Bratislava, April 9 (TASR-SLOVAKIA) - Slovak Parliament on Wednesday approved the much-discussed in Slovakia legislation on periodicals and agency news service. A new Press Act will govern print media and agencies in Slovakia, replacing existing one dating back 42 years.

Several of the proposed versions of the act have been criticised by the Opposition and international organisations. Opposition SDKU-DS and SMK have been conditioning the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon on the Press Act's revision. However, coalition MPs rejected the amending proposals prepared by the opposition.

The Press Act adjusts the rights and duties of the publishers of periodicals, as well as those of news agencies regarding the collecting and dissemination of information. Apart from the current right for correction of information in an equally prominent space as the misinformation was published, the new Act introduces a right to reply.

As well, protection of the source is defined as an obligation. According to the new Act, publishers won't be responsible for the content of the information that has been provided by a public body, or by a budgetary, or quasi-state organisation, or a legal entity on the assumption that the information is correct. The new law states the obligation for publishers to publish an announcement on the structure of ownership relations of the publisher every year in the first issue of the periodical.

One of the most controversial parts of the new legislation is that the right to reply applies equally whether the information published is true or not.

Prime Minister Robert Fico argues that the new Press Act merely brings in the equality of weapons but it is the government alone - more precisely himself and some ministers like Viera Tomanova (labour), Ivan Valentovic (health) - that wages war and requires some weapons, reads Pravda daily in commentary.

Among Fico's new weapons established by the approved measure is a right of the printed reply for those who will feel themselves injured by the media even if the information published had been correct. All politicians may want to avoid criticism of the media but the Slovak premier's tactics are unheard-of in Europe, states Pravda.

After the president signs the new Press Act, it should become effective on June 1, 2008.

(Slovakia Today, TASR, Pravda)