SUMMARY-Monday-April 22, 2019 - 10 p.m.

KOSICE/PRESOV - Railway enthusiasts and volunteers from eastern Slovakia are finishing their preparations for launching rides of four historical steam trains on a route between Kosice, Presov and Velky Saris (Presov region), TASR learnt on Monday. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia is interested in a stable, democratic and prosperous Ukraine, and wishes to develop closer co-operation and bilateral ties with Kiev, reads a press statement released by the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry in response to the runoff round results of the Ukrainian 2019 presidential election on Monday. BRATISLAVA - Despite the Chinese demand for pork meat imports, Slovakia won't penetrate this market any time soon, seeing that Slovakia is one of the very few EU countries that still hasn't signed a certification agreement to allow imports of any meat to the most populous country in the world and it also lacks a sufficient production volume, Slovakia Hog Breeder Association chair Andrej Imrich said on Monday. BRATISLAVA - The merger between the Slovak Roads Administration (SSC) and National Highway Company (NDS) shouldn't be rushed inappropriately and the relevant legislation won't be submitted before legal and financial aspects are addressed first, TASR was told by the Transport and Construction Ministry press department on Monday. BRATISLAVA - A criminal prosecution has been launched over the security screening of former police corps vice-president Jaroslav Malik, TASR was told by the Interior Ministry's press department on Monday. KRAVANY - Firefighters in co-operation with the Slovak Armed Forces managed to extinguish the forest fire completely in the village of Kravany (Presov region) on Monday, TASR learnt from Zuzana Farkasova of the Fire-fighter and Emergency Corps Presidium on the same day. BRATISLAVA - Easter Monday is the last day of Easter, and in Slovakia, this day is traditionally connected with the custom of bathing or soaking and 'whipping' girls and women with a sallow whip. mf