Slovakia - Factors To Watch on May 25

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FICO SPEECH

Prime Minister Robert Fico will address a meeting of EU parliament speakers in Bratislava, 0730 GMT.

FICO AT VOLKSWAGEN

Prime Minister Robert Fico will attend a ceremony at the Volkswagen car assembly plant in Bratislava, 0945 GMT.

SOCIAL MINISTER ON EURO

Socials Affairs Minister Viera Tomanova will hold a news conference on social impact of euro adoption.

CURRENCY RESERVES

The central bank will publish its weekly foreign currency reserves.

INEKO PRESENTATION

Independent think-tank Ineko will hold a news conference on government budget goals, 0830 GMT.

CROWN TESTS SUPPORT, REGIONAL MOOD IN FOCUS

The Slovak crown fell briefly through the 33.850 per euro support level to a one-month low on Thursday, as softer regional mood continued to guide the unit ahead of the central bank's May 29 policy meeting, traders said.

[ID:nL24227772] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

OECD COMMENTS ON CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEMBERS

Slovakia is set to remain central Europe's growth champion, expanding by almost 9 percent this year, the OECD said on Thursday.

[ID:nL24125413] [RTRS-MCE-EUROPE-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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KOSOVO CASE

The Slovak government will back the UN resolution on the Kosovo independence status, but it fears ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia or other countries could use this as a precedence for their independence calls in the future.

Pravda, page 1

SLOTA BACKS DOWN

The leader of a junior coalition member, the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), Jan Slota, has backed down from a demand of more government seats. Slota said he had been misinterpreted by the media, and that any revision of the ruling coalition pact was currently not on the agenda.

Pravda, page 1

NO EXTRA DIVIDENDS

The National Property Fund (FNM), the state privatisation agency, said it would not seek extra dividend payments after the unboundling process at the three electricity distributors.

Sme, page 7

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: peter.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=24.91 Slovak Crown)

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]