Part 673

Name of country: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko

Data code: LO

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Bratislava

Administrative divisions: 4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky

Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

National holiday: Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Constitution: ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by the National Parliament; election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12 December 1994) was appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (Narodni Rada): elections last held 30 September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results - HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17, DU 15)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Parliament

Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan CARNOGURSKY; Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman; Association of Slovak Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak National Party (SNS), Jan SLOTA, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS chancery: (temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-5161 FAX: (202) 965-5166

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph JOHNSON embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (7) 533-0861, 533-3338 FAX: (7) 533-5439

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Economy -------

Economic overview: Since its separation from the Czech Republic on 1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994 and 1995 - with 4.8% and 6% growth, respectively. But privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted growth in both years, with consumption and investment rebounding. Unemployment fell to 12.8% in November 1995, the lowest level since mid-1993, and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 7.5% in 1995. The federal government deficit fell from 7% of GDP in 1993 to less than 2% in 1994-95, as growth boosted revenues. Positive international financial performance led Standard & Poor's to raise its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign currency debt to just one step below investment grade. The trade and current accounts are both in surplus, and foreign currency reserves held by the central bank have climbed to $3.5 billion. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion - about the same as Romania's - is the lowest in Central and Eastern Europe and the second lowest per capita. Bratislava made the Slovak crown convertible for current account transactions on 1 October 1995. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting foreign investment, however, because of perceived political uncertainty and vacillations in privatization policy. The government as well as the OECD projects 5% growth in 1996 and 1997.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $39 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $7,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.7% industry: 47.6% services: 45.7% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 13% (1995 est.)