Professional Documents
Culture Documents
& CORPORATE
FINANCE
NEWS
'Most wanted' is free
Anti-fraud
Karol Mello, an alleged mob
boss accused of a 2004
double murder who had
office targets
been on the run for several
years before his arrest in Po-
land, has now been released
airport deals
from custody by a court.
pg 2
BY BEATA BALOGOVÁ
Spectator staff
Minorities law passed
A new law will lower the
threshold for official use of SLOVAKIA is learning to its cost that poor
minority languages in Slov- public procurement practices can lead to
akia – but it will not come the European Union cash-tap being turned
into full effect for another off. A recently completed European Anti-
10 years. Fraud Office (OLAF) investigation into a
pg 3 project to reconstruct Bratislava’s state-
owned Milan Rastislav Štefánik Interna-
tional Airport between 2005 and 2008
OPINION found faulty procurement and unjustified
expenditures. OLAF’s findings are likely to
Now fill in this form scotch Slovakia’s chances of getting €3.9
State institutions should million of the project costs covered by the
have done a much better Residents of Slovakia were asked to start filling out census forms in late May but concerns about the anonymity of EU and, as a result, Slovak taxpayers will
census job – only then could personal data have led to controversy and some residents are even refusing to speak to census-takers. Photo: ČTK have to pick up the bill.
they have expected resid- Shortly after the Sme daily broke the
ents in return to have done story, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová said
a better job of filling out the
census forms.
pg 5 Anonymity of census that OLAF had discovered the first incid-
ence of unjustified expenditure during the
initial part of the project in 2005, during
the Mikuláš Dzurinda government, but
that more such irregularities occurred un-
BUSINESS FOCUS
More pension changes
Despite the solidity implied
by their name, the second
data questioned der the subsequent government of Robert
Fico, which took office in 2006.
See OLAF pg 4
and third pillars of the pen- SOME citizens are refusing to fill out for the census – and some who have
sion system in Slovakia
have seen multiple changes
in the past few years and
census forms or are returning com-
pleted forms without their numer-
ical identifier, arguing that the pro-
BY MICHAELA TERENZANI
Spectator staff
certainly decided not to participate.
Privacy concerns
The €45m
now they face even more.
pg 6
cedures of the 2011 census violate
their right to privacy. Critics also
charge that residents are poorly in-
ted circulating through their as-
signed areas, seeking to make an ac-
Slovakia’s Statistics Office (ŠÚ),
the primary organiser of the census,
‘crime’ with
Credit management
The rise of secondary in-
formed about the census proced-
ures. These were at least some of the
reasons why 40 census-takers in
curate count of residents and resid-
encies in the decennial census,
when questions surfaced about the
had been stressing that it is every
resident's duty to take part in the
2011 census as well as provide ac-
no perps
solvency during the finan- Bratislava’s Old Town district anonymity and security of the per- curate information as of the meas-
cial crisis taught many resigned from their jobs mid-way sonal data, amplified by a state pri- urement point for the census – mid- BY BEATA BALOGOVÁ
companies a hard lesson through the census while another vacy agency, and causing a large night between May 20 and May 21. Spectator staff
about the value of man- 100 were reported to have quit in outcry of concern among Slovaks. At the same time, the ŠÚ had as-
aging receivables, but now the Petržalka district of the capital. Sociologists, statisticians and sured residents that personal data
experts are asking whether Concerns about anonymity seem to even politicians rushed to soothe collected by the census-takers THE AMORPHOUS Interblue Group, and its
the lesson has really been be the biggest source of controversy the anxieties of residents, many of would be anonymous. infamous purchase of Slovakia’s carbon-di-
learned. in the Slovakia's census. whom now seem unsure whether to oxide emissions quotas, continues to haunt
pg 7 Census-takers had already star- submit their personal information See COUNT pg 2 the country. Though the state is believed to
have lost tens of millions of euros in a deal
struck in 2008 between the Environment
CULTURE
Trouble in Trnava
Tax legislation agreed by cabinet Ministry, then controlled by the Slovak Na-
tional Party (SNS), and Interblue Group,
those responsible for the affair – which the
The future of Trnava’s Ján current management of the ministry has
Koniarek Gallery is uncer- concept through the cabinet was come tax and payroll levy systems described as a crime – are yet to face prosec-
tain following the dismissal the easy part as the initiative has appeals to all parties of the coali- ution. The Special Prosecutor’s Office has
of its director, the suspen-
BY BEATA BALOGOVÁ been accompanied by fiery discus- tion, MPs from the Civic Conservat- rejected a criminal complaint lodged by
Spectator staff the Environment Ministry under Minister
sion of all its exhibitions for sion since its very inception and ive Party (OKS), who sit within the
2011 and the recent cancel- will likely face a rather rocky ride Most-Híd parliamentary caucus, József Nagy, a nominee of Most-Híd,
lation of a major festival. THE CABINET of Iveta Radičová has in parliament, as certain aspects of say that true reform should be ac- against unnamed representatives of Inter-
pg 11 approved the broad outlines of an the plan face opposition even complished in a way that it does not blue Group on suspicion of fraud, the
overhaul of what it calls deforma- among MPs from the ruling coali- have a negative impact on certain ministry’s spokeswoman Beatrice
tions in the country’s income tax tion. groups in society. Hudáková confirmed in a memo.
SELECT FOREX RATES and payroll levy legislation. Ob- While the philosophy of bring-
€ benchmark as of May 26 servers are saying that pushing the ing more transparency to the in- See TAX pg 9 See BLUE pg 4
Reputed underworld
Proxy: Roma were illegally evicted
ROMA living in the vicinity ated Slovak as well as inter-
boss freed again
of Ťahanovce, a district of national law by their con- UNTIL recently Karol Mello
Košice, were forced to leave duct, TASR wrote. He said had been Slovakia’s most
their houses on May 17 when that municipalities, when wanted person, an alleged
municipal authorities de- trying to solve problems sim- mob boss accused of a double
cided to demolish an illegal ilar to this one, would do bet- murder in Most pri Bratislave
waste dump and illegal ter to contact his office for in 2004. He was arrested at the
shanties that had been built consultation. end of 2010 in Krakow, Po-
around it. The Roma were origin- land, but now has been re-
“Firstly because there ally slated to be relocated to leased from custody in Slov-
was a danger of fire and short the Lunik IX neighbourhood akia for the second time.
circuit since there were il- but refused to go and were Mello was first released
legal electrical connections,” then placed in a military tent on May 9 based on a court er-
Martina Viktorínová, the erected close to their original ror but he was immediately
spokesperson for Košice shanties where they were re-arrested by a special police
town hall told the TASR expected to stay until they unit and charged with a dif-
newswire, adding that pub- returned to the place of their ferent crime. The Bratislava
lic health experts had also permanent address. Regional Court then released
reported that there was a The Roma, however, left Mello on May 19 for the
danger of an epidemic. the military tent and moved second time in a month.
The government’s pleni- into their own smaller tents, “The [Regional] Court de- Karol Mello leaving custody. Photo: Sme - G. Kuchta
potentiary for Roma com- TASR reported. Viktorínová cided that the legal conditions
munities, Miroslav Pollák, said the local authorities defined under the Criminal district court as well as by a utor dealing with the case Organised Crime had initiated
responded, however, that view that act as an organised Code for the District Court to prosecutor in his office. He also then made a mistake by a motion to issue another ar-
the Košice authorities viol- provocation. repeatedly deprive the ac- explained that after Mello was not pointing out that fact. rest warrant for Mello but
cused of his personal freedom escorted from Poland on April Šufliarsky did not men- that this can only be done
were not met, as he had 29, 2011, his custody was de- tion the name of the prosec- after the prosecution accepts
SaS and mayors clash over new law already been released with re- cided upon by a single judge utor who made the error in the motion and files such a
spect to the same case once,” from the Bratislava I District judgment but media reported proposal with the court. The
SALARIES of mayors of Slov- “extorting” the government the Regional Court’s spokes- Court while under the law it was his deputy, Eva court then decides whether to
ak cities, towns and villages and his party. person, Pavol Adamčiak, told that decision was supposed to Mišíková, who was the gov- issue an arrest warrant.
will be reduced by 10 percent “I do not see how they the TASR newswire. be made by a senate of three erning coalition’s initial can- After his release from cus-
as early as June, according to got to [the conclusion] that The head of the Special judges from the court. didate for general prosecutor tody Mello said he was inno-
a law passed by parliament they will make laws,” Sulík Department in the General “This was the moment last year. cent of the charges against
on May 17 that was sub- told journalists, as quoted by Prosecutor’s office, Peter when the unlawfulness of the On May 24 the Cas.sk him and that he was not in-
sequently signed by Presid- the SITA newswire. Sulík Šufliarsky, told a press con- whole proceeding started,” news portal reported that a tending to flee the country.
ent Ivan Gašparovič. also urged that Slovakia ference on May 24 that mis- Šufliarsky said, as quoted by police investigator from the
In addition to the 10 per- should adopt a one-mandate takes had been made by the TASR, adding that the prosec- Office for the Fight against See FREE pg 5
cent pay cut, the law govern- rule, meaning that an MP
ing a mayor’s legal position could not simultaneously
and remuneration allows a
municipal council to in-
crease a mayor’s basic salary
hold the post of mayor.
Sulík added that a few
mayors harmed the reputa-
COUNT: Census-takers bear the brunt
by no more than 70 percent tion of all mayors by grant- Continued from pg 1 the anonymity of the gathered personal Worries are out of place
and no longer permits may- ing themselves maximum data and a statement that the gathered
ors to get bonuses. salaries and argued that no Many Slovaks were thus quite sur- data is anonymous,” ÚOOÚ wrote in its While the two state-run offices were
The Association of Slovak mayors should have higher prised when they received a numerical release sent to the media and published criticising each other, the heaviest im-
Towns and Villages (ZMOS) is salaries than the prime min- code that was associated with their on its website. pact of public concern and residents’ re-
unhappy with the new law ister. He also called upon census form – used either as a login for fusal to participate in the census was be-
and in protest some mem- ZMOS representatives to dis- completing the electronic version of the Statistics Office responds ing felt by the census-takers who visit
bers booed Prime Minister close mayoral salaries. form or as an identifier on the hard-copy people’s homes and by the local authorit-
Iveta Radičová when she at- Former ZMOS Chairman form – and that census takers recorded The head of the Statistics Office, ies responsible for the smooth execution
tended its annual congress in Michal Sýkora stated that SaS the person’s name and address to match Ľudmila Benkovičová, reacted to the of the census in each municipality.
mid May. Richard Sulík, the had deliberately attacked with the numerical code. statements of the ÚOOÚ by saying they Meanwhile, politicians and experts
Speaker of Parliament and local and regional govern- Concerns among citizens about po- were manipulative and that the ÚOOÚ stressed that the amount of data reques-
head of Freedom and Solidar- ments, harmed their reputa- tential misuse of their data were then was endangering the results of the ted in Slovakia’s census is much less
ity (SaS) party, which initi- tion, created tension and magnified by some media outlets and census. than what is collected in some other
ated the salary cuts for may- cast doubt on their repres- bloggers. An article that circulated She added that legislation governing countries.
ors, accused ZMOS of entatives, SITA reported. widely on the Slovak internet was en- the 2011 census had been passed three “In comparison with other European
titled “Improved ŠtB practices – census of years earlier and the ÚOOÚ had never ob- countries, the census gathers altogether
residents and residencies 2011” with the jected to any of its provisions during in- less information and also includes fewer
Malinová 'blood disorder' discounted ŠtB referring to the communist-era terdepartmental or parliamentary re- personal or other sensitive questions,”
secret police. Written by Ľubomír view of the draft law or after the legisla- the Institute of Sociology of the Slovak
THE EXTENSIVE bleeding of ing from bruises and a lip la- Kopáček, who described himself as secur- tion was signed into law. Academy of Sciences wrote in a state-
Hedviga Žáková, née ceration were caused by poor ity consultant, he wrote that “practices The ŠÚ wrote in its media release that ment it released to support the census
Malinová, whom ministers blood coagulation in 2006. worthy of organised crime” have been by casting doubt on the use of the numer- effort, asking residents not to be dis-
of the previous government Malinová was accused by put in place by the state to “invade the ical code the ÚOOÚ was scaring Slovak couraged from filling out the forms.
accused of making up a story former interior minister privacy of a citizen”. residents who then were hesitant to The country’s leading sociologists
about being attacked for Robert Kaliňák of lying about A day after publishing the article, on provide data for the census. stressed that the census provides stat-
speaking Hungarian in pub- being attacked in Nitra be- May 17, Kopáček filed a complaint with The use of a numerical identifier is istical information that cannot be ob-
lic, was not caused by any cause her assailants heard Slovakia’s Office for Personal Data Pro- defined in the law on the 2011 census tained any other way and that, historic-
blood disorder, the Sme daily her speaking Hungarian. She tection (ÚOOÚ), which in turn issued a and, according to the ŠÚ, the numerical ally, it has been a common practice.
reported, contradicting an has been officially accused of statement on May 20, only hours before codes serve to prevent duplication in the After meeting Benkovičová at her
earlier report by Peter Labaš, lying to police but the case residents were supposed to start filling census and ensure that each resident request, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová,
the dean of the Medical Fac- has not yet gone before a out their census forms, asking the ŠÚ to gets counted only once. a sociologist by profession, called on
ulty of Comenius University. court. immediately and fully inform the resid- The ŠÚ explained that is why it needs state organisations and municipal au-
Malinová’s lawyer Ro- Kaliňák repeated in a mid ents of Slovakia that the data collected to have each form identified in this way thorities to cooperate with the Statistics
man Kvasnica said that May interview with the Sme for the 2011 census is not anonymous and for a limited period of time and that only Office. The prime minister also filled out
Malinová has no blood dis- daily that he believes to cancel residents’ obligation to place a restricted circle of ŠÚ staff and staff her census forms during the meeting.
orders, referring to tests that Malinová is a “pathological the numerical code on their respective from the census’s technical support “In Slovakia every citizen is given a
were conducted after Labaš liar” and that there is no census form. company have access to the forms with single-purpose code, the so-called iden-
had submitted his expert evidence in the case speak- ÚOOÚ stated that a resident can be the numerical code. tifier, while in other countries the
medical report, Sme repor- ing in her favour, stressing directly identified after attaching the “The data is protected, we have never census forms directly contain the name
ted. The most recent medical that he would never apolo- numerical code to the census form and leaked any data,” Benkovičová said, as and surname, or even the personal
tests question a theory gise to her. the data is no longer anonymous. quoted by the TASR newswire, adding [identification] number of the citizen,”
offered by Labaš that “There is a big difference between a that the ŠÚ maintains that the forms will the prime minister stated after the
Malinová's extensive bleed- Compiled by Spectator staff statement that the provider will secure remain anonymous. meeting.
NEWS May 30 – June 5, 2011 3
EDITORIAL
their numbers to be under
100,000. And the Statistics Of- The fact over 100 people would attract the full atten-
fice is terrible at explaining its recently gave up their jobs as tion of the ÚOOÚ if not a na-
FORGET the Terminator. A dif- methods. census-takers in Bratislava tionwide census.
ferent threat roams the streets 3. Anonymity. At first, signals that the discourse The idea of a numerical
of Slovak cities: the census organisers presented over what critics call a lack of identification code obviously
Identifikátor. The use of a the entire enterprise as an- any guarantee of anonymity, did not emerge until just be-
unique ID number attached to onymous. But, thanks to the has in part turned into hys- fore the launch of data collec-
all census questionnaires has “Identifikátor” it is not, which teria. tion and the statistics au-
become a key factor in the the Statistics Office later ad- Those who have given up thority did not treat the in-
heated public debate about the mitted. serving the state’s ambition formation as top secret.
ongoing national census, These are not the only to count its citizens, houses Nevertheless, the ŠÚ
which focuses on three key is- reasons why this census has and apartments said that obviously did not present a
sues: stirred more controversy than they were discouraged by full picture of the census to
1. The necessity of the previous ones. This time there people’s distrust, finding citizens: it did not explain
census. The law on census 2011 was also a massive clash of them unwilling to open that for a certain time, for a
was passed way back in 2008 affiliation or mobile phone state institutions. The Interior their doors or even talk to limited number of people,
but it has started receiving use, could be gained through Ministry accused the Statistics them. Residents have also the data will not be fully
wider attention only now, selective polls. Office of mishandling the been returning census forms anonymous, even if in its
when little can be changed. 2. The quality of prepara- project and the Data Protec- without their numerical final form the data will not
Still, the key arguments tion. Municipal councils re- tion Office issued a warning identifier, apparently fearful BY BEATA BALOGOVÁ be attached to anyone's
against a census sound com- sponsible for collecting the against the lack of anonymity. of a loss of privacy. Spectator staff specific name.
pelling – the state already has data have been complaining Statistics Office boss Ľudmila Before anyone interprets In the age of Facebook
most of the information about for months that they received Benkovičová, appointed by the this as a sign of a former and social networking sites,
real estate, car ownership and inadequate support from the previous government, says communist nation’s hyper- people share all kinds of in-
demographic structure in its Statistics Office – in some cit- that she has done no wrong. sensitivity to loss of privacy, have been put in place by the formation; one can track the
various databases and compil- ies entire blocks were missing The cabinet is keeping her it is worth noting that vari- state to “invade the privacy of number of their children,
ing their data would be both in their documents and maps. until the end of the census. But ous state institutions the citizen”. He also filed a where they go on holiday and
more accurate and probably There has been no campaign to after that she is likely to hear, a already have almost all the complaint with the country’s even their negative com-
cheaper. The information the ensure that the results reflect la The Terminator: “Hasta la information they are seek- personal data protection au- ments about their bosses at
state lacks, such as religious the actual size of the Roma vista, baby”. ing in the census. thority and briefly became a clearly identifiable work-
Slovakia’s statistics au- media darling. places. Thus it might seem
thority did not invent the The Office for Personal strange that suddenly they
census and Slovakia did not Data Protection (ÚOOÚ) un- panic over having to tell the
even exist as an independent expectedly agreed and called government whether they
country when other nations on the Statistics Office (ŠÚ) to have an internet connection
had already begun diligently immediately inform residents or a computer.
counting their citizens, sol- that the data collected for the In principle, state insti-
diers, land and buildings. census would not be an- tutions should have done a
Yet the concerned cit- onymous – in direct contra- much better census job –
izens should not be blamed. diction to the ŠÚ’s previous perhaps then they could have
The costly campaign ahead declarations – and to cancel expected residents to have
of the census was a rather the obligation to place a nu- done a better job of filling out
lame underestimation of merical code on the census the forms in return, thus
people’s concerns about pri- form. The ÚOOÚ stated that a helping the state to get a
vacy issues, disseminating resident can be directly iden- clearer snapshot of demo-
the message: let yourself be tified after attaching the nu- graphic trends, and more.
counted; it is important for merical code to the census But if the state had done a
your future. When concerns form and this means the data better job of using the data it
over the multi-million-euro is no longer anonymous. already possesses, it could
project mounted, politicians This is in fact a typical have avoided the whole
rushed to make last-minutes case of state institutions drama, saved money and not
calls on people to submit simply not doing their job. had to face accusations of us-
One of the census questions: How long does your daily trip to work take? Photo: SITA their census data. Why had the ÚOOÚ not taken ing practices of the ŠtB.
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SP90566/1
8 May 30 – June 5 , 2011 BUSINESS FOCUS
insurance and health insur- longer shaving and women ment or efforts to circumvent
ance will be reduced for some painting their nails black. this burden,” Ďurana said. Impacts on the self-employed
persons. The mandatory Ján Figeľ, the chairman of Ďurana said the proposed
health insurance levy was ap- KDH who also serves as the change in the 40-percent In response to the most de-
proved by the cabinet at a rate minister of transport, con- lump-sum allowance that self- bated part of the reform, the IN-
of 9 percent, except for dis- struction and regional devel- employed persons can cur- EKO (Institute for Economic and
abled persons who will pay opment, said that the cabinet rently use is a problematic Social Reforms) think tank in
half that rate. The proposed proposal could be modified in point. cooperation with the Business
levy for the various compon- parliament. “It is unclear what the cur- Alliance of Slovakia (PAS) calcu-
ents of Slovakia’s social insur- “Simplification, unifica- rent role [of the 40-percent al- lated some of the expected im-
ance programme (old-age and tion and bringing more trans- lowance] is, while the duty to pacts of the proposed changes
disability pensions as well as parency to the system cer- report actual expenses could on self-employed persons.
C 3673
10 May 30 – June 5 , 2011 CULTURE
Spišský Štiavnik mansion Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
l LIVE MUSIC: E.ON Jazz
Night 2011 – The third jazz
EVENTS COUNTRYWIDE
night in Design Factory will
bring DJ C.O.D.E, Yvonne
Sanchez from Cuba, Pedro
Tagliani and Luis Ribeiro from
Brazil, Nicola Conte Jazz
Combo from Italy and en.dru
and Jirka Vidasov from the
Czech Republic; as well as
DJane Lady Smiles (Austria) at
the after-party.
Starts: June 3, 19:00-4:00;
Design Factory, Bottova 2.
Admission: €15 (in advance),
€20 (at the door). Tel: 02/5020-
1717; www.designfactory.sk.
The Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava begins a new pro-
Bratislava
gramme on June 2 at 18:00 when it offers in-depth artistic in-
l FOREIGN TALKS: Language
Café – A chit-chat in “your fa- sights and experience in the English language. The sessions will
vourite language” while sip- introduce permanent and current exhibitions and will be fol-
THE ABBEY of the Cistercians ironworks, they quickly grew inhabited by several promin- ping coffee, this time high- lowed by informal discussions. The first Thursday Art Talk is
can be found in the municip- rich and just as quickly aban- ent families: the Thurzas, the lighting Japanese. The event focused on The Last Classic / Ernest Zmeták, Artist and Collect-
ality of Spišský Štiavnik loc- doned their religious ideals. Thökölys and the Eszter- is organised by the Bratislava or – one of the most significant Slovak painters of the second
ated southeast of Poprad. The In 1531, as a result of goms. Archbishop Szelepcsé- Cultural and Information half of the 20th century. It takes place at the SNG, Esterházy
Cistercian order nyi later gave the Centre and the cultural insti- Palace, Ľ. Štúr Square (2nd floor). Admission is €4.70; for more
was founded in building to the Je- tutes of the embassies of Ja- information call 02/2047-6270, go to www.sng.sk, or email
HISTORY TALKS
1098 in a secluded suits, who added a pan, Germany, Hungary, Aus-
marcela.lukacova @sng.sk. Photo: Courtesy of SNG
area of Burgundy. chapel to the man- tria, UK, Spain, France, Italy,
The Cister- sion. The building Portugal. The meetings are
held on the first Wednesday Trnava Admission: free. More info:
cians, known for was originally de- in each month. l LIVE MUSIC: Sólo - Iva www.sturovo.com.
their rigorous dis- signed in Renais- Starts: June 1, 17:30; Café Bittová – The Czech (Moravi-
cipline, originally divided battles between Levoča and sance style but adaptations Studio, Laurinská 13. Admis- an) singer, composer, violin- Central SLOVAKIA
their lives between liturgical Kežmarok, the monastery in the 19th century altered its sion: free. More info: www.sk. ist and actress, an outstand-
ritual and manual labour. was burned to the ground. In original facade. emb-japan.go.jp/event_langu ing representative of the Banská Bystrica
Thanks to the efficient cul- its place, the presiding lord of This postcard of the man- age_cafe.html. Czech alternative scene, gives l CHILDREN’S OPERA: Ferdo
tivation of their lands, their Kežmarok, Hieroným Laski, sion dates from 1901. a solo concert in Slovakia. Mravec – A popular character
skill at shepherding and their built an ostentatious man- Bratislava Starts: June 5, 19:00; from children’s books, an ad-
l LIVE MUSIC: Joe Cocker – Synagóga – Centre of Contem- venturous ant, has been made
construction of a profitable sion that was successively By Branislav Chovan The legendary rock musician porary Art, Halenárska 2. Ad- into an opera for children by
with the husky voice returns mission: €10 (in advance), €12 Jiří Pauer, directed by Dana
to Slovakia to perform his re- (on the door). Tel: 033/5341- Dinková and conducted by Ig-
Slovaks are introduced to cent songs as well as all-time
favourites.
Starts: May 31, 20:00; NTC
261, or 02/5293-3321; www.
ticketportal.sk.
or Bulla.
Starts: June 1, 17:00, State
Opera, Národná 11. Admis-
activities were offered the newest genres of the per- music, puppets, an art exhib- Lučenec
WHEN YOU think circus you Bratislava ition, local delicacies and l LIVE MUSIC: IMT Smile -
probably conjure up images of throughout the garden forming arts according to the l EXHIBITION: All Inclusive - drinks, and the documentary After a tour of acoustic con-
huge striped tents with without charge. festival’s website. The Marcin Mierzicki – The young movie “Hranica” by Jaro Vo- certs, one of Slovakia’s most
parades of ponies and mon- “We are happy to bring concept originated in France Polish artist works with ob- jtek. The performance, or- popular bands makes its only
keys followed by acrobats, contemporary circus to in the 1970s out of independ- jects and installations in a ganised by the town of solo performance in Lučenec.
clowns and jugglers all lead- Slovakia,” the festival’s or- ent theatre's need to explore way that involves the active Štúrovo and supported by the Starts: June 4, 19:00;
ing up to a dramatic con- ganiser, Pavol Kelley, told the new forms by reviving forgot- perception of the visitor. Each Swiss Embassy, commemor- Sports Hall. Admission: €12.
frontation between man and Sme daily. “It’s been known ten rituals and dramatic tra- of his exhibitions is created ates the time before the Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.
beast, the face-off between an in advanced countries for ditions as well as circus and individually for the specific Maria Valeria Bridge con- ticketportal.sk.
enraged African lion and a years,” Kelley added, saying street theatre skills. space. necting Štúrovo and the
Open: Mon-Thur 10:00 Hungarian town of Eszter- Eastern SLOVAKIA
fearless lion tamer. that there even is a university Contemporary circus can -17:00, Fri 9:00-15:00 until gom had been built – when
But a new theory of what a of contemporary circus. “Our be characterised as narrative June 17; Polish Cultural Insti- trans-Danube communica- Košice
circus should be is spreading feeling is that animals don’t storytelling as it uses meta- tute, SNP Square 27. Admis- tion was much harder. l LIVE MUSIC: Hrana Tour
around the world, a concept, belong under a circus tent,” phors, themes, theatrical im- sion: free. Tel: 02/5443-2014; Starts: June 4, 11:00-22:00; 2011 Oskar Rózsa - Tribute to
the Nouveau Cirque, that es- he said. ages and stories alongside www.polinst.sk. several venues in Štúrovo. Marek Brezovský – Hrana (The
pouses the idea that animals Nouveau Cirque is one of traditional circus skills. Edge) is the project of versatile
do not belong in a circus. This musician, composer, con-
contemporary kind of circus ductor and producer Oskar
made its first appearance in Rózsa that commemorates the
talented Slovak musician
Slovakia in mid-May at the Marek Brezovský, who died
Cirkul’Art festival in tragically young. It will visit
Bratislava’s Medical Garden. six Slovak cities and towns.
It featured performers Starts: June 2, 20:00; Ka-
from 15 countries and organ- sárne / Kulturpark, Kukučíno-
isers estimated that it attrac- va 2. Admission: €15. Tel: 055/
ted some 3,500 visitors. 6854-299; www.kulturpark.sk,
The main event featured www.eventim.sk.
some names already known
Prešov
to Slovaks, such as the l ASTRONOMY/MUSIC: Hud-
renowned Czech clown Bolek ba pod hviezdnou oblohou J.
Polívka and the T.E.J.P. M. Jarre / Music Under the
theatre. Also on hand were THE 20TH year of Zlaté stuhy (Gold Ribbons) / Concourse d’
Starry Sky – The music of fam-
Nouveau Cirque artists from Elégance, a parade of more than 40 antique autos will take ous French artist Jean-Michel
Spain (Theater Yllana), Japan place on Piešťany’s Spa Island between June 2 and 4. There will Jarre, under an (artificial)
(Unicycling Cirkus), Belgium be competitions for best car from before 1918, best car after 1919 night sky.
(Paki Paya), Denmark as well as best matching historical garb by a crew. Admission is Starts: June 2, 18:00; Ob-
(Theatro Glimt), and Italy and free. The parade of historical vehicles will begin on June 4 at servatory, Dilongova 17. Ad-
10:00 as part of the "Opening of the Spa Season", offering a col- mission: €2. Tel: 051/7722-065;
Switzerland (Circocentrique). www. astropresov.sk.
Other performances and Cirkul'Art in Bratislava. Photo: Tomáš Medelský ourful and varied cultural and entertainment programme. For
more information, visit www.spapiestany.sk. Photo: ČTK
By Zuzana Vilikovská
N A M E D A Y M A Y - J U N E 2 0 1 1
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Weather updates and forecasts from across Slovakia Ferdinand Petronela Îaneta Xénia Karolína Lenka Laura
Petrana Oxana
can now be found at www.spectator.sk.
May 30 May 31 June 1 June 2 June 3 June 3 June 4
A Slovak’s name day (meniny) is as important as his or her birthday. It is traditional to present friends or co-workers with a small gift,
In cooperation with the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute such as chocolates or flowers, and to wish them Všetko najlepšie k meninám (Happy name day)
CULTURE May 30 – June 5, 2011 11
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www.spectator.sk
12 May 30 – June 5 , 2011 FEATURE
Golf at
Tále
THE LADIES
5
European
Tour (LET)
will stop at
the Gray Bear
golf course in
1
Slovak rally of through the city took place events.
Porsche cars and on the next day the cars “The LET enjoys huge in-
was held on continued towards the High terest worldwide; thus we
April 22 in Tatras, Poprad and are glad to have the chance
SNP Square in Kežmarok, where we con- to organise this leg of the
Banská Bystrica, but was at- cluded our event,” Drtil said. tour for the second time in
tended by fewer than a He added that Porsche Slovakia,” the promoter of
dozen cars. reunions have a ten-year the event, Jozef Soták, told
Nevertheless, the event tradition in the Czech Re- the TASR newswire. One
is new and its organiser, public where several dozen hundred and twenty-six
Radovan Drtil, told the TASR of these luxury cars, often professional golfers from 29
newswire he would like to including rare vehicles, countries are due to compete
try again in future years. gather every year. The abandoned Lomnica Hotel in Tatranská Lomnica. Photo: TASR over four rounds. The Slovak
event has prize money of
€350,000; the winner gets
3
Beautifying As- data from the land registry. features 12 buildings that the with top rivals at home.
sociation has “Haraburda represents association calls cultural After my victory at the Lalla
decided to pro- something unnecessary, monuments and that it says Meriem Cup in Morocco, I
voke some lively something thrown away. are not being properly cared feel like I could be successful
discussion and However, we don’t want the for by their owners. at my home course at Tále,”
make people think about the buildings to become unwanted The general public can she announced before the
condition of some of the High objects and to be put aside as have a say about these build- tournament. Slovakia is also
Tatras’ buildings, calling its discarded toys. The buildings ings in the Tatras in an online represented by a new talent,
project Tatranské haraburdy form one consistent whole with poll and Staško believes this Natália Hečková, who is 16
(Tatra Trash) and displaying the surrounding green,” said could be a form of pressure on years old.
mountain buildings on its web- Jakub Staško of the Tatras the owners to do something The biggest stars of the
site that are in particularly poor Beautifying Association at a about the current state of tour include the first four
condition. press conference, as quoted by their buildings. players on the chart for
One example of a Tatra har- the SITA newswire. The Tatranské haraburdy nomination to the autumn
aburda featured on the website According to the www.tatr project is not just about de- Europe-versus-US Solheim
A Porsche rally in the Czech Republic. Photo: ČTK is the Lomnica Hotel, which is anske-haraburdy.sk website teriorating buildings in the Cup: Laura Davies and
in the centre of Tatranská Lom- other similar “trash” includes High Tatras, since part of the Melissa Reid (UK), Christel
nica, and has been in a dilapid- the observation tower Monte website also shows cultural Boeljon (Netherlands), and
4
handprints for even autographed it.” self-government will raeli Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia its Hungarian name, Pozsony, or by its
an initiative called Ruky pre As in many other efforts provide €12,000 to support with the hope to show – particularly for German name, Pressburg, as both these
les (Hands for Forests), the of this type, the number of the project known as younger people – at least a virtual image languages were spoken in Bratislava and
TASR newswire wrote. The handprints is expected to Stratené mesto (Lost City) of how that part of the city looked before the city had multicultural traditions be-
coloured prints of people’s rise as others seek to beat the which will construct a rep- it was torn down in the 1960s. The re- cause of its proximity to the Austrian
hands were collected at record. The National Forestry lica of a synagogue on the site where the gional government will attempt to soli- and Hungarian borders.
Zvolen's Main Square over Centre in Zvolen organised original building stood at Bratislava’s his- cit donations from other sources so that Another idea presented as part of the
six hours on April 14. It was the April event. toric Rybné námestie (Fish Square) with it is not the only source of funds for the the project is to feature key events and
the first attempt at a Slovak the goal to revive, virtually, a part of Slov- project. Bratislava Mayor Milan Ftáčnik locales in the interior of a tram that has
record of this type, said Igor ak capital that was destroyed in the past, said that he also supports the project, initially been dubbed "The Tram of His-
Svitok from Slovenské complete with its ancient name of the SITA newswire wrote. torical Memory” which will travel over a
Rekordy, which keeps track Podhradie (Settlement Round the Castle). The project, officially called route with the symbolic name “The Ring
of such efforts in Slovakia. Pavol Frešo, president of the Bratislava “Stratené mesto: Bratislava Pozsony of Historical Memory”.
“The central idea of the Self-Governing Region, told the TASR Pressburg”, seeks to motivate Bratis- At the midpoint of the ring the vir-
initiative was to express newswire that it is important to com- lavans to look at their past and com- tual silhouette of the synagogue will ap-
support for the message of memorate important buildings within the memorate certain traditions that were pear in the form of a coulisse in Rybné
the 2011 International Year boundaries of Bratislava, like the demol- practically erased over the course of the námestie, where the original 25-metre-
of Forests and each hand- ished synagogue, that were an essential 20th century. Bratislava has been using tall synagogue, completed in 1893, was
print expressed agreement A handprint. Photo: SITA part of city life in the past. its current name only since the early situated.