BRATISLAVA, March 12 (Reuters) - Here are news stories,
press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak
financial markets on Wednesday.
GOVERNMENT MEETING
Government will hold a regular weekly meeting, 0900 GMT.
COALITION MEETING
Leaders of the three ruling coalition parties will hold a
regular meeting. The agenda includes preparations of the euro
adoption campaign.
FICO WITH EU AMBASSADORS
Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet Ambassadors of EU
countries to Slovakia to debate euro adoption plans, the EU
treaty and situation in the Balkan region.
ENERGY CONFERENCE
Officials from power grid operators and electricity
distributors will speak at an energy conference.
CBANK SAYS DID NOT MEAN TO MOVE CROWN
The Slovak central bank (NBS) said on Tuesday its policy
makers had not intended to influence the currency market in
recent remarks that moved the crown.
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C.BANK DRAINS SKK 131.6 BLN IN REPO TENDER
The Slovak central bank (NBS) accepted all bids in its
regular two-week repo tender on Tuesday, draining 131.556
billion crowns ($6.23 billion) from the market, NBS data showed.
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EU SAYS PROBING BRATISLAVA AID FOR RYANAIR
The European Commission said on Tuesday it was investigating
an agreement on Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair's <RYA.I> use of
Slovakia's Bratislava airport on suspicion it may contain
illegal state aid.
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PRESS DIGEST
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EURO CAMPAIGN
Prime Minister Robert Fico said the government was
considering using only media that are not critical of its
policies in the upcoming campaign about euro adoption.
Sme, page 2
RETAILERS LAW
The parliament is expected to debate a proposal designed to
ban shops from being open on New Year's Eve, Christmas and
Eastern Sunday.
Sme, page 2
WORLD BANK RECOMMENS
The World Bank said in a report, requested by the Slovak
Finance Ministry, that Slovakia should raise the retirement age
to 65 years from current 62, and curb pension payments from the
pay-as-you-go system.
Sme, page 6
SLOVAK ECONOMY STATUS
Slovakia is expected to be upgraded to the developed economy
status by the World Bank in autumn, which should be an impulse
attracting more foreign investment, Deputy Finance Minister
Frantisek Palko said.
Hospodarske Noiny, page 9
MEDIA BILL
The media draft, criticised by world press organisations and
human rights groups, violates the Slovak Constitution, lawyers
said.
Pravda, page 4
FICO WITH MECIAR
Prime Minister Robert Fico met his coalition partner
Vladimir Meciar on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed a demand
by Meciar's HZDS party to make public the names of firms and
officials involved in botched defence ministry tenders.
Pravda, page 4
Reuters has not verified the media reports, nor does it
vouch for their accuracy.
For news on upcoming events in the United States and other
Group of Seven countries, see <G7TODAY>. For a diary of
forthcoming Slovak events, double click [], and a
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [].
News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403
E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk
