Slovakia: New Private News Agency Burglarized Before Opening

Bratislava, 9 June 1997 (RFE/RL) -- A new, private Slovak press agency, called SITA, which was to open next week, has been burglarized.

SITA General Director Pavol Mudry told journalists yesterday that although the house in which SITA is located had a security system, much of the agency's equipment, including computers necessary to start operations, was stolen.

According to police, the burglary apparently occurred on Saturday. SITA, which is to employ some 30 people, was to compete against the state-run Slovak Press Agency (TASR) on the Slovak media market.

SITA has said it will focus on economic developments and internal political news.