News digest: While government praises visit to China, opposition is of different opinion
A tip on a restaurant, Slovakia on a list of top destinations, and who Slovaks would prefer in the White House.
Good evening. Here is the Monday, November 4 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
One visit, two diametrically opposing views
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. (Source: TASR/AP)Slovaks will be able to travel to and stay in China without any visa for a period of up to 15 days. Slovakia is prepared to introduce direct flights between Bratislava and Beijing to facilitate such travels. This is just one of several outcomes from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer) official visit to China together with ministers and entrepreneurs. The aim of the visit is to confirm a new quality of bilateral ties between the two countries, according to the PM.
The Slovak delegation signed a total of 13 agreements and memorandums on economic cooperation, investment and industrial cooperation, green and low-carbon development, tourism, expanding cooperation on the China-Europe Railway Express, the export of Slovak products including wine, cooperation between Slovak and Chinese theatres, ballet, opera and music ensembles, as well as other cultural, artistic and educational institutions.
After meeting with Chinese President Xi-Jinping, Fico said that both agree that there is no chance of putting an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, so long as the former continues to receive military and financial aid from the West.
Still, under Fico, Slovakia has exported more than €100 million in weapons to its neighbour.
The Slovak PM believes that the Chinese-Brazilian peace plan could be instrumental in securing peace for Ukraine, and he plans to discuss it with the Brazilian side during his December visit to Brazil.
Taking to social media, the PM went on to say that the visit confirms the new quality of bilateral relations between both countries, with Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nominee) calling it "extremely successful", and Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer) saying that "it can bring economic benefits to Slovakia".
The opposition, however, is of a different opinion, opining that it could have a negative impact on Slovakia down the line, and went on to lambast the visit. According to SaS MP Juraj Krúpa, the trip will introduce a great threat to Slovakia, particularly in terms of the economy. He especially pointed to Poland, which cancelled cooperation with China three times, and Montenegro asking the EU to help pay off its debt to China in regards to the latter building a motorway. Progressive Slovakia MP Štefan Kiss stated that signing public-private partnership projects may lead to large debts and dependence on China.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- POLITICS: PM Fico clashes with the British ambassador after Russian TV appearance.
- TRAVEL: Cozy shelters for hikers to be constructed at seven sites ahead of next season.
- SPORT: One of the best Slovak mountain climbers died at the end of October in the Himalayas.
- RENEWABLES: Several wind park projects are being prepared in Slovakia by Greenenergy, behind the country's only wind park in Cerová, by the state-owned company supplier SPP, or other companies.
- GOOD NEWS: Slovakia has made it to the Top 10 destinations list of a global travel guide.
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FEATURE STORY
A restaurant to impress your guest
Colette restaurant in Bratislava. (Source: Mark Taylor)Some restaurants offer a menu with so many options that you might struggle to choose. Other venues focus on producing just a few dishes but doing them well.
This French-style restaurant, on a busy street in the Blumentál area, is very much the second type, writes in his review Mark Taylor.
EVENT FOR THE COMING WEEKS
Remembering the lack of freedom
The Iron Curtain under Devín Castle. (Source: ÚPN archive)On Monday, the 14th edition of the Slobody Festival (Freedom Festival) event is starting, lasting until November 17. The goal of the multigenre event, held by the Nation’s Memory Institute (ÚPN), is to bring back to memory and analyse the period when Slovakia was not a free country. There will be a showcase of films, concerts, exhibitions, theatrical performances, discussions and more. Admission to individual venues is free. Learn more about the programme here.
IN OTHER NEWS
- Almost half of Slovaks would prefer Kamala Harris as the next US President, according to a survey by the AKO polling agency carried out for the private TV Joj 24. 49 percent believe that she would better for the world as opposed to 33 percent who were of the opposite opinion. Similar figures appeared in regards to who would be better for the US, Europe and Slovakia, respectively. Women were above average in picking Kamala Harris, while the same can be said about men choosing Donald Trump. The poll took place between October 8-17 on a sample of 1,000 people. (AKO)
- Political scientists, diplomats, journalists, sociologists, economists and other public figures protested against PM Robert Fico's (Smer) recent appearance on Russian state television, Rossiya-1 and launched a petition. They are calling on the prime minister and members of the government to understand that Slovakia is not their property, and that in the name of protecting himself and "our people" from independent investigation, as well as securing power, he decided to demolish the future of citizens and turn it to ruins. (SITA)
On Monday, Bratislava put up its 12-metre Christmas tree in Hlavné Námestie Square. The Christmas market around the tree will open on November 21, while the tree will be lit the following day. (Source: TASR)- On Saturday, Slovak mountain rescuers helped a group of Polish hikers without proper climbing equipment who were stranded after the group leader fell and died on Gerlachovský Štít peak, the highest one in the High Tatras. Although his body was found on the same day, due to bad weather conditions it was transported on Sunday. (HZS)
- President Peter Pellegrini has denied all requests by Slovak nationals to join the Ukrainian army, the President's Office reported on Monday. The president has received a total of four requests in this regard, though one of them was filed during the term of Pellegrini's predecessor Zuzana Čaputová. Slovak citizens must ask the president for permission to join the armed forces of another country. If they do so without permission, they risk criminal prosecution. (TASR)
- Slovakia will need between 50,000 and 77,000 employees in the renewable energy sector by 2030, and the largest number of workers will be needed in the production and installation of heat pumps, according to a recent study by the Slovak Sustainable Energy Association. (TASR)
Snowmaking near the village of Tatranská Lomnica in the High Tatras. (Source: TASR)WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Sunny to partly cloudy, with fog or low cloud cover in some places. Daily temperatures will rise to between 6 °C to 13 °C. (SHMÚ)
NOVEMBER 5 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Imrich
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