work in
their communities during their free time without being
paid. Their efforts and those of the many thousands of
volunteering organisations make a huge difference to
peoples lives incountless ways. The EYVis also a
challenge to those who do not currently volunteer.
InSlovakia the national coordinator of activities during
the EYVis Iuventa, the Slovak institute of youth, which
together withNGOs and public administration
institutions participated inthe creationof the EYV
national programme. The EducationMinistry is also
actively supporting the EYV.
As part of the EYV, a national campaignis taking place in
Slovakia to promote the principles and benefits of
volunteering among the general public and inspire
discussionabout volunteering. There will also be a
researcheffort. As Albeta Mrakov, the executive
director of C.A.R.D.O., the National Volunteer Centre,
explained to The Slovak Spectator, C.A.R.D.O. is carrying
out two surveys onvolunteering inSlovakia because
their most current informationdates back to 2006. Inthe
first survey they want to map out howmany volunteers
there are inSlovakia and their motives as well as to
examine the barriers to volunteering, and inthe second
survey they will monitor the situationof volunteer
centres and get informationabout what they could do
better. The results of bothsurveys should be released at
the end of 2011, whenthe EuropeanYear of Volunteering
will culminate. At the same time, awards for
volunteering will also be announced. To mark the EYV
the third year of the day of volunteering will be extended
to a two-day event taking place onSeptember 23 and 24.
Currently, a photo exhibitiononvolunteering is touring
Slovakia. Twelve winning photos selected froma total of
74 are currently being exhibited inBansk Bystrica under
the title Volunteering througha Camera.
For more information, see http://erd.dobrovolnictvo.sk/,
a website dedicated to the European Year of Volunteering
2011 in Slovakia
'Our Town' volunteering event
OURTown, or Nae Mesto, the biggest corporate
volunteering event inSlovakia, will take place onJune
17 and 18 inBratislava, ilina and Koice, and will
spread this year also to Galanta, Hlohovec and Spisk
Nov Ves, the Pontis Foundation, one of the organisers of
the event wrote onits website. As part of the European
Year of Volunteering, the Pontis Foundationand the
Engage group of companies have set a target of getting at
least 4,000 volunteers out onto the streets of Bratislava,
ilina, Koice and other towns. Apart frommanual skills,
they are also willing to use employees' experience in
legislation, marketing, computers or personnel to
broadenthe knowledge of people working inNGOs.
The Our Townevent is a follow-up to previous successful
volunteer events branded Our Bratislava, Our ilina and
Our Koice. Intotal more than5,000 employees from60
companies worked 18,589 hours, representing 10
man-years of work inthese events. The value of such
work was valued at almost 80,000.
For more information, see www.nasemesto.sk, the
website of the Nae Mesto corporate volunteering event.
CompiledbySpectator staff
Some organisations active in CSR
and philanthropy in Slovakia
- Business Leaders Forum, www.blf.sk
- C.A.R.D.O., www.dobrovolnictvo.sk
- CentrumDobrovonctva / Centre for Volunteering,
www.centrumdobrovolnictva.sk
- Frumdonorov/ SlovakDonors' Forum,
www.donorsforum.sk
- Komunitn Nadcia Bratislavy/ Community
Foundationof Bratislava, www.knb.sk
- Panet, www.panet.sk
- Pontis Foundation, www.nadaciapontis.sk
BYJANALIPTKOV
Spectator staff
(Fromleft) Ambassadors Trine Skymoen, AnitaHugauand
Daphne Bergsmaat the conference. Photo: Courtesyof Pontis
Firms learn sustainability is good business
EVEN though corporate responsibility and
sustainability are not completely foreign
conceptsinSlovakiain2011, manycompan-
ies in Slovakia are still just learning how
implementing the principles of corporate
responsibility can bring better business
values and entrepreneurial success.
Primarily it is the Slovak branches of inter-
national companies, motivated by their
parent companies, that have adapted cor-
porate strategies to local conditions and
implemented corporate responsibility pro-
grammes. The Slovak Spectator spoke to
Beata Hlavkov, the programme director
of the Pontis Foundationandthe director of
the Business Leaders Forum, about what
sheseesas beingthecurrent trendsinthese
areasinSlovakia.
The SlovakSpectator (TSS): What are the
current trends incorporate responsibil-
ity and what challenges does the
conceptfaceherein Slovakia?
Beata Hlavkov (BH): The current
change in corporate responsibility is that
representatives of international companies
are beginning to realise very clearly that
this topic matters to them. More than 90
percent of CEOs even consider sustainabil-
itytobe important or veryimportant for the
success of their company; this awareness
results from a study conducted by Accen-
ture and the UN Global Compact. A general
trend is that directors of companies are
starting to perceive sustainability as an op-
portunity for creation of values and entre-
preneurial success and are beginning to im-
plement the concept into their core busi-
nessactivities.
TSS: Do trends differ in Slovakia from
those abroad? Did trends change under
theinfluenceof theeconomiccrisis?
BH: Thedistinctnessof theperception
of corporateresponsibilityandsustainab-
ility in Slovakia lies exactly here. Since
the concept is not widespread in Slovakia
and is not highly demanded by clients or
customers, representatives of firms in
Slovakia right now see only the costs of
implementation. Eventhoughwealready
have companies in Slovakia which have
implemented programmes of corporate
responsibility or sustainability, only a
fewof themsystematically use its poten-
tial as a tool for searching for newmarket
opportunities. But there are some such
companies.
The impacts of the crisis on corporate
responsibility hit at several levels. Some
companies achieved positive economic-
environmental synergies by implement-
ing saving modes and programmes with
less consumptionof materials and energy.
A less-positive impact was on the social
area where cuts in the number of employ-
ees often negatively affected the work-life
balance of remaining employees who had
to take over the duties of those persons
who were made redundant. And not all
companies managed to maintain consist-
ency in their values during the layoff pro-
cess, and that had a negative impact on
employees motivation. On the other
hand, there was a positive development in
the area of community activities when
strategic partnerships and programmes
crystallised.
TSS: Which factors affect companies in
Slovakia when they decide to apply the
principlesof corporateresponsibility?
BH: Slovak companies that are motiv-
ated by their international parent compan-
ies and adapt the corporate strategies to
local conditions are primarily the ones im-
plementing corporate responsibility prin-
ciples here. A survey conducted as part of
the ReSmeS project showed that competit-
iveness andtherequirements of themarket
are the main motivators for implementa-
tion of corporate responsibility among
small andmedium-sizedcompanies.
BYJANALIPTKOV
Spectator staff
6
ITALY
Next issue:
BUSINESS FOCUS
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Some companies only
see the costs rather
than the benefits
Four foreign
diplomats
describe their
countries
initiatives
June 6 12, 2011
Leaving a visible and
lasting CSRfootprint
Alawon volunteering
is in the pipeline
Via Bona Slovakia awards for 2010
THE PONTIS Foundationdistributed its Via Bona Slovakia
awards for the 11thtime to publicly recognise companies
and entrepreneurs supporting corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and corporate philanthropy in
Slovakia at a ceremony inmid April. Awards were given
in10 categories this year to reflect the broader
development of CSRand corporate philanthropy
activities inSlovakia. Inadditionto the two MainAwards
traditionally givento a large corporationand to a small
or medium-sized enterprise the other eight awards
were designed to recognise outstanding work inspecific
types of CSRand corporate philanthropy.
Mainawards:
- The MainAwardfor Large Corporations for a
comprehensive approachto CSRwent to Orange
Slovensko. Pontis wrote that the mobile operators
strategy for corporate social responsibility is based on
several programmes: it supports the Nvrat non-profit
organisationwhichassists childrenincoming to families
frominstitutional care; it is active inthe environmental
field; and it is the only telecommunications business in
Slovakia to create the positionof independent
ombudsmanfor its clients.
- The MainAwardfor Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises for a comprehensive approachto CSR
went to Nera Networks-Liptovsk Hrdok, whichfocuses
onthree pillars people, planet and profit and its main
priority is its employees. If we treat people ina decent
way thenwe canhave people give 100 percent of their
labour force every day, said Peter Stenberg, CEOof the
company.
- Honourable mentionwent to Martintrba, the
manager of the online bookshop Martinus.sk. Pontis
wrote that this online bookshop has become the most
popular and the highest quality online bookshop thanks
to trbas straightforward approachtowards employees
and fairness towards customers.
Corporate social responsibility:
- The winner of the GreenAwardfor anenvironment-
related project was Envi-Pak company. The company was
recognised for its direct support of recycling inmore than
800 towns and villages inSlovakia.
- The Awardfor a Responsible Approachto Employees
was wonby OrionNova for its project of supported
employment for young people who have grownup in
orphanages.
- Tatra Banka received the Awardfor Socially
Responsible Market Operations for its Talking ATMs
project whichenables blind customers to handle ATM
transactions without any third-party assistance or the
need to disclose their PINcode.
- GlaxoSmithKline company received anHonourable
Mentionfor adopting measures and standards to
increase transparency inthe pharmaceutical industry.
- AnHonourable Mentionfor a responsible approachto
employees went to Embraco Slovakia for its exemplary
approachto its employees during last year's floods.
Corporate philanthropy:
- The Awardfor Long-TermPositive Corporate Impact
onsociety and the surrounding community was givento
Embraco Slovakia for its project enhancing the
department for newborns at the hospital inSpisk Nov
Ves over the past 12 years.
- The evaluationcommittee granted the Awardfor
Courage to Support a Difficult Issue to the Creative
Department company for its pro bono preparationof an
advertising campaigncalled Age Concerns Us.
- The Awardfor Employee Engagement inVolunteer
Activities went to RWE IT Slovakia for the change of its
corporate team-building activities fromsports to
volunteering for the Dorka family crisis centre.
Source: ViaBona
CompiledbySpectator staff
Leaving a CSR footprint
INMIDApril thePontis Found-
ation distributed its Via Bona
Slovakia Awards to publicly re-
cognise companies and entre-
preneurs whichhad supported
corporate social responsibility
(CSR) and corporate philan-
thropy in Slovakia. Four com-
panies were shortlisted for the
main award for large corpora-
tions for their comprehensive
approach to CSR, from which
the jury selected Orange Slov-
enskoasthewinnerfor2010.
The Slovak Spectator spoke
with representatives of the
four shortlisted companies,
specificallywithIvicaHricov,
media relations coordinator at
Orange Slovensko, Zuzana
Sehnalov, spokesperson of
PwC in Slovakia, Andrej
Gargulk, spokesperson of
Slovak Telekom, and Oldika
Luptkov fromPrv Stavebn
Sporitea about their com-
panies CSRactivities andtheir
sourcesof inspiration.
The Slovak Spectator (TSS):
Which are the key areas of
CSRinyourcompany?
Ivica Hricov (IH): The
primarykeyareasfor CSRwith-
in Orange Slovensko include
charity and philanthropy, sup-
port to education, environ-
mental protection and man-
agement, responsible market-
ing and the development and
satisfactionof employees.
Zuzana Sehnalov (ZS):
CSR for us is the way we integ-
ratesocial, environmental, and
economic concerns into our
values, culture, decision-mak-
ing and operations in an ac-
countable and transparent
manner, and in the way we es-
tablish better practices within
the firm, create wealthand im-
prove society. We want to un-
derstand well what CSR foot-
print we leave; we want to un-
derstand our impacts on key
areas and have the chance to
influencethem.
Regarding the approach of
PwC to CSR, it stems from our
CSR strategy in which we di-
vided our key areas into four
quadrants: community, mar-
ketplace, workplace and envir-
onment. We also pay great at-
tentiontoquestionsof ethicsin
business.
Andrej Gargulk (AG): We
follow the slogan that Each
good deed helps. We con-
stantly look for opportunities
to create conditions that will
help improve the lives of those
who need our help. Along with
this we are trying to create a
motivating environment for
our employees, reliable and af-
fordable products, and services
for clients so they can appraise
the advantages of modern
technologies in their working
lives as well as their private
lives. We pursue a fair and
transparent approach to our
subcontractors and trade part-
ners and last but not least we
reduce environmental risks
from our business. Corporate
philanthropy also plays an es-
peciallyimportant role.
Oldika Luptkov (OL):
Prv Stavebn Sporitea (PSS)
supports, inparticular, human-
itarian, housing and public
projects. Support for humanit-
arian projects is especially
about helping individuals who
have found themselves in a dif-
ficult healthor social situation.
Within our humanitarian
projects we have already sup-
ported legal entities such as
health facilities, orphanages,
and other social facilities. PSS
also traditionally supports the
League against Cancer and the
Plamienok childrens hospice,
just to mention two. Last year
PSS also helped those hit by
heavyflooding.
Within our support for
housing, PSS finances projects
each year to enhance the qual-
ity of the housing stock. This
means that we support public-
ation of specialised literature,
holding of conferences and
trainings as well as projects
linked with protection of cul-
tural monuments. Our support
for public projects focuses es-
peciallyoncultureandsport.
TSS: What are some specific
ways that your company
pursues CSR?
IH: To give some ex-
amples of concrete activities,
I can list education, environ-
mental protection, charity
and philanthropy, respons-
ible marketing, and develop-
ment and satisfaction of em-
ployees. Within education
and under the project Chil-
dren and Modern Commu-
nications Technologies we
elevate awareness about
risks stemming from use of
mobile phones and the in-
ternet by children. Orange
Slovensko also supports de-
velopment of non-traditional
and innovative forms of edu-
cation at schools. We also
run an educational portal,
www.oskole.sk, containing
information about subjects
taught at the second degree
of the basic schools as well as
at secondary schools. The
content is created by teach-
ers themselves and is presen-
ted using modern and inter-
active methods.
Within the environment-
al area we support e-commu-
nication and reduction of en-
ergy usage, collection of non-
functional telephones, batter-
ies and outfits, environment-
al management of subcon-
tractors and others. Our char-
ity and philanthropy area in-
cludes activities carried out
via the companys Orange
Foundation, long-term part-
nerships with organisations,
mobile financial collections,
raising money via mobile
phone collections and so on.
We address the matter of
responsible marketing via a
unique project having a tele-
coms ombudsmanto speak for
the rights of our clients. Our
employees can attend a num-
ber of training courses and
lectures as well as sports
activities and social pro-
grammes within our pro-
gramme area for development
and satisfactionof employees.
SeeSURVEYpg10
Employees oftencome upwiththeir ownideas for CSRactivit-
ies, like cleaninguparoundBratislavabus station. Photo: Sme
7
BUSINESS FOCUS
June 6 12, 2011
BYJANALIPTKOV
Spectator staff
Law on volunteering is in the pipeline
SLOVAKIA is one of the few countries in
Europe which does not have a law deal-
ing with the issues involved in volun-
teering. While other countries with dif-
ferent traditions may not face any prob-
lems in this area, Slovak organisations
which seek volunteers have been asking
for such a law for several years, as
Slovakias labour offices have some-
times viewed volunteers as illegal work-
ers and organisations using volunteers
have had problems determining exactly
how to account for peripheral costs in-
volved with volunteer activities. It now
seems that a law may be adopted in
Slovakia during the European Year of
Volunteering, as newly-drafted legisla-
tion is now undergoing the
governments internal approval proced-
ure and it is expected to go to parliament
later this year.
The benefit of the law for us will be
that we will finally have a definition of
who a volunteer is, Albeta Mrakov,
the executive director of C.A.R.D.O.,
Slovakias National Volunteer Centre, told
The Slovak Spectator, adding that her or-
ganisation helped initiate preparation of
the proposed legislation.
Albeta Brozmanov Gregorov from
the Volunteering Centre in Bansk
Bystrica, who was also active in drafting
the bill, said she believes that the lawcould
help create the conditions to elevate the
status of volunteers in the eyes of the pub-
lic and broaden opportunities for volunteer
work in various kinds of organisations.
Discussions about the need for a vo-
lunteering law in Slovakia date back to at
least 2002 and efforts to move legislation
forward intensified as part of the run up to
the parliamentary electioninJune 2010.
We wrote to all relevant political
parties, said Mrakov, adding that Jana
itansk, an MP from the Christian
Democratic Movement (KDH), was one of
the persons who responded to her
organisations call.
itansk initiated a working group
which prepared a first draft of a law on
volunteering and invited representat-
ives of NGOs with tangible experience
working with volunteers in Slovakia or
abroad to cooperate and add their ideas.
The draft legislation was submitted
by the Interior Ministry for interde-
partmental review, which wrapped out
on May 18 and parliament is expected
to approve the bill some time in late
2011 to mark the end of the European
Year of Volunteering.
The main reason leading to initi-
ation of the law on volunteering was to
define volunteering as a generally ac-
knowledged activity carried out by
people in the public interest,
itansk told The Slovak Spectator,
adding that the law should also clearly
define a volunteer as a person who,
without desire for a reward and on the
basis of his or her own personal de-
cision, provides a service to the benefit
of a third party.
SeeDRAFTpg10
BYJANALIPTKOV
Spectator staff
Pavol Lanari, general director of Orange Slovensko, ac-
cepts aViaBonaMainAward. Photo: Courtesyof Pontis
8
ADVERTISEMENT
30535
The Recently, media out-
lets have reported widely on
the most well-known of the
projects within ENERGY FOR
LIFE: Gypsy Spirit, which fo-
cuses on supporting the active
efforts of all those who partici-
pate in improving the situation
of Roma in Slovakia. Awarding
good examples, evaluating,
but also reminding people of
the importance of developing
personality, has struck a chord
both in the Czech Republic and
in Slovakia. Awards in five ca-
tegories: Non-governmental
organisation, Company- busi-
ness, Extra-school educational
activities, Personality and Act
of the year, were again awar-
ded during a gala evening at
the City Theatre of P.O. Hviez-
doslav in Bratislava.
The second but for Bra-
tislava inhabitants probably
the best-known project that is
assisted by Slovensk elektrr-
ne within the Energy for Life
project is the support for the
non-profit organisation Depaul
Slovensko. The Shelter of St
Vincent De Paul is the first low-
threshold shelter for the home-
less established in the Slovak
capital, and thanks to the sup-
port of Slovensk elektrrne it
continues to operate and offer
services to the long-term ho-
meless who are not able, due to
their situation, to fulfil the re-
quirements of existing shelters
and dormitories. This low-key
project has attracted attention
across the whole Enel Group,
and further cooperation will
also be supported by the Enel
Cuore Foundation. Thanks to
a big investment which will be
announced in the upcoming
weeks, Bratislava will be able
to secure much better conditi-
ons for this social group.
Protection of the environ-
ment is among the greatest
challenges and spheres within
the corporate social responsi-
bility activities of most com-
panies in Slovakia. Slovensk
elektrrne introduced their
programme ENERGY FOR
NATURE several years ago.
Activities implemented within
this programme protect and
cultivate the environment in
which we live. The previous-
ly-mentioned reduction of
emissions and waste produc-
tion, as well as a contribution
towards an increase in the
share of renewable sources
in the production of power, is
part of this. Apart from these
investment activities, the com-
pany, within its environmental
strategy, continues to develop
partnerships with Slovak na-
tional parks and supports the
development of biodiversity.
2010 was marked by efforts
to preserve birds of prey the
Golden Eagle and the Lesser
Spotted Eagle. Other activities
aimed to support the now-s-
parse population of Tatra Mar-
mots and Chamoix, and the
Brown Trout. The most popu-
lar projects in the High Tatras
included the installation of
photovoltaic panels at Trys
Chalet and Zbojncka (Bandit)
Chalet. A novelty in 2011 is an
analysis of the potential use of
water for power production at
Brnalka Chalet.
ENERGY FOR EDUCATI-
ON develops cooperation with
schools and universities in Slo-
vakia, the goal being to evoke
interest among young talents
not only in studying techno-
logy at colleges and universi-
ties, but also in working in the
energy sector.
Each year, Slovensk elek-
trrne allocate the Aurel
Stodola awards and provide
financial gifts for the best
Bachelors, Masters and po-
st-graduate theses focused
on energy. For several years,
an entertainment-educatio-
nal project by the Enel Group
has been bringing interesting
issues connected with ener-
gy, science, technology and
a sustainable environment
to elementary and seconda-
ry schools in many countries
within the project known
under the title Play Energy.
The competition promotes
knowledge about the world of
energy and urges young peo-
ple of all ages to discover the
world of electric power and
science. Students from Italy,
Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica,
Greece, Guatemala, Panama,
Romania, Russia, Slovakia
and the United States are
presented with the challen-
ge of using their creative and
designer skills. They come up
with effective proposals for
improving the quality of life
and promoting the rational
use of electric power in the
places where they live, as well
as creating energy efficiency
models and savings to the be-
nefit of the environment and
the whole of society.
Slovensk elektrrne, wi-
thin their long-term program-
mes of collaboration with
academia, e.g. in Slovakia
with the Slovak Academy of
Sciences (SAV), Slovak Uni-
versity of Technology, and fo-
reign and specialised institu-
tions, try to support scientific
development in the sphere of
energy. Examples include dis-
cussion at the level of the Enel
Group about international
cooperation on research pro-
grammes, or the first steps of
Slovensk elektrrne towards
founding a competency cen-
tre in cooperation with SAV.
ENERGY FOR CULTURE
includes projects supporting
cultural events and various
genres of art, from music of
different types (classical
Zlat husle, jazz Bratislava
Jazz Days, folklore Folklore
Festival Vchodn), through
theatre (Andrej Bagar Thea-
tre in Nitra, Radoina Naive
Theatre, Virtual Theatre in
Trenn), to less traditional
forms of art like the Kremnica
Gagy festival of humour and
satire. Slovensk elektrrne
also support the spread of
Italian culture and traditions
in Slovakia through the Dolce
Vitaj festival, but they also ex-
port the best of Slovak cultu-
re to Italy. Within Energy for
Culture, Slovensk elektrrne
cooperate with the whole ran-
ge of important cultural insti-
tutions the Slovak Culture
Ministry, the Slovak National
Gallery, the National Culture
Centre, and many others.
In May, Slovensk elektrr-
ne were the general partner
of the international festival
of modern circus Cirku lArt
which was presented for the
first time in Slovakia. The Me-
dical Garden in Bratislava was
transformed into a showg-
round for new top performers
from Austria, Spain, Portugal,
France, Italy, Belgium and the
Czech Republic. This refres-
hing event has enjoyed great
popularity in several Euro-
pean metropolises, and was
undoubtedly a big success in
the Slovak capital too.
An important project, lite-
rally the most visible in the
ilina region, is that to pro-
vide new lighting for Orava
Castle, made possible by
Slovensk elektrrne in coo-
peration with ilina Region.
The old lighting, dating back
to 1970s, was completely
replaced, meaning that the
second-most-visited castle
in Slovakia is now lit by 83
lamps. Thus, the dominant
historical monument in Ora-
va has been included among
those monuments which are
lit in a modern way, like the
Colosseum in Rome, Berlins
Brandenburg Gate, the Presi-
dential Palace in Warsaw and
Prague Castle.
ENERGY FOR SPORT will
bring another novelty this
year. Dni portu bez barir /
Days of Sport without Bar-
riers was founded thanks to
the inspiration of Slovensk
elektrrnes mother compa-
ny, Enel, which supports the
National Paralympics Day in
Italy. In Janko Kr Park in Pe-
tralka on June 22, Slovensk
elektrrne together with Slo-
vak Association of Disabled
Athletes and Bratislava City
will enable non-disabled chil-
dren to try sports in which di-
sabled athletes children and
adults alike compete.
Last year, Slovensk elekt-
rrne became the partner of
the Slovak Volleyball Fede-
ration. This young, dynamic
and aesthetic sport attracts
an ever growing number of
active players, fans and sup-
porters. It is the third most-
watched team sport in Slova-
kia. By supporting the Slovak
Volleyball Federation, Sloven-
sk elektrrne want to secure
better conditions for the deve-
lopment of the sport, so that
the national team, individual
teams and, especially, young
players have enough space,
opportunities and resources
to develop their talents.
This year, Slovensk elek-
trrne present the jubilee
year of the cycle race Okolo
Slovenska / Tour of Slovakia,
the first leg of which begins
on June 4. The race is also an
excellent means to present
the beauty of Slovakia, as
individual legs pass Bojnice
Castle, through imany,
Rajec and many other pictu-
resque places. More than 15
teams and 120 racers will
complete the race, with the
eighth leg on June 11 in Ga-
bkovo. The hydro power
plant and the waterworks at
Gabkovo will on that day
host members of the public
from far around within the
Open Plant series of events.
Via Open Plant, Slovensk
elektrrne allow people to
look behind the scenes at the
daily work of energy industry
employees.
This year, you can visit
the nuclear power plants at
Mochovce (on May 21) and
Jaslovsk Bohunice (June
18), the hydro power plants
at Liptovsk Mara (May 28)
and Gabkovo (June 11),
and the thermal power plants
at Novky (June 4) and Voja-
ny (June 25). Dont hesitate
come and draw the energy!
Five Energies for the country
We connect the world of power plants with the surrounding world
Increasing energy efficiency, reducing the production of carbon-
dioxide emissions and waste, securing the energy independen-
ce of Slovakia by finishing the two blocks of Mochovce nuclear
power plant, modernisation of classical power plants all these
are well-known issues connected to power producer Slovensk
elektrrne. Slovensk elektrrne, as the most important pro-
ducer of electricity in Slovakia, are implementing, aside from
their trading activities, a long-term, deliberate and planned pro-
gramme of corporate social responsibility called Energy for the
Country. Briefly summarised, Energy for the Country follows us
everywhere. It reflects a policy of social but also environmental
responsibility of the company. A number of activities is included
within five basic spheres. Each activity is given a specific ener-
gy: energy for environment, energy for life, energy for education,
energy for culture, or energy for sport.
Energy for education: NPP Mochovce Simulator Training Room Project Zlat husle was also supported by Slovensk elektrrne
June 6 12, 2011
CSR: Four diplomats share their countries' experiences
Continuedfrompg6
Mikov stated that support to CSR
is not anisolatedissueof just onemin-
istry but an issue for the whole gov-
ernment and he sees in it a parallel
with development of the business en-
vironment anditsimprovement.
I see a huge similarity, Mikov
said. Asinthebusinessenvironment,
which is and should be the matter for
the whole government, support for
CSR should also be a matter for the
whole government. CSR does not
touch only one ministry just as the
business environment does not touch
only the Ministry of Economy. The
ministry can be a guarantor and co-
ordinator of the whole process but it is
important to involve other ministries
as well as the whole government in
thisprocess.
Mikov stated that as Slovak soci-
ety and the Slovak economy develop,
corporate social responsibility will
improveas well, addingthat heis con-
vinced that in five years Slovakia will
have companies that are much more
sociallyresponsible.
Examples fromabroad
Even though Norway, the Nether-
lands, Denmark and the UK all have
well-established programmes to sup-
port CSR, their individual strategies
and programme names are somewhat
different. Norway has, among other
initiatives, its White Paper on CSR;
the Netherlands has what it calls its
Green Deal; Denmark has the Action
Plan; and the UK has a minister for
CSRaswell asaCSRAcademy.
Why is CSR such a high priority
for the Norwegian government?
askedSkymoenrhetorically. Because
CSR makes sense politically and mor-
allyandbecauseit isgoodfor business.
In a modern global economy, CSR
gives companies a competitive ad-
vantage and we want our companies
tohavethat advantage.
Norways White Paper published
in 2009 states the governments clear
commitment to promote and imple-
ment CSR and defines three key areas
forgovernment action: implementing
CSR in the governments own initiat-
ives; transferring societys expecta-
tions to Norwegian companies and
helping them through advice and
guidance; and developing and influ-
encing the CSR framework interna-
tionallyaswell asnationally.
The governments approach is to
strengthen guidance and advisory
measures towards companies, said
Skymoen, adding that since corpora-
tions operate in an arena of interna-
tional trade, their responsibility
should also be monitored on a mul-
tinational level. That is why the
Norwegian government has based its
strategy on the OECD guidelines for
multinational enterprises. The coun-
trywide discussion on roles and re-
sponsibilities of corporations in our
society resulted two years ago in the
White Paper that arms the Norwegi-
an government, as one of the first in
the world, with a comprehensive CSR
policy. This policy directly stimulates
and influences companies CSR
strategies and integrates them into
the core of their businesses.
In Norway, companies seeking
public projects, are strongly encour-
aged to develop clear ethical
guidelines.
Before picking a potential sup-
plier, the government office watches
closely how these guidelines are met
in practice, said Skymoen. They
follow the Action Plan for Environ-
mental and Social Responsibility in
Public Procurement, drafted pre-
cisely for this purpose. State com-
panies and companies with state in-
vestments must also make their eth-
ical guidelines publicly known.
Skymoen also presented the way
that assets are managed in Norways
Government Pension Fund Global as
an example of how the government
encourages CSR.
Our experience is that when all
stakeholders governments, busi-
ness, employees and NGOs work to-
gether, we succeed in pushing the
CSRagenda forward, Skymoensaid.
Ambassador Bergsma of the
Netherlands used as an example
two kinds of environmental impact
reports that her government
launchedin1999.
She explained that in the Neth-
erlands each company must prepare
an environmental impact analysis
before starting any business. For ex-
ample if a company wants to start
producing steel, if one wants to
build a nuclear power station or if a
company wants to build dikes,
which are very important in pre-
venting flood waters in her country,
an environmental impact analysis
must be prepared. But she added
that an environmental impact ana-
lysis must be prepared also for
projects such as a golf course or a
large farm, which she called factory
farming. The ambassador said the
purpose of these analyses is to know
the environmental effects that the
start of anybusiness canhave.
So, it is the responsibility of the
company that wants to start this kind
of activity to do the analysis, to sum-
marise what can be the negative en-
vironmental results and they must
also indicate what could be more en-
vironmentally-friendly alternatives,
Bergsma stated. And in this sense
the whole public is a participant in
this discussion and based on all the
information the government will or
will not give this particular company
permissionto start at all.
Once a company is active it is ob-
liged to submit a report each year on
the environmental effects of its busi-
ness, Bergsma added. This require-
ment is obligatory for all large com-
panies and the government monitors
whether the company has really
stuckto all the rules andregulations.
Bergsma also discussed a new
Dutch initiative which started earlier
this year called a Green Deal which
can be struck between the govern-
ment on one hand and either citizens
or companies onthe other hand.
This Green Deal is very down to
earth and about very pragmatic
solutions, said Bergsma, adding that
its goal is better use of existing know-
ledge about smart and sustainable use
of energy.
Bergsma pointed out that 85 per-
cent of the citizens of the Netherlands
believe it is important that compan-
ies followCSRprinciples.
About half of these people are
even willing to pay more for
products that are produced by such
companies, said Bergsma. So it is
really a growth market and in that
sense I would say from the econom-
ic point of view CSR is really an
opportunity.
Anita Hugau of Denmark
provided interesting examples of
joint work undertaken by the gov-
ernment and the corporate sector in
developing the countrys action plan
for corporate social responsibility
adopted in May 2008, as well as a
programme known as the Climate
Compass which helps companies to
develop strategies for preventing
climate change.
Hugau stressed that since the ac-
tion plan was produced in coopera-
tion with Danish industries, it en-
joys a broadconsensus. It encourages
Danish businesses to undertake so-
cial responsibility, for example, by
including climate-change issues in
their individual CSRstrategies.
The Climate Compass was de-
veloped by a partnership involving
the Confederation of Danish Indus-
tries and the Danish Ministry of Eco-
nomyandBusiness Affairs.
It is a web-based tool that tar-
gets businesses in all sectors looking
to reduce their CO2 emissions, said
Hugau, adding that now companies
can go on the internet to get neces-
sary information. Online, busi-
nesses canprepare a climate strategy
and get advice on how to reduce CO2
emissions.
The Climate Compass also
provides examples of beneficial
measures and offers tools for com-
municating and reporting these
measures. Companies can also share
experiences and learn how other
businesses are including climate is-
sues in their CSR strategies, Hugau
said, adding that this is just one of
several tools that the government
has developed in close cooperation
withthecorporatesector.
The United Kingdom is one of
only a few countries that have a
minister for corporate responsibil-
ity. Andrew Pittam explained that
the post was established about 10
years ago.
The umbrella agency in the UK
responsible for CSR is the Depart-
ment for Business, Innovation and
Skills (BIS), which is similar to the
SlovakMinistryof Economy.
Pittam explained that BIS de-
velops policy and sets the frame-
work for the rest of the govern-
ment. Other government depart-
ments have responsibility for CSR
intheir ownareas.
CSR is not imposed from on
high by the UK government, Pit-
tamsaid, andthe concept is already
a reality for many large and small
businesses which work through
organisations like Business in the
Community(BITC).
Pittam provided information
about one of the most recent initi-
atives undertaken by the UK gov-
ernment in collaboration with
BITC called Every Business Com-
mits. Its purpose is to help busi-
nesses understand how they can
act responsibly by giving them
clear examples of how they can
make a difference in five priority
areas: supporting communities;
improving quality of life; improv-
ingskills andcreatingjobs; protect-
ing the environment; and support-
ingSMEs.
This is a kind of a contract
between the government and a
business, said Pittam, adding that
under this contract the govern-
ment will reduce regulation and
obstacles to businesses and simpli-
fy taxes and then expects these
businesses to think about what ac-
tions they can take to contribute to
the wider societies in which they
exist.
According to Pittam, Every
Business Commits aims to shape
businesses contribution to the
governments broader agenda to
empower communities, encourage
social action and responsibility and
decentralise public services, known
inthe UKas The BigSociety.
The United Kingdom also has a
CSR Academy that was established
by the government in 2007 and
later transferred to the responsibil-
ities of BITC.
The CSR Academy was set up
with two simple aims firstly, to
provide advice for companies on
any CSR issues and secondly to
provide training to businesses
seeking to develop their CSR
potential, Pittamstated.
9
BUSINESS FOCUS
Quality health care and healthy people are our goals
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one
of the biggest pharmaceutical
companies in the world. Its princi-
ples and approach to business are
directed towards improving peo-
ples health and quality of life and
in each of its activities it strives
to fulfil this goal by focusing on
the patients interest and accom-
modating his or her needs. This
is reflected as well in our ethical
standards in research and deve-
lopment, standards which are
crucial in protecting participants
in clinical studies, ensuring qua-
lity research, and maximising the
advantages and minimising the
risks of products made by GSK.
When submitting applications for
approval of new products to regu-
latory bodies, the highest ethical
standards are also important to
GSK, along with transparency
and gaining the trust of patients
and doctors in our research pro-
grammes and products.
Via Bona Slovakia award
for ethical enterprise
The core business of GSK is re-
search and development of new
medicines which improve the
quality of health care and give pa-
tients hope for a longer and fruit-
ful life. Our company also sup-
ports doctors in their education
and professional development.
For its responsible business ope-
rations in 2010, GlaxoSmithKline
received a Via Bona Honourable
Mention award for applying
measures and standards to in-
crease transparency in the phar-
maceutical industry. Via Bona
Slovakia awards are
given annually by
the Pontis Foundati-
on and its evaluation
committee consists
of representatives of
companies, public
administration, me-
dia and non-profit organisations
in Slovakia.
Social responsibility
is part of our business
In addition to support for edu-
cation of doctors and the develo-
pment of new, quality medicines,
GSK shows social responsibility
towards disadvantaged
groups by helping those
who need help the most
and supporting fields in
which visible changes
can be achieved. Eve-
ry year GSK strives to
demolish barriers and
to fully integrate health-impaired
or socially-disadvantaged people
into society over the long term by
bestowing financial grants throu-
gh our GSK Fund, with each grant
being transparently awarded by an
independent committee.
GSK employees regularly engage
in philanthropic activities and par-
ticipate in various volunteer pro-
jects. Recently they raised funds
to help the municipality of Nin
Mya recover from serious floo-
ding and they organised a collecti-
on of items for Roma children to
help them improve their lives and
living conditions.
GSK and its employees always
try to abide by the motto Reach
out your hand and you will get a
whole heart back and they regu-
larly assist persons who are reli-
ant on the help of others, for wha-
tever reason. GSK is a member
of the Slovak Donors Forum and
the Club of Corporate Donors and
we would like to encourage other
companies and organisations to
support the ideas of volunteering
and social responsibility.
GlaxoSmithKline company (GSK) ranks among the leaders
in the pharmaceutical industry and its primary goal is to
support health: it improves the quality of human life by
enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. In its
business activities, GSK maintains strict ethical standards
and it was recently given an important award in Slovakia for
its ethical and responsible approach to business.
ADVERTISEMENT
SP90578/1
June 6 12, 2011
SURVEY: Employee involvement is key
Continuedfrompg7
ZS: With our general ap-
proach we are trying to open
various CSR themes and bring
the attention of our employ-
ees to them. We do not care
too much how many charity
financial or non-financial col-
lections we carry out or how
many hours we devote to pro
bono services or volunteering.
Of course, these are also im-
portant activities whose res-
ults can have an immediate
positive benefit. But we rather
care for long-term effect and
leaving our CSR footprint. We
want to bring up future lead-
ers who care for their envir-
onment and surroundings.
We want the PwC mark to be
connected with ethical and
transparent operation in the
market.
To be more specific, in
March 2010 we launched the
PwC Endowment Fund ad-
ministered by the Pontis
Foundation. This is our own
initiative to support the right
things in our surroundings.
Money pooled inthe fund is all
used for grants within the
employee grant programme
Helping Hand. The precondi-
tion to submit a grant applica-
tion is a recommendation on
the part of a PwC employee.
This enables us to secure
transparent use of funds as
well as to support projects
which otherwise could be not
carriedout.
AG: Slovak Telekom (ST)
has been active in supporting
the community of the deaf to
ease their integration into so-
ciety for a ninth year now.
During a project called the
Seventh Sense, seven well-
known personalities assumed
the role of a deaf person in
various life situations with
the help of sign language. For
the fourth time ST also held a
learning programme for deaf
people who want to start a
business, just to mention a
fewprogrammes.
Via our endowment fund
ST supports contemporary art,
use of modern technologies by
disadvantaged groups and in-
novations in education. ST
uses its communications
technologies and know-how
for development of philan-
thropy in Slovakia as well. It is
also active in protection of
childrenusing the internet.
Within corporate philan-
thropy ST has introduced sev-
eral new activities: it was one
of the first firms in Slovakia to
motivate its employees to not
only donate blood but also bone
marrow; ST also planted 600
trees in the High Tatras to re-
place those swept away by the
windstorms; and we rewarded
creative teachers using modern
information-communications
technologies whenteaching.
OL: Support for projects is
not a one-man decision. In
PSS, we have a humanitarian
commission that regularly
meets and an advisory board to
the fund, which assesses the
requests for help that the bank
receives. Each applicant is in-
formed about the decision on
his or her application, while
the final decision is taken by
the PSS board of directors.
TSS: What are your inspira-
tions for CSR in general as
well as for individual CSR
activities? Do your employ-
ees come forward with pro-
posals?
IH: We regularly carry out
surveys and evaluate any
areas that showup as deficient
or as having problems. Then
we try to direct all our support
and the whole palette of activ-
ities exactly into these areas.
Thanks to our long experience
we can target our help very ef-
fectively. Also the employees
themselves can contribute to
improvement in any of these
areas, either by a good idea but
also by their own activities. To
support their engagement we
annually open our specialised
employee grant programme,
which enables them to come
up witha sound idea, carry out
any activities either to help
people, enhance their sur-
roundings or start any other
activities into which, apart
from money, they also donate
their owntime.
ZS: At PwC it is precisely
our people who arrive with
ideas for CSR activities. We
also have aninternal CSRteam
a group of volunteers from
the ranks of our employees
who have shownaninterest in
actively participating in our
CSR activities. We meet once a
month to assess past CSR
activities and to plan new
ones. Our CSR team features
employees from the consult-
ant positionup to directors, all
of whom come with their own
initiatives and help to carry
themout and all this is beyond
their normal working time
and duties.
AG: We carry out our CSR
activities and projects in line
with the CSR strategy and pil-
lars of our parent company,
Deutsche Telekom. Moreover
we follow the slogan: Talk to
those to whom you are help-
ing so that you can better
help. This is how our cooper-
ation with the deaf com-
munity was born and de-
veloped even though they
cannot use all our services.
As a telecoms operator we
provide modern ITC services
and thus our goal is to help
where information and access
to it enables improvement in
quality of life.
Employees also give us in-
spiration for help via the em-
ployee grant programme We
helpthe community.
OL: PSS is a successful
bank over the long term. Be-
cause our operationis localised
in Slovakia only, we decided to
return a portion of our success
to Slovakias citizens and sup-
port those who are thrown
upon the help of others. PSS
takes inspiration especially
from applications from legal
entities as well as individuals
who need help, but also in re-
sponse to what is happening at
the moment, for example help
to people hit by the floods and
contributions for the survivors
of the soldiers who died during
their return from the mission
in Kosovo. In this respect,
activities initiated by employ-
ees are much less numerous.
Usually these include one-off
contributions for purchase of
teaching tools or to help people
ina difficult life situation.
To read the rest of this survey,
please go to www.spectator.sk
Learningsignlanguage. Photo: Courtesyof Pontis Foundation
10
BUSINESS FOCUS
DRAFT: Law could
come by year-end
Continuedfrompg7
Mrakov said such a
law will help prevent situ-
ations when volunteers are
viewed as illegal workers,
noting that this has
happened several times in
social facilities and senior
centres during checks by la-
bour inspectors. Moreover,
she said the new legislation
will enable organisations to
properly include the peri-
pheral costs they encounter
when using volunteers into
their financial accounting.
She noted that this is
currently a problem because
volunteers are not con-
sidered to be employees or
members of the organisa-
tion they volunteer to help.
Volunteer organisations
have also asked that the
new legislation resolve the
issue of how to include vo-
lunteered time into the re-
quirements for qualifying
for an old-age pension in
Slovakia. Currently, volun-
teer work is not recognised
in any way under the state
pension scheme, the organ-
isations said.
The new legislation
should also clarify the mat-
ter of formal agreements
which cover the basis on
which volunteers provide
volunteer assistance.
The draft law does not
deal with financial support
on the part of the state gov-
ernment for volunteering
and both Mrakov and
Brozmanov Gregorov view
this as a problem.
A large and a signific-
ant area which has not
made it to the draft law is
financial support for volun-
teering and volunteering
centres, said Brozmanov
Gregorov. I perceive this
as one of the basic precondi-
tions for development of vo-
lunteering in future years.
Mrakov said that the
law on volunteering in the
Czech Republic covered cer-
tain state subsidies.
Mrakov noted that
during drafting of the pro-
posed law, wording was in-
cluded that would oblige an
organisation to have third-
party liability insurance and
an accident insurance policy
for each person volunteer-
ing for the organisation in
Slovakia or abroad.
She said she agreed with
the latter requirement but
said the obligation to have
these insurance policies for
volunteers within Slovakia
would end volunteering
programmes here because
organisations would not
have sufficient funds to do
so. She said she hoped this
matter would be resolved
during the governments
approval process.
Waitingfor thefinal version
Slovak volunteers and
volunteer organisations
must wait for the final ver-
sion of the legislation but
are hopeful that it will turn
out to be more about facilit-
ating the work of volunteers
and will not have the oppos-
ite effect. Mrakov em-
phasised that her organisa-
tion certainly does not want
a law that limits volunteer
organisations or puts new
or expanded administrative
burdens on them.
There are experiences
from other countries where
a law on volunteering was
initiated but completely dif-
ferent concepts that
burdened organisations
were adopted, Mrakov
said, adding that volunteer-
ing is so spontaneous that
some areas should be not
addressed by a law at all.
Transport company to aid workshop for the disabled
The money will be used to fi-
nance the re-opening of the caf
Radnika, once a popular Brati-
slava meeting place for artists and
tourists and well-remembered for
its amiable service. The plan is for
the caf to open this summer. It
will employ six disabled persons
as well as two professional wai-
ters to serve as supervisors.
Gebrder Weiss has also agre-
ed to underwrite some of the cost
of the cafs well-known drink
list. Before it was closed, many
of its more famous patrons were
honored with beverages offered
in their names. The list included
actors Jlius Satinsk, Milka V-
ryov, tefan Skrcan, or mu-
sicians Beta Dubasov and Vao
Patejdl. These concoctions de-
lighted customers but unfortuna-
tely were so expensive to make
that little profit came from them.
Markus Jelleschitz of Gebrder
Weiss Slovensko was excited by
the plans.
Our company supports various
communities and leisure activities
aimed at improving the prospects
the mentally disabled. I was elec-
trified by the idea of a protected
workplace in downtown Bratisla-
va where we could aid the han-
dicapped by simply ordering tea
or coffee from them. I personally
have experienced the wonderful fe-
eling that comes when you can see
disabled persons accomplishing
meaningful work. Gebrder Weiss
plans to actively support such pro-
grams in the future, be they trai-
nings or by employing the disabled
with catering services at various
receptions and social events.
Gebrder Weiss also actively
supports the Radnikas mar-
kets that are organized every
September in the Primatial
Square. The companys plan is
to not only to present the work
of the disabled, but to also urge
employers to hire them to work
in the various venues. Through
the years, the Radnika markets
have given the opportunity to
many young people to present
their crafts, get involved in
competitions and to show their
talents and skills.
Gebrder Weiss has 137 bran-
ches around the world, with
more than 300 transport lines
and 250,000 square metres
of storage space. Annually, it
transports almost 7.6 milli-
on consignments, handled by
4,500 employees. In recent
years its investments into mo-
dern information technologies
represent more than 100 mil-
lion. The company is over 500
years old.
Gebrder Weiss, one of the leading transport companies
in central and eastern Europe plans to initiate a project in
Slovakia called 1 cent z kadej zsielky / One Cent for each
consignment aimed at supporting a protected workshop
for mentally disabled people to help integrate them into so-
ciety. Based on the companys statistics, the total volume of
their consignments transported will amount to 700,000;
out of which 7,000 will go to this project.
ADVERTISEMENT
SP90575/1
June 6 12, 2011
RAIL: 5,000 jobs to go as Slovakia's railways are revitalised
Continuedfrompg1
The Federation of Train
Operators of Slovakia (SF) said
the strike was a success. Nev-
ertheless, the railway com-
pany is now calculating the
damage and says it might
submit thebill totheunion.
Altogether, 92 passenger
trains across Slovakia joined
the strike, representing ap-
proximately 40-50 percent of
all trains in operation at the
time. None of the 30 cargo
trains which also joined the
strike blockedthe operationof
passenger services, said the
communications department
of infrastructure operator
eleznice Slovenskej Repub-
liky (SR) in a media release.
The Bratislava-Dunajsk
Streda-Komrno line, where
all trains joined the strike,
was the most heavilyaffected,
while Koice got off lightest,
with no strike-related delays
reported in and around
Slovakiassecondcity.
Minister of Transport,
Construction and Regional
Development JnFige saidon
May 27 that he regretted that
the striking train operators
were taking their own cus-
tomershostage.
I consider this neither
correct nor fair, said Fige, as
quotedbytheSITAnewswire.
The strike took place
between 14:50 and 15:50; the
strike plan assumed that each
train dispatched before 14:50
would stop at the next station
and leave only after the strike
hadended.
Peter Dubovsk, the
spokesman for the SF strike
committee, said the action
hadbeensuccessful.
The employer managed to
operate some trains but since it
was only a one-hour- long
strike, the maths is clear that in
the event of a longer strike the
share of running trains would
have visibly dropped since the
employer had at its disposal
only a limited number of strike
breakers, Dubovsk told The
Slovak Spectator. Our goal,
after all, wasnt to paralyse the
transport system and cause
chaos but to show that we are
here, since we started to get the
feeling that we have been over-
looked by the management of
thecompany.
But Alexander Buzinkay,
spokesman for eleznin
Spolonos Slovensko(ZSSK), the
passenger rail service operator,
said the strike demonstrated the
need to address issues that the
railways have begun gradually
dealing with as part of the re-
vitalisationof thesector.
The strike was an irre-
sponsible act, whichmoreover
lacked sense and clearly for-
mulated demands, Buzinkay
told The Slovak Spectator,
adding that it caused damages
which the company has not
yet calculated.
Buzinkay added that
worsethanmaterial damage
is the moral damage, such as
reducing the credibility of
the railways. He stated the
railways might consider
seeking recovery of damages
viathecourts.
The union claimed that
railway management exerted
pressure on employees to
thwart thestrike.
Dubovsk says that man-
agers forced train operators to
sign statements on participa-
tion in the strike and he
quoted ZSSK general director
Pavel Kravec as saying the
statements should serve for
the purpose of future
confrontation. According to
Dubovsk, this statement was
behind the departure of the
strike committee fromtalks as
well as the immediate termin-
ation of the talks, which he
said were marred by the com-
pany managements efforts to
avert thestrike.
But Buzinkay said ZSSK
management had taken sev-
eral measures to prevent
losses and secure services, in-
cluding, amongothers, trying
to find out who planned to
join the strike. He stressed
that this had happened on a
voluntarybasis.
He also stressed that ZSSK
would not change its commu-
nication with train operators
followingthestrike, providing
theycontinue to performtheir
workingduties.
Kravec told the Sme daily
that the programme of revital-
isation of the railway sector,
already approved by the cab-
inet, was consulted during so-
called roundtables with the
leadershipof theSFunion.
In connection with the re-
vitalisation of the Slovak rail-
ways the SF demanded that in
the shortest possible time a le-
gislative framework be adop-
ted for all the businesses oper-
ating in railway transport,
along with a definition of how
their activities will be mon-
itored. Most importantly,
checks to observe the technic-
al criteria of railway cars and
the organisation of the work-
ing hours of employees are in
question, the federation's
webpagesaid.
The revitalisation plan
was designed in part to stem
the massive losses made by
the railway companies over
recent years. The programme
foresees the redundancy
within three years of 5,000
out of the 31,000 workers cur-
rently employed, according
to a Transport Ministry me-
dia release. The ministry is
also set to pick a strategic
partner for rail freight oper-
ator ZSSK Cargo, with an in-
ternational tender to pur-
chase 66 percent of the com-
panyduebyJune2012.
The union federation ob-
jects totheplannedsaleof the
two-thirds share of Cargo, to
occur once the financial con-
dition of the firm has im-
proved. They argue that the
state should preserve Cargo
as a national and strategic
railway carrier after its fin-
anceshavestabilised.
Slovakias original state-
owned railway company,
eleznice Slovenskej Repub-
liky (SR), was once among the
countrys biggest non-finan-
cial companies. SR was later
split up into the current rail-
way network operator (which
retained the SR name) and
transport companySSK.
ZSSK Cargo was created in
January 2005, when the state
broke SSK into two joint-
stock companies: ZSSK for
passenger transport and ZSSK
Cargo for cargo transporta-
tion. The reason for the move
was that the cargo business,
which at that time was profit-
able, was being used to fund
the companys passenger
transport services, a cross-
subsidy that European Union
rules donot allow.
Some trains stoppedfor anhour onMay 27. Photo: TASR
JF: We need to put Bratislava Airport on the radar of investors
Continuedfrompg4
I consider these sources of finan-
cing to be very important in terms of
diversification, so that we do not re-
main dependent on a single source,
because such dependence is vulner-
able to abuse. If the state shows that it
is dependent only onwhat one partner
offers in the form of a PPP, then the
partner will certainly submit the bill
for that. PPPis one form, but it must be
transparently prepared and must use a
good tendering process; this means no
mega-packages that regular firms
cannot even consider, but appropriate
tenders where the ability to compete
means a good price as well as condi-
tions advantageous to the state. This is
what we want toapply.
TSS: Your department is alsofacing
the challenge of dealing with the
state-owned railway companies,
which have been on the verge of
financial collapse. So far, planned
layoffs seemto be the most widely
discussed aspect. What cure are
youapplyingtothefirms?
JF: As for the healing process, lay-
offs have never been the primary and
main solution but it is part of the op-
timisation of employment on the
railways because they cannot be some
kindof social company. Ina competit-
ive environment they need vitality,
and employment issues are linked to
this. However, the decisive changes
we have made include changes to the
managements, which previously ac-
ted like leeches, sucking assets out of
the firms and pushing them into un-
believablyrednumbers.
Reshuffling the managements,
tuning new rules for public procure-
ment, contracts, returning out-
sourcing back to firms where this was
reasonable, electronic auctions
whichstarted inthe railways and will
apply across the whole department
within a year and a half has brought
over 50 million in savings through
new tender procedures and reassess-
ment of disadvantageous contracts
alone.
Then we have faced a depressing
image: empty railways and packed
roads. This is also because the Slovak
fees per kilometre for cargo transport
by rail have been among the highest
in the European Union. We changed
this as of January 1, along with other
measures by which the state has cre-
ated a predictable contractual envir-
onment and through which we are
getting to a position where the state
will pay for what obligations it has
taken on and the firms will deliver
what theyhave promisedtodeliver.
I expect the railway companies
withintwo years to get into a balanced
economic condition. Yet this is a pro-
cess which includes both short-term
and long-term solutions. Certainly,
layoffs were not the ultimate goal and
cannot be the sole tool, but they are
part of the optimisationprocess.
TSS: The state has alsohadthe ambi-
tion to open up cargo transporter
ZSSK Cargo to a strategic investor.
In what stage are preparations for
this move?
JF: Cargo is starting to report pos-
itive operational results, which only
confirms its ability to be healed and I
consider this the first condition for
seeking a partner since, you know,
who would take a feeble bride? Only a
speculator would. This is why we
want toget Cargointobetter shape. At
the same time, it is clear that only a
firm that has relationships, business,
goods and services can be a winner.
Railway transportation, like energy,
for example, needs to have links, for
example north-south or west-east
connections, so that we are important
for European or international
strategies. Keeping this in mind, we
will prepare concrete steps in the ho-
rizon of the summer of 2012 for a stra-
tegic partnership. The government
agreed on a level of 66 percent which
does not mean privatisation, but
rather joining capital in such a way
that a wider new partnership with
addedvalue emerges.
TSS: Bratislavas Milan Rastislav
tefnik International Airport has
also been opened up for strategic
partnership. How far has the state
got in this process? What should
this movebringfor theairport?
JF: I am now working on the first
phase of the process, which is select-
ing an advisor for the concession for
the airport. In cooperation with an ex-
perienced partner we will define the
basic goals, rules and parameters of
such an international tender, which
will be approved by the cabinet, and
then in the third phase, based on this
tender, the concessionaire agreement
will be elaborated. For Bratislava Air-
port this should bring a revival of in-
vestment and a balanced relationship,
which will be both advantageous for
the concessionaire, who will naturally
expect to profit from the investment,
but also advantageous for the state,
which in my opinion should not give
away strategic infrastructure, but in-
corporate it into its goals and inten-
tions. The developments are already
encouraging; for example, this year
there will be many more flights from
Bratislava in both cargo and passenger
transportation. The fact that
renowned aviation firms are coming
here is a very good signal in terms of
business but also politics when it
comes to considering the concession.
There are many airports whichremain
in the shadowbut we need to put Brat-
islava onthe radar of investors.
TSS: A recently completed
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
investigation into the project to
reconstruct Milan Rastislav
tefnik Airport between 2005 and
2008 found faulty procurement
and unjustified expenditure. What
aretheconsequencesfor thestate?
JF: The controversy over the air-
port is part of the legacy froma period
when procurement was often con-
ducted in a non-transparent manner,
incompatible with European Union
laws and practices. Now, it is import-
ant to explain who was and who re-
mains responsiblefor the failings.
OLAF recommended that the
European Commission recover 3.9
million of the EU funding involved. It
is up to the commission how it de-
cides, but OLAF is an institution with
highcredibilityandits reports are very
sensitively perceived. If it happens,
Slovakia will have to refundthe money
paid by the EU. Onthe other hand I am
convinced that Slovakia needs mod-
ernisationto ensure that the countrys
air transport, and its transport infra-
structure in general, remains safe and
comfortable. The department will con-
tinue withexisting work to complete a
new terminal while learning the les-
son that the work needs to be done
with strict observance of quality as
well as compatibility with the law.
Today we are assessing investment in-
tentions and the use of EU funds in a
much stricter way so that later we do
not face any suspicions of fraud or oth-
er doubts. The new terminal should be
finished by June 2012, boosting the
airports capacity.
We are now settling these old
debts, which are a very sad legacy,
but I believe that it is a sort of learn-
ing process for society, and that we
will not again attempt to finance
projects in many different ways be-
causethenwewill paythebill.
TSS: Your predecessor, now Smer
MP ubomr Vny, has filed a mo-
tion with the Public Procurement
Authority to check whether your
department has observed public
procurement rules in concluding
contracts with three suppliers.
Meanwhile, you have also started
checkingonpreviousdeals.
JF: I consider his statements to be
false. We have been checking deals
concluded inthe past, but also current
ones because if we made procure-
ment rules stricter we did so not [to
improve] our image but to make the
use of public funds more economical.
Where I saw that unjustified pro-
curement was at issue, I tookaction.
I believe that people will be able to
decide and make a judgment based on
actions not statements. I amrestating
that in the case of large construction
projects we will be responsible and
save funds. I came here withthis logic
and thus I also frequently face differ-
ent attacks because, of course, certain
financial interests are linked to these.
These [financial interests] often at-
tack politics or influence it where
there is a lack of transparency, which
is very bad evenintodays Europe. For
Slovakia, the questionarises where do
we belongandwhat pathwill we take:
the path of collapsing Greece; or of
those vital countries such as Finland
or Denmarkwhichshowthat it is pos-
sible tomanage countries differently.
11
BUSINESS
June 6 12, 2011
12 June 6 12, 2011
ROADS: Tapping many funding sources
Continuedfrompg1
Our intention is not to
create the illusion that with a
limited amount of public fin-
ances we can build everything
in a very short time, Fige
said in an official statement.
We want to offer the public
real dates for starting and fin-
ishing particular sections.
Among the schemes pri-
orities remains the comple-
tion of the D1 highway con-
nection between Bratislava
and Koice, specifically the
missing sections between
ilina and Preov. The com-
pletion of most of the missing
75-kilometre section from
Dubn Skala to Svinia is real-
istic by the end of 2014 and all
of it by 2015, the ministry said.
However, completion of
the Turany-Hubov section
might stretch beyond that
date as the European Commis-
sion requires further assess-
ment of the environmental
impact on the NATURA 2000
territory, and without EC ap-
proval it will not be possible to
proceed, the ministry said.
The programme expects
the launch of construction of
the most difficult section of
the D1, the Viov tunnel
near ilina, at the beginning
of 2012, which it says could be
completed by late 2016 or early
2017. Construction of the tun-
nel is the main element delay-
ing completion of the entire
cross-country D1.
Another ambition is to
start construction of most of
the missing sections of the D3
highway connecting ilina
with the Slovak-Polish border.
Preparation of the most im-
portant sections of this route
has been blocked by legal and
ownership disputes, accord-
ing to the ministry. The pro-
gramme also places high im-
portance on key sections of
the R7 dual carriageway con-
necting Bratislava with
Luenec via Dunajsk Streda,
Nov Zmky and Vek Krt,
and on the D4 Bratislava by-
pass, which should ease the
burden on the capitals exist-
ing road system.
The Transport Ministry
wants to obtain funding from
European funds, the state
budget, loans from the
European Investment Bank,
revenues from the highway
toll system, as well as from
highway bonds. The main
sources of money will be EU
funds allocated under the
2007-2013 financing period
and the state budget.
In my opinion it is a plan
which could be realistic,
providing certain conditions
are met; as the material
points out, [these conditions]
are that there will be some
additional funds allocated
from the state budget in the
upcoming years, Palk told
The Slovak Spectator.
The second very import-
ant aspect, according to
Palk, is that the tenders are
performed in the planned
time without any extra com-
plications.
I would note, though,
that no government to date
has managed since the estab-
lishment of an independent
Slovakia to meet the obliga-
tions they defined regardless
of whether this happened due
to political or economic
reasons, Palk said.
If this government man-
ages to build 130 kilometres of
highways and dual carriage-
ways and launch their opera-
tion by the end of 2014 it
would be very good for the
country, Palk said, referring
to analyses by his institute
which suggest that since 1993,
when Slovakia became inde-
pendent, only 12 kilometres of
highway and 9 kilometres of
dual carriageway have been
built each year on average. If
130 kilometres are completed
in four years that would be an
excellent result, Palk said.
Of course, I could ima-
gine an even higher number
of kilometres, but I think we
can be happy even with this if
it is completed, Palk added.
As for financing for the
projects, Palk said that the
government made a political
decision to cancel the first and
third public-private partner-
ship (PPP) packages and decided
to rely more on financing
through European Union funds.
The fact is that each
method of financing has its
pluses and minuses and I re-
gard it as a political decision
which the government was
entitled to take, Palk said.
I personally think that it is
good that they did not com-
pletely abandon PPP projects
and that sections of the future
D4 and R7, where in the future
intense traffic is expected, are
suitable for this form to be ap-
plied there.
Based on the ministrys
new programme, former min-
ister Vnys concluded that
after halting the PPP projects
designed under his govern-
ment, and pausing highway
construction overall, the gov-
ernment has focused on
projects which are not ready
for public procurement. He
told The Slovak Spectator that
projects such as the R2 in iar
nad Hronom and the D3 in
ilina, Strov-ilina and
Brodno are prepared, but the
department has not secured
enoughmoney for them.
According to Vny, over
the past year the project pre-
parations have stagnated,
commenting that since the
day the government changed
the projects have barely
moved forward.
If we are talking about
the assumed hand-over of
highways [for use], the realist-
ic plan of Fige is to hand over,
by 2014, 5.2 kilometres of the
D1 highway in half-profile,
Vny said, referring to a half-
way stage of construction in
which one carriageway is
opened as a regular road first
while construction of the oth-
er carriageway continues. He
argued that Figes figure of
130 kilometres of highways to
be completed is incorrect be-
cause it includes 52 kilometres
of the R1 dual carriageway
that he said is the result of a
successful PPP project by his
government.
As for the reasons why his
government failed to finish
the highway connection
between Bratislava and
Koice, Vny referred to what
he called stagnation in high-
way construction from 1998
until 2006, when the Fico gov-
ernment took office. Due to
the lack of traditional re-
sources for financing and the
exhausted credit capacity of
the National Highway Com-
pany, the government wanted
to use, along with traditional
means, PPP projects to pro-
gress construction of the
highways by 2010 and,
without tunnels, even com-
mence operation of large parts
of the three routes which were
intended to be funded via PPP
packages.
Unfortunately due to the
world economic and financial
crisis, which caused a lack of
liquidity in the financing
banks, only the 2nd package
progressed to its financial
close; it is now 80-percent
started and 46 kilometres of it
should be finished by October,
with an additional 6 kilo-
metres being completed in Ju-
ly 2012, Vny said.
The transport minister says his planis realistic. Photo: TASR
SNS: Belousovov leaves
Continuedfrompg2
They could harvest a per-
cent or so if they started now
very intensively building
their structures and promot-
ing the party, Mesenikov
told The Slovak Spectator. But
he added that since
Belousovov is not a newface
inSlovak politics and is well-
knownfor her style of politics
and her opinions, he doubts if
there is a real chance for the
party to be a key player inthe
Slovak party system.
Mesenikov also sugges-
ted that many of the people
nowaround Belousovov
represent no real alternative
to the SNS since these indi-
viduals supported SNS
chairmanJnSlota onall is-
sues inthe past.
Its all the same all the
time, radical nationalismand
the Hungariancard, so there
is no roomfor any alternat-
ive, although[Belousovov
and Puk] nowpresent
themselves as those who de-
sire more decent nationalist
politics, Mesenikov said.
But they had anopportunity
to do that inthe party they
were a part of and nothing
like that ever occurred.
Mesenikov added that
the mainreasonfor the con-
flict betweenBelousovov
and Slota is not differing
opinions, because they were
usually of one mind onkey
issues, but rather anongoing
power struggle withinthe
party and the subsequent ac-
cusations made by eachof
themthat led Belousovov to
break away.
Belousovov, the first
vice-chair of the SNS until
last year, was expelled from
the party onFebruary 2 this
year, withall 14 members of
the SNS presidiumbacking
what they called a disciplin-
ary actionagainst her for
damaging the name and the
interests of the SNS.
Belousovov ranfor the
post of SNS chair against Slota
inSeptember 2010, following
the partys poor showing in
the 2010 general electionin
whichit came close to losing
its seats inparliament. Inher
campaignto become leader
she criticised the scandals
that dogged the SNS during its
time ingovernment between
2006 and 2010. The SNS con-
gress did not elect her and in-
stead stripped her of the vice-
chair position. She was then
stripped of all other posts she
held and was not included on
the partys list of candidates
for the municipal elections in
November 2010.
Belousovov and Slota
have had a troubled relation-
ship for many years. The SNS
entered the 2002 general elec-
tiondivided betweengroups
led by the two individuals and
failed to reachparliament as a
result. At that time it was
Slota who broke away from
the party, whichhad beenled
by Belousovov (ne
Malkov) from2001 to 2003.
Slotavisits Roma
While Belousovov star-
ted a petitiondrive to estab-
lishher newparty, SNS head
Slota paid a visit to a Roma
community inPodskalka,
near Humenn, anunusual
step for himas he has been
quoted several times inthe
past expressing anti-Roma
statements.
I amconvinced that
weve got a lot of sympath-
isers here among these
Gypsies, Slota stated inanin-
terviewwiththe Sme daily
during his visit to the Roma
community.
Sme wrote that Slota said
he believed Roma culture en-
riches Slovak culture, adding
that by no means do I have
xenophobic or racist views
towards the Gypsy
community and that his
party wants to help Roma be
included ina society-wide
discourse inSlovakia.
He did it out of speculat-
ive reasons, Mesenikov
commented about Slotas vis-
it. This party has offered so
many solutions for Roma
problems that it canonly be
perceived as a sort of folklore.
Its a typical example of a sort
of mimicry. I believe this
party is well knownfor the
fact that its representatives
oftenhave made anti-Roma
statements.
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BUSINESS / NEWS
Sky Run II held at
inverted pyramid
AFTER the
2010 premiere
of Bratislavas
Sky Run Beh
v obalkoch
(Running in
the Clouds) the follow-up
for 2011 was held in the in-
verted pyramid of the Slovak
Radio building on May 20
and 21. Long-distance run-
ners tested their abilities
and endurance on the roof
of the distinctive building,
40 metres above ground
level. The aim was to break
last years record for the
total number of metres run
in 12- and 24-hour competi-
tions as well as to promote
running in general, includ-
ing its extreme formknown
as ultra-running.
Four Czech runners took
part this year, including last
years 100-km Czech cham-
pion, Jarda Bohdal. Three
women also ran in the
12-hour discipline. Fans of
running were enthralled by
the unusual venue: the live
broadcast audience reached
via the internet exceeded
8,000 people.
A single lap around the
pyramids roof is 226 metres.
The 24-hour run started on
the morning of May 20 and
the 12-hour run started later
that evening. The events or-
ganisers hope to gradually
spread the idea of running
in the clouds to other cities
in Slovakia and Europe. Last
autumn, a run was held on
the roof of a shopping
centre in the Czech Repub-
lic, Jozef Rajchl of the or-
ganising committee, told
the SITAnewswire.
Sky runners onthe roof of the Slovak Radiobuildingin
Bratislava. Photo: SITA
Slovak Post's ilina Synod
stamp voted Europes best
A SLOVAK stamp de-
picting the ilina Syn-
od was named grand
champion in a compet-
ition to find the most
beautiful engraved
postage stamp issued
in the European Union
the Grand Prix del
Art Philatique. The
stamp was issued last
year for the synods
400th anniversary cel-
ebration. A jury of ex-
perts chose the Slovak
stamp from among 138
submissions at the
competition in Brus-
sels on April 29. Second
place went to a Spanish
stamp while an Italian
stamptook third place.
The ilina Synod
postage stamp has a
nominal value of 1.10
and 85,000 were is-
sued, the TASR news-
wire wrote. Its design
depicts 17th century
life as the meeting of
the ilina Synod took
place in 1610 under the
auspices of the Hun-
garian Palatine, Count
Juraj Turzo of Betlan-
ovce, who was a pro-
ponent of reform with-
in the Evangelical
Church of the Augs-
burg Confession.
The stamp shows
the image of a paint-
ing that Turzo com-
missioned for his
castles chapel in
Orava; the painting is
currently housed in an
Evangelical church in
Necpaly. A unique
late-Renaissance altar
in that church in
Necpaly, called Specu-
lum Justifications,
dates back to 1611 and
was painted by Paul
Juvenel Sr based on an
older graphic designed
by Nuremberg en-
graver Jost Amman.
The complicated com-
position visualises key
issues of faith, includ-
ing interpreting a sin-
ner being excused in
Gods eyes as viewed
by the Augsburg
Evangelical church.
The stamps en-
graver, Martin
inovsk, told a press
conference on May 16
that his engraving task
was quite difficult.
This was joint work
with Duan Kllay,
who designed the
artistic form of the al-
tar painting. When I
first saw the design, I
got scared as I had
never done such a de-
tailed engraving in my
20 years of work. It
took me several
months I had to
squeeze six to eight
lines in every single
millimetre, inovsk
said.He added that this
type of hand-made
stamp, unlike off-set
stamps or other prin-
ted ones, is impossible
to counterfeit.
Kllay said the
stamp is a small but
monumental piece of
art in which the en-
graver couldnot make
any mistakes. I
chose an altar paint-
ing with numerous
details. There are al-
most 40 figures and
also a period depic-
tion of ilina. I have
to appreciate the ex-
cellent engraving by
Martin inovsk,
Kllay stated. Art his-
torian uboslav Moza
told TASR that the
stamp is not just a
personal artistic suc-
cess for inovsk and
Kllay but also for
Slovak culture as it
confirms the high
level of the countrys
stampproduction.
The ilina Synod
was held between
March 28 and 30 in
1610, the Sme daily
wrote. It was the first
synod of the Evangel-
ical Church on the ter-
ritory of todays Slov-
akia and the gathering
passed the first laws
that created an inde-
pendent religious or-
ganisation of Evangel-
ical Protestants in Up-
per Hungary while at
the same time it was
the first institutional-
ised acknowledgement
of the Slovak character
of this part of Greater
Hungary, Sme wrote,
noting that for this
reason it was a crucial
milestone for Slovaks.
Trnavas water tower is illuminated
THE 50
-metre-tall
watertower
building that
looms over
Trnava, is
now illuminated. The Trnava
WaterCompanyTAVOSfin-
ished the work required for
thenight-timelightingof this
well-knownworkbyarchitect
Emil Bellu, which is a na-
tional technological monu-
ment, inMay.
Illumination of the build-
ingandwater tower concluded
renovations begun last year
that modified the buildings
exterior and changed the col-
ourof itsfacade. Eight lampsil-
luminate the water tower
from four locations beneath
the structure and the effect is
augmented by additional
lightsinside.
We will use white light to
illuminate the tower but the
intention is to light the water
tank itself with a blue shade,
Marek Glik, the head of TA-
VOS, told the trnava-live.sk
website before the lighting
wasswitchedon.
Several tourist sites in
Trnava, such as the town
tower, St John the Baptist
Cathedral and St Nicolaus Ba-
silica have beenilluminatedat
night forseveral years.
Construction of the
Vodre (Water Tower) star-
tedinthe 1940s andit was put
intooperationin1954. It holds
1,200 cubic metres of water in
its eight-metre-high tank.
For the first time in 50 years,
the tower was made access-
ible to the public last year and
residents discovereda beauti-
ful view of the whole town
fromits top.
Another well-known work
by Bellu is the Colonnade
BridgeinPieany.
Tank with
hearts
A FORMER
Red Army
tank from
World War
II sitting in
an open-air
museumin a park near the
Monument of the Slovak
National Uprising (SNP) in
Bansk Bystrica was
spray-painted with pink
hearts in the late evening
of May 7, the SITA news-
wire reported.
The damage commit-
ted through this action on
the tank has not beencalcu-
lated yet. The police are in-
vestigating this as a mis-
demeanour involving pro-
perty, Mria Faltniov,
the Bansk Bystrica police
spokesperson, told SITA.
The unknown artists
also hung woollen balls on
the displayed armaments
and barbed wire in addition
to adding the new decora-
tions to the tank. They left
some posters in the park
stating that their exhibi-
tion was called Bum Game
Over and was directed
against war and violence,
the TASRnewswire wrote.
1
2
3
AROUND SLOVAKIA
compiled by Zuzana Vilikovsk from press reports
13
FEATURE
June 6 12, 2011
The winner. Photo: Courtesyof SlovakPost
Trnavalandmark: the city's water tower. Photo: SITA
Not sorednow. Photo: TASR
Krolyi Castles ancient glory
IN THIS postcard dating back
to the 1920s, you see the
castle of Count Krolyi in
Slovensk Meder, known
today as Palrikovo.
As the towns
owners, the Krolyis
had the castle built
sometime around
1740. It served mainly
as a hunting lodge
where the nobles of-
ten welcomed guests. The
one-storey castle was built
with a U-shaped floor plan
and its faade bears the coat
of arms of the original own-
ers to this day.
In 1866, the family had
the castle rebuilt in a neo-
Renaissance style. One of the
foremost architects of this
style, Mikul Ybl, was
commissioned to prepare the
design. The architect tried to
imitate the Renaissance
style in both form and con-
tent. In the past the castle
had 90 rooms full of pre-
cious furniture and paint-
ings by world-famous
artists. But as with most
other mansions and castles
in Slovakia, almost none of
the furnishings or artwork
have beenpreserved.
The Krolyi family im-
migrated to Austria during
World War II and
the castle was un-
occupied. After the
departure of the
Soviet Red Army
lawless chaos en-
sued for posses-
sionof the precious furnish-
ings and much was stolen,
while other pieces were
destroyed. Only two large
paintings by artists of the
Dutchschool remain.
ByBranislavChovan
WesternSLOVAKIA
Bratislava
l LIVE MUSIC: echomor -
Msteko The popular Czech
-Moravian band playing a
mixture of re-made folklore
tunes, rock and their own
pieces, will present their latest
album, Msteko, on which
several foreign musicians per-
formed(e.g. GarryLeonardand
Tony Levin). The title song,
Msteko, was composed by
SlovakIvanTsler.
Starts: June 10, 20:00; Ate-
lir Babylon, SNP Square 14/
Kolrska 3. Admission: 10-
15. Tel: 02/5293-3321, www.
atelierbabylon.sk, www.
ticketportal.sk.
Bratislava
l OPEN FACTORY: Open Fact-
ory / Otvoren elektrre
Power producer Slovensk
Elektrrne organises a series of
OpenDays for thepublic tovisit
various power plants. Contact
the Enel group (owner of SE) in
advancetoarrangeavisit.
Starts: June 11, from10:00;
Gabkovo hydo-power plant.
Admission: free (after ar-
rangement inadvance). Email:
veronika.cicova@enel.com.
Moreinfo: www.seas.sk.
Bratislava
l EXHIBITION: Utpie 70. a 80.
rokov v kresbch a projektoch
J. Bahnu, A. Grtlera a F.
Kalesnho / Utopias of the
1970s and 1980s in the draw-
ingsanddesignsof J. Banha, A.
Grtler andF. Kalesn.
Open: On weekdays 11:00-
17:00 until June 17; Galria
architektry SAS, Balassa Pa-
lace, Pansk 15. Admission:
free. Tel: 02/5443-1078; www.
sasarch.sk.
Bratislava
l EXHIBITION: Umenie
retaurovania II / The Art of
Restoring II This exhibition
presents the work of the
Chamber of Restorers of vari-
ous precious items forming
the gems of Slovak cultural
heritage between the years
2000and2010.
Open: Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00
until June 19; Mirbach Palace
of the Bratislava City Gallery,
Frantiknske Square 11. Ad-
mission: 2-4. Tel: 02/5443-
1556-8; www.gmb.sk.
Nitra
l EXHIBITION: Manul pre
dokonalho divka / Hand-
bookfor a Perfect Visitor This
exhibition, comprising works
by P. Barenyi, E. Devekov,
M. Sedlakov, and V.
ramatyov, explores the
connectionbetweengallery as
exhibitionspace and visitor as
preceptorandobserver.
Open: Tue-Sun10:00-18:00
until June 19; Nitrianska
galria, upn Square 3.
Admission: 0.35-0.70.
Tel: 037/6579 - 641/2/3; www.
nitrianskagaleria.sk.
Central SLOVAKIA
BanskBystrica
l ROMA/ETHNO MUSIC:
Bohmiens - Novodob Cinka
Panna / The Contemporary
CinkaPanna Thebandplays a
mixture of Roma music with
hints of ethno, soft jazz,
Balkan rhythms and modern
influences. The primka the
first violinist in traditional
folk music, and this time a fe-
male one is Barbora Boto-
ov, granddaughter of late
Roma soloist and band leader
JnBerkyMrenicaSr.
Starts: June 7, 19:00; City
Hall, SNP Square 1. Admission:
4-6. Tel: 048/4155-085;
www.kissbb.sk, www. pkobb.sk.
Zvolen
l HIKING: 1. ronk pivno-
turistickho pochodu ari
Zvolensk 12tka / The 1st Year
of the Beer-Hiking March
ari: the Zvolen12 The light-
hearted tour named after a
beer (ari) will encourage
peopletocombinetwopopular
activities. The band (Never
Back), historical fencing
shows and Oriental dancers
(VirFortis), and RockFor band
will enliven activities after-
wards.
Starts: June 11, 9:00 at
dopravn ihrisko (traffic-sim-
ulating playground) under
ZvolenCastle, from16:00there
will be cultural programme.
Admission for not registered:
1. More info: www.
kamdomesta.sk.
EasternSLOVAKIA
Michalovce
l FOLKLORE: Lnica -
Mlados a krsa / Youth and
Beauty Another evening of
the successful programme
shown by renowned folklore
ensemble Lnica, combining
older hits with new arrange-
ments.
Starts: June 6, 19:00; Town
Cultural Centre, Nmestie
osloboditeov 25. Admission:
11. Tel: 02/5293-3321, www.
ticketportal.sk.
Koice
l JAZZ MUSIC: Bratislavsk
jazzov dni v Koiciach-Jar
2011 / Bratislava Jazz Days in
Koice-Spring 2011 The
series of jazz concerts will
this time bring Slovak female
musicians Hanka Greguov
with band and Katka
Koov; and the Matt Bianco
formation from UK. All of
them bring a vivid, pop-bor-
dering type of jazz that com-
prises other kinds of music as
well.
Starts: June 10, 19:00, In-
finiti Arena, Pri jazdiarni 1.
Admission: 14-16 (onthe day
of the concert). Tel: 02/5293-
3321, www.ticketportal.sk.
ByZuzana Vilikovsk
EVENTS COUNTRYWIDE
THE KOMORN dni Johanna Nepomuka Hummela / Chamber
Days of J. N. Hummel series will be completed with a concert
played by The Pressburger Hummel Ensemble (M. tefko,
founder, piano; R. Mareek, violin; T. Cseh, viola; and V.
Verbovsk, cello) performing works by Hummel, Franz Liszt and
Gustav Mahler. The concert takes place on June 9 at 18:00 in the
Mozart Hall of the Austrian Embassy, Ventrska 10, Bratislava.
Admission is free. For more info, please visit
www.hummel-festival.sk.
Photo:CourtesyoftheSlovakPhilharmonic
OZVENYhradnchmrov/ Echoes of CastleWalls is a festival of
bagpipe music from medieval times to the present day. It is
meant to link the Barbakan castle in Bansk Bystrica and the
castle of Slovensk upa (and several venues like Slovensk
upa's pub, local churches, etc.) between Friday, June 10, and
Sunday, June 12. Apart from Slovak musicians, British, Scottish,
PolishandCzechpipers will attend. For moreinformation, please
visit ozveny.m-arq-sk. Photo: BagpipeCarnival MalLehota, Sme
14
CULTURE
I n cooper at i on wi t h t he Sl ovak Hydr omet eor ol ogi cal I ns t i t ut e
Weather updates and forecasts from across Slovakia
can now be found at www.spectator.sk.
A Slovaks name day (meniny) is as important as his or her birthday. It is traditional to present friends or co-workers with a small gift,
such as chocolates or flowers, and to wish them Vetko najlepie k meninm (Happy name day)
N A M E D A Y J U N E 2 0 1 1
Monday
Norbert
June 6
Tuesday
Rbert
June 7
Wednesday
Medard
June 8
Thursday
Stanislava
June 9
Friday
Margarta
June 10
Saturday
Dobroslava
June 11
Sunday
Zlatko
June 12
Chinese dance in Bratislava
SLOVAKIA seems to be open-
ing up more and more to dif-
ferent foreign, andevenexot-
ic, cultures. On May 7 and 8,
the Shen Yun Performing
Arts ensemble from New
York brought classical
Chinese dance to the Slovak
capital after three years, fol-
lowing up a previous visit to
Slovakiain2008.
The Shen Yun ensemble
comprises three troupes that
usually tour the world simul-
taneously. Founded in 2006 in
NewYork, it strives to revive
and spread ancient Chinese
culture, which dates back as
muchas5,000years, combin-
ing it with modern visions
and influences. The Bratis-
lava show was the final per-
formance of a European tour
that lasted for two and a half
months.
Shen Yun prepares a com-
pletely new programme each
year, and this latest one
offered both ethnically-in-
spired music and dance from
various regions of China, the
traditional dances of ethnic
minorities, along with clas-
sical Chinese dance accom-
panied by live music combin-
ing Western and traditional
Asian instruments. The
ensembles composers, cho-
reographers and art directors
draw inspiration and inform-
ation for their work from the
ancient Chinese culture that
has beenpreserved indetail to
this day in literature, paint-
ings and other forms of art,
Leeshai Lemish, presenter of
the programme, told The Slov-
ak Spectator. He added that
the individual pieces are ex-
plained and introduced before
the start of each performance,
so that audiences in Europe
and America without any cul-
tural and historical grounding
in Chinese dance can under-
stand the plot and the mes-
sage. Althoughrichinsettings
and costumes, the pieces fo-
cusonstoriesandmythology.
Chinese classical dance is
a very old art form with spe-
cific postures, movements
and techniques that might
seem to viewers like they are
derived fromgymnastics and
acrobatics. But infact it is the
other way round: classical
Chinese dance is older, witha
history that goes back thou-
sands of years. The closing
part of the Europeantour, the
two performances in the
Slovak National Theatre in
Bratislava, were greetedwith
warm response and pro-
longedapplause.
ByZuzanaVilikovsk
June 6 12, 2011
HISTORY TALKS
Photos: Courtesyof ShenYunPerformingArts, all rights reserved.
Fostering creativity in Slovak
design and architecture
OFFERING a new and unusual
way of looking at the buildings
we walk past and the objects we
use every day was the principal
objective of Design and Archi-
tecture Days (DAAD), the
second edition of which took
place in Bratislava between
May24 and29.
The festival the only one
of its kind in Slovakia fea-
tured a programme of exhibi-
tions, workshops, lectures,
panel discussions, concerts
and parties, each aimed at
improving the publics per-
ception of architecture and
designinall their forms.
In Slovakia, these two
terms have had rather negat-
ive connotations, principally
because of the recent influx of
developers and the numerous
scandals related to construc-
tion and land sales that have
been regularly hitting the
headlines, Tatiana Kollrov,
architect and co-organiser of
DAAD, told The Slovak Spec-
tator.
Her colleague, architect
and journalist Broa Tarncy,
agreed.
Slovaks tend to viewarchi-
tecture with indifference or ig-
nore it altogether, not realising
that it is our environment that
is at stake, she said. Some-
times, I have the impression
that people either do not know
that change is possible or they
simplydonot care.
Another reason for the
creation of the first festival in
2010 was that even though
similar events are relatively
common in most major
European cities, Slovakia had
no such platform where ar-
chitects and laypersons could
exchangeideas.
Our hope is that by ex-
posing people to first-rate
products and by involving
theminadialogueabout qual-
ity in architecture, we will
make them consciously seek
beauty in their surroundings,
which in turn will encourage
authorities and developers to
foster creativity, said
Kollrov.
To this end, Kollrov,
Tarncy and their colleague,
architect tefan Polakovi,
decided to launch an event
where academic classical
design and architecture
would intermingle with their
more profane counterparts
in order to attract the widest
possibleaudience.
Thus, this years DAAD
featured not only serious
presentations showcasing
works by some of the most
renowned Slovak and foreign
designers, but also work-
shops for children; not only a
round table discussion about
architecture developments in
the capital with Bratislavas
mayor MilanFtnik, but also
after-hours parties where
design talk was punctuated
byrockmusic.
Since DAAD also serves as
a platform for introducing
new trends in architecture
throughout Europe, several
noted artists were invited to
lecture and present their
works at the festival. These
included designer Eric
Jourdan and architect
douard Franois from
France, Dutch architects
Hanspeter Oester and Tanja
Buijs, and Nasir Mazhar, a
successful UK-based
headgear designer who has
created hats for such stars as
MadonnaandLadyGaga.
In addition, a large screen
was erected inthe city centre,
which presented the best of
Slovak and foreign design all
day during the entire festival.
Well-known architecture
houses such as LAN Architec-
ture, ECDM or AMID.cero9 all
gave presentations at DAAD.
Our priority was to pro-
mote those examples of do-
mestic architecture that are
of excellent quality and bring
them into juxtaposition with
foreignones, inorder to prove
that Slovakia does boast some
beautiful buildings which
enhance their setting in a
pleasing, functional and lo-
gical way, remarked
Tarncy.
Also, dozens of local
design studios, furniture re-
tailers and boutiques made
their showrooms available to
the public, turning Bratislava
into one large exhibition
space. Some companies even
prepared their own side
events, such as a workshop
on how to create art out of
emptycans.
We are particularly glad
that so many businesses
joined in our efforts to edu-
cate people andincite themto
look at the world through the
eyes of an artist, stated
Kollrov, adding that this
domino effect was exactly
what she and her colleagues
wantedtoachieve.
We do not want DAAD to
be a one-off event that will be
about us having fun for five
days a year, she told The
Slovak Spectator. We want it
to leave behind a message
that will remain, the message
being that to be creative
means tobe human.
BYDOMINIKA
UHRKOV
Spectator staff
Slovakias churches open
their doors - and crypts
A CHURCH is a place of wor-
ship. Or at least that is the
narrow understanding of
what a church should be
quite widespread among
Slovakias prevailingly Ro-
man Catholic believers. To
melt the ice that freezes some
people whenever they enter a
church, many churches
across Slovakia took part in
the first-ever Night of
Churches, an event that
opened the doors of small
churches as well as the
countrys biggest cathedrals,
including their hidden
corners, to music, dance, arts
and discussions.
The idea of Slovakias
Night of Churches was in-
spired by Austrian churches
which have been opening
their doors for such events
since 2005. It was first
planned only for the Trnava
diocese in Slovakia but the
idea spread quickly to nearly
all parts of the country and
dozens of churches particip-
ated onthe evening of May 27.
The Cathedral of St John
the Baptist in Trnava, also
known as the University
Church, was at the heart of
the night, which began at
18:00 with the tolling of the
church bells, followed by an
ecumenical prayer by mem-
bers of the Ecumenical Coun-
cil of Churches inSlovakia.
The programme lasted
until midnight and offered a
mixture of activities
throughout Trnava. In the
cathedral itself, knowledge-
hungry visitors could take
part in a guided tour or enjoy
a concert by one of Trnavas
most-eminent jazz groups,
the HProjekt; participate in a
discussion about restoration
of the church and then listen
to a concert by a Pop Idol-
winner turnedjazz singer.
Michal itansk, who
works as a Trnava tour guide
and gave the evening guided
tour of the cathedral, said in
an interview with The Slov-
ak Spectator that it was a
special experience for him
to speak to the packed
church at that rather un-
usual time of the evening
and that he was pleased
withthe atmosphere.
When I came here I ex-
pected a dark cathedral with
dim lights but there were a
lot of children, everybody
was merry and jabbering
could be heard everywhere,
he said, adding that he felt
the church was really alive
onthat night.
Beside the fact that it
still serves as a place of wor-
ship, which I believe is al-
pha and omega for a church
something that gives
sense to its existence, it was
also open to people who
might come here only very
rarely and despite that they
could enjoy everything it
offers, itansk said. He
believes the Night of
Churches definitely fulfilled
its aim to open churches to
the people, adding that this
was aided by the excellent
selection of guests who par-
ticipated in the programme,
suchas Maro Kuffa, a priest
from akovce who leads a
special programme for the
homeless, who was invited
for a discussion in one of
Trnavas smaller churches.
I have found so many
things here that I wish the
night lasted for two or three
days because one evening is
not enough to see all the
things Id like to see,
itansk said as he headed
off to see the crypts of
Trnavas churches that
were open for the night and
to attend a lecture by Max
Kapar, a deacon and psy-
chologist.
Despite the rainy and
stormy weather, numerous
groups of people could be
seen running from church
to church in Trnava on that
Friday night and to see
places that are not nor-
mally accessible to ordinary
folk. These included St Nic-
olas Basilicas tower, the
newly-opened crypts and
an ossuary basilica staff
reported people queuing for
over 20 minutes just to
make it inside its doors and
around 1,000 people were
reported to have climbed its
tower. The Cathedral of St
John the Baptist was re-
portedly visited by as many
as 1,600 people over the
course of the evening and
hundreds of others visited
smaller churches within
the city and in villages
withinthe diocese.
15 June 6 12, 2011
CULTURE
Aneveningguidedtour of one of Trnava's churches.
Photo: EmanueleTerenzani
A report from
Trnava on the
first Night of
Churches
Design and
Architecture Days
take place in
Bratislava
BYMICHAELA
TERENZANI
Spectator staff
Jazz inTrnavaCathedral performedby HProjekt. Photo: EmanueleTerenzani
Anarchitectural gemhighlightedSlovak designpossibilities at DAAD. Photo: Courtesyof DAAD
16
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June 6 12, 2011