Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National
Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or
HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR, chairman]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL
[Jozef MIGAS, chairman]; Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement or
MKDH [Vojtech BUGAR]; Hungarian Civic Party or MOS [Laszlo A. NAGY,
president]; Coexistence [Miklos DURAY, chairman]; Christian Democratic
Movement or KDH [Jan CARNOGURSKY, chairman]; Democratic Union or DU
[Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman]; Association of Slovak Workers or ZRS [Jan
LUPTAK, chairman]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA, chairman];
Slovak Green Alternative or SZA [Zora LAZAROVA, chairwoman]; Farmers'
Party of Slovakia or RSS [Pavel DELINGA, chairman]; Social Democratic
Party of Slovakia or SSDS [Jaroslav WOLF, chairman]; Party of Greens
in Slovakia or SZS [Jozef POKORNY, chaiman]; Democratic Party or DS
[Jan LANGOS, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Party of Entrepreneurs and
Businessmen of Slovakia; Christian Social Union; Confederation of
Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG;
Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and
Villages or ZMOS
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,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNTAES, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone : [1] (202) 965-5160 FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address : use embassy street address telephone: [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338 FAX: [42] (7) 533-5439
Flag description: 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
Economy - overview: Since the establishment of the Slovak 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 1994-96, but privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted GDP growth to 4.8% in 1994 after a four-year decline. GDP surged to 7.4% growth in 1995 and should be only slightly less in 1996, the fastest growth in Central and Eastern Europe. Unemployment fell to about 12% in 1996 and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 5.5% in 1996, the lowest in the region. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion also is the lowest in the region and the second lowest per capita. Private activity now makes up roughly two-thirds of GDP. Positive international financial performance has 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. Although Slovak economic performance continues to be impressive, many warning signs of possible danger ahead have been raised. Aggregate demand has surged in the form of increased personal and government consumption. At the same time that the budget deficit is growing, the money supply has been rapidly increasing, which could apply upward pressure on inflation. The trade and current account deficits both are mounting as imports soar and exports sag. Perhaps most troubling, Slovakia continues to have difficulty attracting foreign investment because of perceived political problems and halting progress on restructuring and privatization. The government projects 6.4% growth in 1997 and 5% in 1998. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost exports and production, but Slovakia's image with foreign creditors and investors could suffer setbacks in 1997 if progress on privatization and restructuring stalls.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $42.8 billion (1996 est.)