BRATISLAVA, November 3, (WEBNOVINY) — The Environment Ministry that was renewed as of the beginning of this month already has a state secretary. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved Branislav Cimerman to this post, based on the proposal of Environment Minister Jozsef Nagy (MOST-HID). Cimerman held the post of Director General of the ministry’s Quality Environment Department until now. According to minister Nagy, the new state secretary holds a doctor’s degree in natural sciences, has three diplomas in the environmental area and is an expert in waste management.
Cimerman told the media on Tuesday that in the new post, he wants to “get an well-functioning process running”. He wants to lay emphasis on the expert side of the ministry’s departments. He has not worked for any non-governmental environmental organization in the past, but has very good relations with people from such organizations, he said. According to Cimerman, one of the ministry’s priorities will be to reopen a constructive dialogue between the ministry and NGOs.
The Cabinet further approved the new minister’s nomination of Patricia Hradilova to the post of head of the Environment Ministry’s Service Department.
The Environment Ministry has renewed its operation as an independent department as of November 1, 2010, even without the president’s signature on the corresponding amendment to the Competence Law. President Ivan Gasparovic vetoed the bill and recommended not to approve it as a whole, but the parliament overturned his veto. The previous government scrapped the Environment Ministry following numerous scandals and repeated ministerial reshuffles that did not manage restore confidence in the department. The new ruling coalition decided to renew it with all previous competencies, as anchored in the government program statement. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said that the ministry’s operation was resumed also because of the situation after this year’s floods.
SITA