Slovakia - Factors To Watch on March 23

...    
    FX RESERVES DATA 
    The central bank (NBS) will publish weekly foreign currency 
reserves data, 2 p.m. (1300 GMT). 
     
    SLOVAKIA MAY LAUNCH TENDER FOR NEW N-PLANT IN 2008 
    Slovakia will probably launch a tender to build one or two 
new nuclear reactor blocks next year to meet rising demand for 
power fuelled by an economic boom, Economy Minister Lubomir 
Jahnatek said on Thursday. 
    [ID:nL22448317] [RTRS-ENR-NUC-SK] 
     
    SLOVAKIA HOPES TO BUY BACK PIPELINE STAKE IN 2007 
    Slovakia hopes to extend an end-March deadline and reach a 
deal with bankrupt Russian oil firm YUKOS by the end of the year 
to buy back a 49 percent stake in pipeline operator Transpetrol, 
Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said. 
    [ID:nL22384759] [RTRS-ENR-OIL-CRU-SK] 
     
    SLOVAKIA FACES EU FINES DUE TO UTILITIES ROW 
    Slovakia will face heavy fines from the EU if it fails to 
divide assets of its three energy distributors by the end of 
June because of a dispute between foreign minority owners and 
the state, Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said on Thursday. 
    [ID:nL22498125] [RTRS-ELG-ELE-POL-SK] 
     
    SLOVAK RATE CUT SEEN IN MARCH AFTER CROWN JUMP 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) will probably cut interest 
rates at the monthly policy meeting next week after the crown's 
rise to record levels 
tightened monetary conditions, analysts said on Thursday. 
    [ID:nL22182827] [RTRS-FRX-MMT-DBT-CEN-INT-SK] 
     
    SLOVAK CROWN STEADY, SEEN CALM BEFORE CBANK MEETS 
    The Slovak crown drifted in a tight range against the euro 
on Thursday after a volatile ride earlier this week, and dealers 
said the unit was likely to stay calm ahead of the central 
bank's (NBS) policy meeting next week. 
    [ID:nL22324898] [RTRS-FRX-MMT-CEN-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    FICO BACKS JAHNATEK 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico said he saw no reason to dismiss 
Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek because of the minister's 
remarks that state companies should be able to account bribes if 
they are forced to pay them to get contracts. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE 
    Slovakia's junior government parties HZDS and SNS and their 
opposition SDKU and KDH are against independence of Serbia's 
province of Kosovo. Ruling coalition leaders should discuss the 
issue next week. 
    Sme, page 2 
     
    LAND EXPROPRIATION BILL 
    The leftist government of Robert Fico is mulling a new bill 
designed to speed up land expropriation due to strategic 
projects. It also plans to offer higher buy-out prices for land 
owners willing to reach a deal with the government. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    PALMA TUMYS TAKOVER 
    The Slovak private equity group Slavia Capital reached a 
deal to take over Palma-Tumys, the fourth biggest food processor 
in the country. A source told daily Pravda the deal was worth 
roughly 1.8 billion crowns ($325.8 million). 
    Pravda, page 9 
     
    For news on upcoming events in the United States and other 
Group of Seven countries, see . For a diary of 
forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a 
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY]. 
     
    News editor of the day: Peter Laca, on +421 2 5341 8402; 
fax: +421 2 5341 8403 
    E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk 
    Reuters Messaging: pater.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net 
     
 For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets: 
 Warsaw WIG20   Budapest BUX   Prague PX50  
 Other related news: 
 Slovak equities      [SK-E]  E.Europe equities           [.CEE] 
 Slovak money         [SK-M]  Czech debt                  [CZ-D] 
 Slovak Indicators  [SK-ECI]  Emerging forex          [EMRG/FRX] 
 Eastern European     [EEU]   All emerging markets        [EMRG] 
 Hot stocks           [HOT]   Stock markets                [STX] 
 Market debt news     [DBT]   Forex news                   [FRX] 
 TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets                         [TOP/EMRG] 
 TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch                        [TOP/EAST] 
 
  
 ($1=5.525 Crown)