Simkovicova: Situation at FPU Due to FPU Director's Obstruction Efforts

Bratislava, April 15 (TASR) - The Council of the Arts Support Fund (FPU) has repeatedly requested cooperation from the fund’s director, Robert Spotak, to speed up the processing of applications in the folklore events support programme, and, at the same time, it admits that a different solution may be necessary, Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (an SNS nominee) and members of the FPU Council declared at a press conference on Tuesday. "The current situation in the folklore events support programme is the result of the director's inaction and, at the same time, his direct interference, which aims to disable the functioning of the fund," stated the culture minister, who sees media accusations against the ministry as an attempt to discredit the ministry leadership. She also questioned what sense it would make for the ministry itself to engage in actions that would hinder support for a sector that it claims to be one of its priorities. Chair of the FPU Council Matus Olha also accused Spotak of deliberately obstructing the evaluation of applications and the allocation of grants. He believes that Spotak is resisting the changes brought by the latest amendment to legislation. "The FPU management does not respect the basic principle of the law, which states that the director and the office represent the executive branch of the fund, while the council governs and decides on funding," said Olha. He confirmed that he asked Spotak to make folklore event grant applications available so that the council could decide on them as quickly as possible, pointing to the legal deadline for processing applications. "Mr. Spotak refused, saying that it would be illegal, insisting that the applications must first be reviewed by a commission, even though the final decision rests with the council," stated Olha. "Mr. Spotak isn't interested in releasing funds, but in creating a scandal," he underlined. mf/df