Chapter 106
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 (vacant); note--President NOVAC retired at the end of his term; the government has announced its intention to hold direct presidential election in early 1999; in the meantime the prime minister takes over the president's duties head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by National Council secret ballot that must yield a three-fifths majority for a five-year term; election last held NA March 1998 but no candidate was able to win a three-fifths majority required by law (next to be held NA 1999); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: presidency vacant
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovensky Repubiky (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--HZDS 27%, SDK 16.3%, SDL 14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party--governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Council; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia Hungarian Coalition or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence) LUPTAK, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS 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, 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, MONUA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Martin BUTORA chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address
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: Slovakia, continuing the difficult transition from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy, begins 1999 with clouds on the horizon: GDP growth is slowing sharply; budget and current account deficits are too large; external debt is growing uncomfortably fast; unemployment is high and rising; corrupt insider deals persist; and demand is weakening for Slovakia's key primary goods exports, especially as Russia and Ukraine slump and as EU growth slows. International credit rating agencies have downgraded Slovak debt to below investment grade. The new government intends to address the economy's ills by giving priority to joining the OECD and EU, cutting government wage and infrastructure spending, boosting some taxes and regulated prices, expanding privatization to companies formerly considered strategic, restructuring the financial section, encouraging foreign investment, and reenergizing the social partnership with labor and employers. Government officials believe as long as two years may be needed before its structural reforms improve economic performance. In 1999, the government expects GDP growth to slow from 5% in 1998 to 2%, inflation to rise from 6% to 10%, and unemployment to rise from less than 14% to 15% or 16%, but hopes to bring the budget deficit down to no more than 2% of GDP and the current account deficit down to 5% to 6% of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$44.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 33.4% services: 61.8% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1998)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.4 billion expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (1997)
Electricity--production: 25.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 35.57% hydro: 20.81% nuclear: 43.62% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 26.353 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.607 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.15 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $10.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)
Exports--partners: EU 56% (Germany 29%), Czech Republic 20%, Austria 7%, Poland 7% (1998)
Imports: $12.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)
Imports--partners: EU 50% (Germany 26%), Czech Republic 18%, Russia 10%, Italy 6% (1998)
Debt--external: $10.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $421.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov
Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1--36.207 (January 1999), 35.233 (1998). 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,362,178 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there are 22 private broadcast stations and two public (state) broadcast stations
Radios: 915,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (1997)
Televisions: 1.2 million (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 3,660 km broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1424 km electrified) narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1996)
Highways: total: 38,000 km paved: 37,500 km (including 280 km of expressways) unpaved: 500 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 172 km on the Danube
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine: total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve Force (Home Guards), Civil Defense Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 1,478,729 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,130,482 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 45,919 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $436 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary is before the International Court of Justice; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property
Illicit drugs: minor, but increasing, transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish bound for Western Europe
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@Slovenia --------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 20,256 sq km land: 20,256 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,334 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: NA
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 and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 7% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
Environment--current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Environment--international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 1,970,570 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 163,816; female 155,509) 15-64 years: 70% (male 693,382; female 687,060) 65 years and over: 14% (male 99,121; female 171,682) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.36 years male: 71.71 years female: 79.21 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%
Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenije local short form: Slovenija
Data code: SI
Government type: parliamentary democratic republic
Capital: Ljubljana
Administrative divisions: 136 municipalities (obcine, singular--obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne, singular--obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Ziri, Zrece
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 November 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of vote--Milan KUCAN 56.3%, Janez PODOBNIK 18%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote--51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note--the numbers of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Assembly--last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held Fall 2000) election results: percent of vote by party--LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%, SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by party--LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note--seating as of January 1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1 note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly decisions; in the election of NA November 1997, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of 2002)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council; Constitutional Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dimitrij RUPEL chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Paul REID embassy: address NA, Ljubljana mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands
Economy
Economy--overview: Today, Slovenia exhibits one of the highest per capita GDPs of the transition economies of the region, fairly moderate inflation, and a comfortable level of international reserves. Slovenia received an invitation in 1997 to begin accession negotiations with the EU--a reflection of its sound economic footing. Slovenia must press on with privatization, enterprise restructuring, institution reform, and liberalization of financial markets, thereby creating conditions conducive to foreign investment and the maintenance of a stable tolar. Critical to the future success of the economy is the development of export sales in increasingly competitive international markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$20.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 24.5% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 857,400
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $8.48 billion expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $455 million (1996 est.)
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
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996)
Electricity--production: 12.075 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 34.58% hydro: 29.31% nuclear: 36.11% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 11.295 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.03 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.25 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods 45%, machinery and transport equipment 30%, chemicals 10%, food 3% (1997)
Exports--partners: Germany 29%, Italy 15%, Croatia 10%, France, Austria, US (1997)
Imports: $9.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 31%, manufactured goods 31%, chemicals 11%, fuels and lubricants, food (1997)
Imports--partners: Germany 21%, Italy 17%, France 10%, Austria 8%, Croatia 5%, Hungary, US (1997)
Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $5 million (1993)
Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins
Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1--162.50 (January 1999), 166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 691,240 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: 70% digital; full digitalization scheduled by 2000 international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0 note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast stations
Radios: 596,100 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 23 (consisting of 20 network stations and three private stations; there are also about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 454,400 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 489 km) (1998)
Highways: total: 14,830 km paved: 12,309 km (including 251 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,521 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km
Ports and harbors: Izola, Koper, Piran
Airports: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 530,182 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 421,864 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 15,294 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $272 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: significant progress has been made with Croatia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Italy and Slovenia made progress in resolving bilateral issues
Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe and for precursor chemicals
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@Solomon Islands ---------------
Introduction