[Mikulas
DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS ; Social
Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS ; SMER [Robert
FICO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Association of Employers of
Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Christian Social
Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or
KOVO and METALURG; Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Slovakia

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin BUTORA
chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone: (202) 965-5161
FAX: (202) 965-5166

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas
HENGEL
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (7) 5443-0861, 5443-3338
FAX: (7) 5441-5148

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

@Slovakia:Economy

Economy - overview: Slovakia continues the difficult transition from a
centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. It started 1999
faced with a sharp slowdown in GDP growth, large budget and current
account deficits, fast-growing external debt, and persisting
corruption, but made considerable progress toward achieving
macroeconomic stabilization later in the year. Tough austerity
measures implemented in May cut the overall fiscal deficit from 6% in
1998 to under 4% of GDP, and the current account deficit was halved to
an estimated 5% of GDP. Slovakia was invited by the EU in December to
begin accession negotiations early in 2000. Foreign investor interest,
although rising, has not yet led to actual deals; several credit
rating agencies have upgraded their outlook for the country. However,
Slovakia's fiscal position remains weak; inflation and unemployment
remain high; and the government is only now ad