Kalinak: Money for Cyril and Methodius Celebrations Will Be Spent Efficiently

Bratislava, July 2 (TASR) - The package of €750,000 intended for the national Cyril and Methodius celebrations at Devin Castle in Bratislava is efficiently spent money, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) told journalists during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, adding that the programme will be free for visitors, which also requires some money. "Everything will be completely for free for those who come, which is not the case in some other cases," said Kalinak, noting that all performers have to be paid. "At least 40 or 30 percent of the budget is for the city of Bratislava, for Slovak Television, for other ministries, for the Health Ministry, for the Education Ministry. Consider that just the rent of the area at Devin is €70,000, VAT is €140,000. So I think that if you subtract all the things, the evening programme itself is somewhere between €230,000-240,000," the minister told journalists. "And as far as the all-day programme for youth and children is concerned, it's absolutely appropriate," he added. The government has allocated €750,000 for the organisation of the national Cyril and Methodius celebrations. The Defence Ministry is in charge of the organisation. The celebrations will take place on Saturday (5 July) at Devin Castle. The programme will include a presentation of history, demonstrations of craftsmanship and preparation of medieval food. Visitors will be able to get to know the Glagolitic scribal workshop. In the evening, a festive programme will be held with a live broadcast on STVR. am/mcs