MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 4 September 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 3 September): NITRA – At its away-from-home session in Nitra on Wednesday, the government approved the release of €1 million for the reconstruction and modernisation of the basic exhibition infrastructure of the Nitra-based Agrokomplex national exhibition centre, including its outdated pavilions and technical equipment. The Agriculture Ministry described the current condition of the exhibition centre as critical. "A major part of the halls and pavilions were built in the 1970s and 1980s, the technologies are outdated, the energy consumption is high, and there is a lack of modern congress premises," reads the document, acknowledged by the government. According to the ministry, the centre is losing its ability to organise bigger events when compared to international exhibition centres. The main investment priorities include the comprehensive reconstruction and modernisation of pavilions and halls, the construction of congress, cultural and sports premises, the digitalisation of the exhibition centre and the support for hybrid events, green transformation and inter-connections with universities and research. Although the estimate of the investment needs for modernization is high, the ministry believes in a high return of the modernisation project. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini recommends the government to officially deal with the Slovak Academy of Sciences' (SAV) report on the results of the analysis of anti-Covid vaccines as soon as possible. Pellegrini received SAV chairman Martin Venhart in the Presidential Palace on Wednesday. According to the president, Venhart assured him that the scientists prepared the report in line with the requirements of the Slovak government and Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), using recognised and state-of-the-art scientific methods and were under no political pressure while preparing it. "I recommend that the Slovak government officially deal with this report as soon as possible, since it has ordered it and it is ready, and subsequently make some political decisions based on it if necessary. Anyway, it should conclude this debate as soon as possible so that the SAV can continue to fulfil its tasks," stated the president, calling on the government to do its utmost for science and scientists not to become targets of ridicule and contempt so that the SAV doesn't become the subject of a political fight. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) will decide when the government will deal with the report of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) on the results of the analysis of anti-COVID vaccines, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) said on Wednesday, adding that he's submitted the report to the Cabinet. "It's not my decision when the report will be discussed," noted Sasko. He reiterated that he has been declaring his support for science, the modern approach and scientists, and for the SAV as the flagship institution of Slovak science and research since he's assumed his post. At the same time, the health minister pointed to the fact that Government Proxy for Investigating the COVID-19 Pandemic Management Peter Kotlar is supposed to submit a report on the course of the pandemic. He has a deadline to do so and the Slovak public expects these answers from him as well, added Sasko. LEVOCA - The bust of Cecilia Gonzaga from Levoca is an intentional forgery dating from the end of the 19th century, general secretary of the Culture Ministry's service office Lukas Machala said Wednesday at a press conference held in the historic town hall in Levoca (Presov region). He also presented the results of an investigation performed by Italian art history professor Francesco Caglioti on 11 July in the interior ministry's special facility in Topolcianky (Nitra region), where the bust was relocated from Levoca at the end of May. According to Machala, expert research has shown that the work dates back to the late 19th century, as it was created after 1894 using a plaster cast derived from La Belle Florentine statue in the Louvre. BEIJING/BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) expressed regret on Wednesday over the absence of top leaders from European Union (EU) member states at the 80th anniversary commemorations of the end of the Second World War held in Beijing, China. Speaking in a video posted on social media, Fico described the commemorations, which concluded with a military parade, as a “globally significant event”. „Chinese President Xi Jinping made it very clear that the world is facing a choice between peace and war, and that China is willing to play a decisive role in shaping a new global peace arrangement. In any case, even the most ideologically driven critics of China can no longer ignore the comprehensive progress the country has achieved,” Fico said at the beginning of his speech. „I once again express regret that top representatives of EU member states were absent from such a global occasion. If they thought that by doing so they would isolate China’s celebrations of victory in the Second World War, they badly miscalculated. If anyone was isolated today, it was the EU,” the Prime Minister added. BRATISLAVA/TOKYO - House chair Richard Rasi, accompanied by House vice-chair Peter Ziga (both Voice–SD) and a delegation of Slovak MPs, visited the Japanese capital Tokyo on Wednesday, TASR learnt from the Parliament's press department on the same day. During the visit, the Slovak delegation met with Masakazu Sekiguchi, President of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Japanese parliament. The discussion revolved around the deepening of bilateral relations, strengthening of economic cooperation, and preparations for a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries. Rasi also extended an official invitation to Sekiguchi to visit Slovakia. At the start of the meeting, Sekiguchi pointed to more than 30 years of significant cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He highlighted the role of more than 60 Japanese companies contributing to the development of the Slovak economy and praised the ongoing high-level parliamentary exchange. jrg