Chapter 83
Names: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko Digraph: LO Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Bratislava Administrative divisions: 4 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia) Constitution: ratified 3 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 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory National holiday: Slovak National Uprising, August 29 (1944) Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Vojtech BUGAR; Christian Democratic Movement, Jan CARNOGURSKY; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Party of the Democratic Left, Peter WEISS, chairman; Slovak National Party, Ludovit CERNAK, chairman; Coexistence, Miklos DURAY, chairman; Party of Conservative Democrats, leader NA Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Democratic Party; Social Democratic Party in Slovakia; Movement for Czech-Slovak Accord; Freedom Party; Slovak Christian Union; Hungarian Civic Party Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Michal KOVAC elected by the National Council National Council: last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia 37%, Party of the Democratic Left 15%, Christian Democratic Movement 9%, Slovak National Party 8%, Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement/Coexistence 7%; seats - (150 total) Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, 74, Party of the Democratic Left 29, Christian Democratic Movement 18, Slovak National Party 15, Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement/Coexistence 14 Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Council (Narodni Rada) Judicial branch: Supreme Court
*Slovakia, Government
Leaders: Chief of State: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993) Head of Government: Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since NA), Deputy Prime Minister Roman KOVAC (since NA) Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Dr. Milan ERBAN chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 or 6316 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Elect Eleanor SUTTER embassy: Hviczdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 427 330 861 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with a crest with a white double cross on three blue mountains
*Slovakia, Economy
Overview: The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated the task of moving toward a more open and decentralized economy. The old Czechoslovakia, even though highly industrialized by East European standards, suffered from an aging capital plant, lagging technology, and a deficiency in energy and many raw materials. In January 1991, approximately one year after the end of communist control of Eastern Europe, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic launched a sweeping program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and controlled economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and the setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost in inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a whole inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992 in Slovakia, inflation slowed to an estimated 8.7% and the estimated fall in GDP was a more moderate 7%. In 1993 the government anticipates up to a 7% drop in GDP, with the disruptions from the separation from the Czech lands probably accounting for half the decline; inflation, according to government projections, may rise to 15-20% and unemployment may reach 12-15%. The Slovak government is moving ahead less enthusiastically than the Czech government in the further dismantling of the old centrally controlled economic system. Although the governments of Slovakia and the Czech Republic had envisaged retaining the koruna as a common currency at least in the short run, the two countries ended the currency union in February 1993. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $32.1 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -7% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $6,100 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.3% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels, minerals, and metals; agricultural products partners: Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, US, UK Imports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transport equipment; fuels and lubricants; manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals; agricultural products partners: Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, UK, Italy External debt: $1.9 billion hard currency indebtedness (December 1992) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 6,800,000 kW capacity; 24,000 million kWh produced, 4,550 kWh per capita (1992)
*Slovakia, Economy
Industries: brown coal mining, chemicals, metal-working, consumer appliances, fertilizer, plastics, armaments Agriculture: largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products Illicit drugs: the former Czechoslavakia was a transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and was emerging as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine (1992) Economic aid: the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89) Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 28.59 (December 1992), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989), 14.36 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Slovakia, Communications
Railroads: 3,669 km total (1990) Highways: 17,650 km total (1990) Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: natural gas 2,700 km; petroleum products NA km Ports: maritime outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia (Rijeka), Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river ports are Komarno on the Danube and Bratislava on the Danube Merchant marine: the former Czechoslovakia had 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 290,185 GRT/437,291 DWT; includes 13 cargo, 9 bulk; may be shared with the Czech Republic Airports: total: 34 usable: 34 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: NA
*Slovakia, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,407,908; fit for military service 1,082,790; reach military age (18) annually 47,973 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: 8.2 billion koruny, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
*Slovenia, Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 20,296 km2 land area: 20,296 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey Land boundaries: total 999 km, Austria 262 km, Croatia 455 km, Italy 199 km, Hungary 83 km Coastline: 32 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: dispute with Croatia over fishing rights in the Adriatic and over some border areas; the border issue is currently under negotiation; small minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of southwestern Slovenia Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 45% other: 23% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; heavy metals and toxic chemicals along coastal waters; near Koper, forest damage from air pollutants originating at metallurgical and chemical plants; subject to flooding and earthquakes
*Slovenia, People
Population: 1,967,655 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.23% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 11.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.08 years female: 78.13 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian Ethnic divisions: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 96% (including 2% Uniate), Muslim 1%, other 3% Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2% Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 786,036 by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%
*Slovenia, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenije local short form: Slovenija Digraph: SI Type: emerging democracy Capital: Ljubljana Administrative divisions: 60 provinces (pokajine, singular - pokajina) Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje, Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd, Gornja Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko, Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica, Izola, Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center, Ljubljana-Moste-Polje, Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik, Ljutomer, Logatec, Maribor, Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ormoz Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje Pri Jelsah, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika, Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: Statehood Day, 25 June Political parties and leaders: Slovene Christian Democratics (SKD), Lozje PETERLE, chairman; Liberal Democratic (LDS), Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman; Social-Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDSS), Joze PUCNIK, chairman; Socialist Party of Slovenia (SSS), Viktor ZAKELJ, chairman; Greens of Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman; National Democratic, Rajko PIRNAT, chairman; Democratic Peoples Party, Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman; Reformed Socialists (former Communist Party), Ciril RIBICIC, chairman; United List (former Communists and allies); Slovene National Party, leader NA; Democratic Party, Igor BAVCAR; Slovene People's Party (SLS), Ivan OMAN note: parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections Other political or pressure groups: none Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal Elections: President: last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Milan KUCAN reelected by direct popular vote State Assembly: last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 90) LDS 22, SKD 15, United List (former Communists and allies) 14, Slovene National Party 12, SN 10, Democratic Party 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1
*Slovenia, Government
State Council: will become operational after next election in 1996; in the election of 6 December 1992 40 members were elected to represent local and socio-economic interests Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime ministers, cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly; consists of the State Assembly and the State Council; note - State Council will become operational after next election Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990) Head of Government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992) Member of: CE, CEI, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IOM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC chancery: (temporary) 1300 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 828-1650 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador E. Allen WENDT embassy: P.O. Box 254; Cankarjeva 11, 61000 Ljubljana mailing address: APO AE 09862 telephone: [38] (61) 301-427/472 FAX: [38] (61) 301-401 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands
*Slovenia, Economy
Overview: Slovenia was by far the most prosperous of the former Yugoslav republics, with a per capita income more than twice the Yugoslav average, indeed not far below the levels in neighboring Austria and Italy. Because of its strong ties to Western Europe and the small scale of damage during its fight for independence from Yugoslavia, Slovenia has the brightest prospects among the former Yugoslav republics for economic recovery over the next few years. The dissolution of Yugoslavia, however, has led to severe short-term dislocations in production, employment, and trade ties. For example, overall industrial production fell 10% in 1991; particularly hard hit were the iron and steel, machine-building, chemical, and textile industries. Meanwhile, the continued fighting in other former Yugoslavian republics has led to further destruction of long-established trade channels and to an influx of tens of thousands of Croatian and Bosnian refugees. The key program for breaking up and privatizing major industrial firms was established in late 1992. Bright spots for encouraging Western investors are Slovenia's comparatively well-educated work force, its developed infrastructure, and its Western business attitudes, but instability in Croatia is a deterrent. Slovenia in absolute terms is a small economy, and a little Western investment would go a long way. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $21 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: -10% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $10,700 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (September 1992) Unemployment rate: 10% (April 1992) Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $4.12 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38%, other manufactured goods 44%, chemicals 9%, food and live animals 4.6%, raw materials 3%, beverages and tobacco less than 1% partners: principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Austria, and Italy Imports: $4.679 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 35%, other manufactured goods 26.7%, chemicals 14.5%, raw materials 9.4%, fuels and lubricants 7%, food and live animals 6% partners: principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, successor states of the former USSR, US, Hungary, Italy, and Austria External debt: $2.5 billion Industrial production: growth rate -1% per month (1991-92 est.) Electricity: 2,900,000 kW capacity; 10,000 million kWh produced, 5,090 kWh per capita (1992)
*Slovenia, Economy
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools Agriculture: dominated by stock breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main crops - potatoes, hops, hemp, flax; an export surplus in these commodities; Slovenia must import many other agricultural products and has a negative overall trade balance in this sector Illicit drugs: NA Economic aid: NA Currency: 1 tolar (SIT) = 100 NA Exchange rates: tolars (SIT) per US$1 - 112 (June 1993), 28 (January 1992) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Slovenia, Communications
Railroads: 1,200 km, 1.435 m gauge (1991) Highways: 14,553 km total; 10,525 km paved, 4,028 km gravel Inland waterways: NA Pipelines: crude oil 290 km, natural gas 305 km Ports: coastal - Koper Merchant marine: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,784 GRT/596,740 DWT; includes 15 bulk, 7 cargo; all under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines except for 1 bulk under Liberian flag Airports: total: 13 useable: 13 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4 Telecommunications: 130,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV; 370,000 radios; 330,000 TVs
*Slovenia, Defense Forces
Branches: Slovene Defense Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 512,186; fit for military service 410,594; reach military age (19) annually 14,970 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
*Solomon Islands, Geography
Location: Oceania, just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean Map references: Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 28,450 km2 land area: 27,540 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 5,313 km Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 93% other: 4% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to typhoons, which are rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors Note: located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean
*Solomon Islands, People
Population: 372,746 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.46% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 39.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 29 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.13 years male: 67.73 years female: 72.65 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4% Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5% Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1-2% of population note: 120 indigenous languages Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 23,448 economically active by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%, services 25%, construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%, commerce, transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)
*Solomon Islands, Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands Digraph: BP Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Honiara Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira,, Malaita, Temotu, Western Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK) Constitution: 7 July 1978 Legal system: common law National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Political parties and leaders: People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Elections: National Parliament: last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held 26 May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4, LP 2, independents 9 Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general since 7 July 1988) Head of Government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990) Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands) US diplomatic representation: Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND embassy: Mud Alley, Honiara
*Solomon Islands, Government
mailing address: American Embassy, P. O. Box 561, Honiara telephone: (677) 23890 FAX: (677) 23488 Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
*Solomon Islands, Economy