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*  NASE SLOVA 3/99  *  NASE SLOVA 3/99  *  NASE SLOVA 3/99  *
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NASE SLOVA
is published by the students of the Journalism School, Comenius
University, Bratislava, in the hope of informing the world about
our country, Slovakia.
You are free to use whatever appears in this bulletin. Please,
give approriate credit.

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POLITIKA
POLITICS

SIMECKA SEFREDAKTOROM DENNIKA SME
Po tragickej smrti Karola Jezika, ma dennik Sme od marca noveho
sefredaktora Martina M. Simecku. Jezik zomrel na sklonku minuleho
roka za dosial neobjasnenych okolnosti. Jeho smrt sposobilo
zranenie hlavy. Simecka bol byvalym sefredaktorom kritickeho
tyzdennika Domino forum. Obe periodika patrili pocas vlady
Vladimira Meciara k opozicnym. Simecka roku 1994 ziskal cenu Los
Angeles Times Book Award za roman Dzin.

SIMECKA NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE DAILY SME After the tragic death of
Karol Jezik, Martin M. Simecka has become the new editor-in-chief of
the daily Sme. He was appointed at the beginning of March.  Jezik died
at the end of 1998 year under mysterious circumstances. His death was
the result of a head injury. Simecka was former editor-in-chief of the
critical weekly Domino forum. Both of these periodicals belonged to
the oposition newspapers during Vladimir Meciar's government. Simecka
got the Los Angeles Times Book Award for his novel Dzin in 1994.

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PRIPAD: IVAN LEXA
Zaciatkom marca poziadal vysetrovatel slovensky parlament
o zbavenie imunity Ivana Lexu, byvaleho riaditela tajnej sluzby
SIS a sucasneho poslanca NR SR za stranu Vladimira Meciara. Lexa
je podozrivy zo spachania siestich trestnych cinov, vratane
zavlecenia syna byvaleho prezidenta Michala Kovaca mladsieho do
zahranicia, lupeze a zneuzivania moci. Ak sud uzna Lexu za
vinneho, hrozi mu trest odnatia slobody od 5 do 12 rokov.

THE CASE OF IVAN LEXA At the beginning of March the police
investigator requested the Slovak Parliament to lift the immunity of
former state security service (SIS) chief Ivan Lexa, who is currently
member of the parliament for the formerly governing party, Movement
for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). Lexa is suspected of committing six
penal offences; including robbery, abuse of office, and the kidnapping
of former president's son Michal Kovac Jr.If Lexa is convicted, he may
be imprisoned for 5 to 12 years.

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ROSIVAL VYSTRIEDA DURACKU V PARLAMENTE
Na zaklade rozhodnutia vlady sa Ivan Rosival opat stane poslancom
NR SR za Slovensku demokraticku koaliciu (SDK). Vlada odovolala
Rosivala z pozicie statneho tajomnika na ministerstve
podohospodarstva, cim mu umoznila zaujat svoje miesto
v parlamente, na ktorom ho nahradil Peter Duracka. Duracka vo
februari sposobil pod vplyvom alkoholu autonehodu, pri ktorej
fyzicky napadol taxikara a vulgarne vynadal policajtovi. V zaujme
pokracovania trestneho stihania, parlament rozhodol zbavit
Duracku imunity.

ROSIVAL WILL REPLACE DURACKA IN PARLIAMENT According to the Slovak
government's decision, Ivan Rosival will again be a member of
parliament for the Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK). The government
dismissed Rosival from the position of the Agriculture Ministry state
sectretary and enabled him to replace his substitute Peter Duracka in
the Parliament.  Duracka caused a car accident after which he
physically attacked a taxi driver and cursed out a policeman in
Februar.  Duracka was influenced by alcohol. The Slovak Parliament
lifted the parliamentary immunity of Duracka for further prosecution.

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KONTROVERZNE DEBLOKACIE
Niektore slovenske media zverejnili list slovenskej ministerky
financii Brigity Schmognerovej, ktory poslala svojmu ruskemu
rezortnemu kolegovi. Ako partnera Slovenskych elektrarni (SE) pri
deblokacii ruskeho dlhu v nom uviedla Devin banku. Devin banka,
ktora sa zdiskreditovala pocas vlady Vladimira Meciara, tak bola
vybrana bez konania tendra a Schmognerova ju uviedla ako ruskeho
partnera bez predbeznych konzultacii s vladou. Podla jej
vysvetlenia, volba na Devin banku padla na zaklade jej skusenosti
s deblokaciou. V mediach sa objavuju informacie o ruskom
spoluvlastnictve Devin banky a jej previazanosti so Stranou
demokratickej lavice (SDL).

CONTROVERSIAL DEBLOCATION Several Slovak media published Finance
Minister's Brigita Schmognerova's letter to her Russian counterpart,
in which she appointed Devin Bank as the partner to assist Slovenske
Elektrarne (SE)--the state electricity distribution firm -- in the
process of helping to clear Russia's debts to Slovakia. Schmognerova
chose Devin Bank, which was widely accused of misdemeanors during the
previous government's tenure, without a tender. Schmognerova nominated
the Devin Bank as the Russian partner without consulting this step
with the Cabinet. According to her explanation, it was selected on the
basis of its experience with the 'deblocation' process. Slovak media
published information that Russian capital is invested in the bank and
the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL) is interested in
it. Schmognerova is an SDL member.

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STARONOVY PREDSEDA ZMOS
Predsedom Zdruzenia miest a obci Slovenska /ZMOS/ sa opat stal
starosta Strby Michal Sykora.

CHAIRMAN OF ZMOS ELECTED The mayor of Strba in the High Tatra
mountains, Michal Sykora, has been re-elected as the chairman of the
Association of Towns and Villages of Slovakia (ZMOS).

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ZMRAZENIE PLATOV
Zaciatkom marca schvalila slovenska vlada navrh na zmrazenie
platov sudcov, prokuratorov a ustavnych cinitelov s platnostou od
zaciatku aprila. V pripade nezvysovania platov sudcov by podla
ministra spravodlivosti Jana Carnogurskeho stat usetril priblizne
60 milionov korun. Podla sudcov vlada tymto krokom ohrozila
nezavislost sudov.

FROZEN WAGES At the beginning of March the Slovak government approved
the proposal for freezing the wages of judges, prosecutors and state
officials, as of the beginning of April. According of Justice Minister
Jan Carnogursky, some 60 million crowns would be saved if the
proposal is passed in Parliament. Judges claimed that the cabinet
endangers the independence of the courts by this step.

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EKONOMIKA
ECONOMICS

DANOVE PRAZDNINY PRE ZAHRANICNYCH INVESTOROV
V suvislosti s usilim vlady pritiahnut na Slovensko priame
zahranicne investicie (PZI), maju zahranicni strategicki
investori dostat patrocne danove prazdniny. Podla ministra
hospodarstva Ludovita Cernaka, danove prazdniny sa budu vztahovat
len na investicie vyssie ako 5 mil. EUR. V priebehu troch rokov
chce slovenska vlada posunut SR vyskou PZI na uroven priemeru
okolitych krajin. Priame zahranicne investicie by tak mali do
konca roka 2001 stupnut na 4,5 nasobok - co predstavuje 7,6
miliard USD.

TAX BREAKS FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS Five year tax holidays are to be
given to foreign strategic investors in a measure prepared by the
Slovak government designed to bring much-needed foreign direct
investments (FDI) into the country. According to the Economy Minister
Ludovit Cernak, tax holidays will be granted only to an investment
worth at least five million EUR. The Slovak government plans to
increase FDI to the average level of its neighbours within three
years. This means that by 2001 the level of FDI should rise 4.5 times
to 7.6 billion USD.

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NAVRH ZRUSENIA PRIVATIZACIE NAFTY GBELY
Fond narodneho majetku (FNM) predlozi sudu navrh na zrusenie
zmluvy o predaji 45,9 percentneho balika akcii spolocnosti Nafta
Gbely. Akciovy blok vlastni Druha Obchodna, ktora balik akcii
Nafty Gbely ziskala este v roku 1996 za 500 mil. korun (SKK),
hoci trhova cena bola 3,2 mld Sk.

CANCELLATION OF NAFTA GBELY PRIVATISATION PROPOSED The National
Property Fund (FNM) proposed to court to cancel the contract for the
sale of 45.9 percent of the Nafta Gbely corporation.  The package of
shares is still owned by Druha Obchodna company, which obtained the
shares in 1996 for 5OO million crowns (SKK), although the market value
was estimated at  3.2 billion Sk. Nafta Gbely is a company that stores
and distributes natural gas.

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ZNEUZITIE MONOPOLU
Slovenske telekomunikacie (ST), a.s., Bratislava, uviedli vo
februari skusobnu prevadzku noveho systemu moderneho pristupu do
internetu, ktory je vyhodny pre menej intenzivnych uzivatelov.
Ostatni slovenski poskytovatelia pristupu do internetu povazuju
novu sluzbu ST za zneuzitie zakona stanoveneho monopolu na
poskytovanie sluzieb hlasoveho prenosu, a preto pripravuju
podanie na Protimonopolny urad SR.

BREACH OF MONOPOLY Slovak Telecom (ST) a.s., Bratislava, launched a
trial operation of a new system in February, offering cheaper modem
access into the Internet, which is beneficial for less intensive
users. The other Slovak internet providers consider the new ST service
to be a breach of the ST's legally sanctioned monopoly for offering
voice transmission services, and they are preparing to bring the issue
before the Slovak Antimonopoly Office.

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V SKRATKE/IN BRIEF

Zeleznice SR vykazali za rok 1998 stratu 9,3 mld Sk.
Slovak Railways had a deficit of 9.3 billion Sk in 1998.

Statny rozpocet dosiahol k 3. marcu 1999 schodok 1,827 miliard Sk.
 The State budget deficit was 1.827 billion Sk as of March 3, 1999.

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KULTURA
CULTURE

BIBLIA PRE ROMSKE DETI
Novu verziu biblie pre deti v slovenskom a romskom jazyku vydala
vo februari Medzinarodna biblicka spolocnost so sidlom
v Bratislave. Bibliu do romskeho jazyka prelozil Frantisek Godel
a jej naklad 2000 vytlackov je urceny hlavne pre deti na
vychodnom Slovensku.

BIBLE FOR ROMANY KIDS A new version of the Bible for children in both
Slovak and Romany languages was published in February by the
International Bible Association, Bratislava. The Bible was translated
by Frantisek Godel and 2,000 copies are being distributed mainly for
children living in Eastern Slovakia.

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ZOMRELA VIERA BALINTHOVA
Vyznamna slovenska herecka Viera Balinthova zomrela 27.februara
v Bratislave vo veku 88 rokov. Cely svoj zivot zasvatila divadlu,
filmu a televizii, ale predovsetkym dramatickemu vysielaniu
Slovenskeho rozhlasu. Poznali ju najma deti, ktorym sa
prihovarala prostrednictvom rozpravok.

THE ACTRESS VIERA BALINTHOVA DIED
The famous slovak actress Viera Balinthova died on 27 February
1999 in Bratislava. She devoted her life to the theatre, film and
television, but above all to the dramatic broadcasting of the
Slovak Radio. Slovak children knew her very well thanks to
fairy-tale readings by Mrs. Viera Balinthova.

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SPEVAKOM ROKA 1998 SA STAL RICHARD MULLER
Na slavnostnom odovzdavani vyrocnych cien Hudobnej Akademie za
rok 1998, ktore sa uskutocnilo 26. februara v Bratislave, najviac
bodoval slovensky spevak Richard Muller. Celkovo ziskal styri
ocenenia, najprestiznejsim z nich je titul spevak roka.

RICHARD MULLER IS SINGER OF THE YEAR FOR 1998 Slovak singer Richard
Muller was the most successful at the ceremony of annual prizes of the
Music Academy for 1998, which took place on February 26th in
Bratislava. Muller won four awards - the most prestigious is his title
as the singer of the year.

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EUROPSKE LUDOVE REMESLO
Na deviatom rocniku festivalu Europske ludove remeslo, ktore sa
kazdorocne kona v podtatranskej mestecku Kezmarok, sa bude
zaciatkom jula prezentovat najma cech pivovarnikov. Pocas konania
festivalu Kezmarok oslavi 720. vyrocie udelenia mestskych prav.

EUROPEAN FOLK TRADE A guild of brewers will also participate at the
ninth year of annual festival - the European Folk Crafts in Kezmarok,
a town situated below the High Tatras,  at the beginning of July.
Moreover, during the festival the city of Kezmarok will celebrate its
720th anniversary.

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SLOVENSKY FILM V OHROZENI
Slovenski filmari vyzvali parlament a vladu, aby v rozpocte na
rok 1999 vyclenili 100 milionov Sk pre slovensku filmovu tvorbu.
Svoju poziadavku podmienili hrozbou, ze ak ich poziadavku vlada
a NR SR odmietnu, slovenski filmari sa nezucastnia ziadnych
domacich ani zahranicnych podujati.

SLOVAK FILM IN EMERGENCY Slovak film-producers say they need 100
million crowns in 1999 to support Slovak film production. Their
demand, adressed to the Slovak Parliament and the government, was
accompanied by a threat, that if both institutions refuse, the Slovak
film makers will not participate in  domestic as well as foreign
cultural events.

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* Spevak Richard Muller uviedol v marci na trh novy album
Mullenium Live, ktory obsahuje zaznam koncertnych vystupeni
z rokov 1996 - 1998.
* Singer Richard Muller introduced a new album called Mullenium
Live in March. The album contains live preformances from 1996 to
1998.

* Grant vo vyske 43,8 milion jenov poskytla japonska vlada na
ozvucenie historickej budovy Slovenskeho narodneho divadla.  Prislusne
noty podpisali minister zahranicnych veci Eduard Kukan a velvyslanec
Japonska Sundzi Marujama. 
 * A total of 43,8 million yen was granted by the Japanese government
for the historical building of the Slovak National Theater
in Bratislava. The grant was signed by Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan
and Ambassador of Japan Sundzi Marujama.

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SPORT
SPORT

* Slovenska futbalova reprezentacia pod vedenim noveho trenera Jozefa
Adamca prehrala v medzistatnom priatelskom zapase s Bulharskom v
Starej Zagore 2:0 (2:0). 
 * The Slovak football national team led by the new coach Jozef Adamec
lost in the international friendly match with Bulgaria in Stara Zagora
2:0 (2:0).

* Slovensky reprezentant Jozef Gonci vyhral na Majstrovstvach Europy v
strelbe zo vzduchovych zbrani v Arnheme (Holandsko) zlatu medailu v
discipline vzduchova puska 60. 
 * Slovak representative Jozef Gonci won the gold medal at the
European Air-Rifle Championship in Arnhem (Netherlands) in the
discipline.

* Na siedmych halovych majstrovstvach sveta v atletike
v japonskom Maebasi malo Slovensko dvoch zastupcov - sprintera
Igora Kovaca a vyskarku Mariu Melovu. V konkurencii svetovej
spicky sa Kovac v discipline 60 m prekazok prebojoval do finale,
kde obsadil osme miesto. Melova prekonanim vysky 193 cm skoncila
piata.
* Slovakia had two representatives at the seventh Indoor World
Championship in Athletics in Maebashi, Japan - sprinter Igor
Kovac and high jumper Maria Melova. Among world-top athletes
Kovac got into the finals in the 60 m hurdles, where he finished
eighth. Melova by clearing 193 cm finished fifth.

* Sestnasobne majsterky Slovenska v basketbale SCP Ruzomberok sa
prebojovali do stvorclennej finalovej skupiny Europskej ligy.
Vitazstvom nad minulorocnym sampionom CJM Bourges si zabezpecili
ucast v play off o titul majstra Europskej ligy. Pre Ruzomberok
je to stvrta ucast vo finalovej skupine Europskej ligy (Final
Four).
* SCP Ruzomberok, the women basketball players of the
six-time-champion team of Slovakia, got into Final Four of the
European League. Due to the victory over the last year's winner
CJM Bourges, Ruzomberok will take part in the European League
play off. This will be the fourth participation of the Slovak
basketball team in Final Four.

* Na 4. Zimnych Europskych dnoch mladeze (EYOD), ktorych dejiskom bolo
Slovensko, sa v 23 disciplinach predstavili sutaziaci zo 42
krajin. Najvyraznejsim uspechom slovenskych sportovcov bol zisk zlatej
medaily v miesanych stafetach 4x5 km v biatlone.
  * Competitors from 42 countries participated in 23 disciplines of
the 4th Winter European Youth Olympic Days (EYOD) held in
Slovakia. Slovak biathletes won the gold medal in the mix-relay 4x5
km.

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Students who worked on this issue:
PhDr. Svetlana Hlavcakova, CSc. (supervisor),
Doc. PhDr. Jozef Vatral, CSc. (transmission),
Andrea Lorinczova (editor-in-chief), Martin Albrecht (politics,
technical stuff), Katarina Dibdiakova (culture), Danica
Feterikova (politics), Lucia Habermayerova (sport), Lucia
Kubosova (culture), Viera Kundratova (politics), Sylvia Kusnirova
(politics), Zuzana Lysakova (culture), Michaela Mazarova (sport),
Olivia Strapekova (economics).

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Jozef Vatral, Associated Professor
Department of Journalism, Faculty of Arts,
Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
Tel.: 00421 7 364192, Fax: 00421 7 326530
E-mail: vatral@fphil.uniba.sk
http://psycho.rec.uniba.sk/~kzur/vatral.html