Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Aug 23

...CHANGES 
    The largest opposition party SDKU will hold a news 
conference on government changes to the pension system, 0800 GMT 
     
    GOVERNMENT BACKS DISPUTED PENSION CHANGES 
    The Slovak government approved on Wednesday a draft law 
designed to change the pension system and free more funds for 
the state as the cabinet tries to balance bigger welfare 
spending with euro adoption ambitions. 
    [ID:nL22885291] [RTRS-POL=-GVD-DBT-SK] 
     
    GOVT APPROVES HIGHER TOBACCO TAX FROM 2008 
    The Slovak government on Wednesday approved a rise in excise 
taxes on tobacco products from next year to comply with EU norms 
in a move that will  increase state revenues in coming years. 
    [ID:nL223595] [RTRS-POL-TAX-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    ENERGY PRICES 
    Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said energy prices were 
likely to remain flat in 2008. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    VIENNA EYES BRATISLAVA AIRPORT 
    Vienna airport is still interested in cooperation with 
Slovakia's largest airport in Bratislava, its management 
company, Flughafen Wien , said. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    REAL ESTATE PRICE RISE 
    The Slovak central bank (NBS) said real estate prices showed 
an annual increase of 20 percent in the first half of the year, 
in terms of square metres, which was the biggest rise since 
2002. 
    Pravda, page 1 
     
    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=25.08 Slovak Crown) 
  

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]