Review of Slovene Economy from 10 to 16 March

Ljubljana, 16 March - President of Slovene Government Janez Drnovšek presented Thursday Slovene application for the membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to OECD Secretary General Jean-Claude Paye. After the talks with Paye, Drnovšek addressed the OECD Council. Slovenia is a state which managed, shortly after the disintegration of former Yugoslavia, to stabilize its economy, compensate for the markets lost in former Yugoslavia, and achieved economic growth (4.8 percent in 1995). It declared monetary independence and achieved the international convertibility of its currency. The public debt being lower than 20 percent, Slovenia is ranked near the top of list of developed countries, while the gross domestic product reached in 1995 9000 US dollars, said Drnovšek. He added the relations with OECD were of key import for Slovenia; its goal is to become a full member of this organization. Given its achievements in the field of economic transition, Slovenia is of the opinion that its desire for a greater institutionalization of relations and final achievement of full membership is utterly justified, said Prime Minister Drnovšek.