Opposition Parties Call for Committee on Gabcikovo, Taraba Labels Claims Hoax

Bratislava, 2 June (TASR) - The opposition parties called for a special session of the parliamentary agriculture and environment committee during Tuesday's press conference to discuss with Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) a solution to the dispute over the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros waterworks system, as they fear that Hungary will receive electricity for free or at the production cost. Taraba dismissed the claims as a hoax, adding that Slovakia hasn't even decided whether the dispute can be settled and whether it can reach an agreement with Hungary, however he stated he'll come to the committee. According to MP Tamara Stohlova from the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, the minister often refers to Gabcikovo as a national treasure and reminds how much money it brings to the state. „Therefore I'm asking why he wants to voluntarily hand over 50 percent - or half - of this national treasure, this national wealth, to Viktor Orabn and Hungary,“ she said. MP Maria Kolikova from the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party noted that the state must currently consolidate public finances. According to her, handing over the electricity to Hungary would also reduce the state budget revenues. Kolikova asked where Taraba got the mandate to negotiate when everything was being done "behind closed doors" and in secret. She believes that Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka should also take an interest in the case. lin