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Slovenia: Countries
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Janez Drnovsek, Slovenia's prime minister for most of its 11 years of independence, was elected the country's president on December 1. Drnovsek, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Slovenia's largest, began his five-year term on December 23.
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Slovenia is situated on the sunny south side of the Alps and is bordered by Italy to the West, Austria to the North, Croatia and Hungary are ... neighbours to the South and East. The climate is alpine/Mediterranean, making the country an ideal location for holidays all year round. English is widely spoken, being taught as a second language throughout the schooling system.
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In June 1991, following various political upsets, including Serbian refusal to transfer the country’s rotating presidency to the Croatian representative, Slovenia and Croatia each declared independence from Yugoslavia. The Serb-dominated Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) sent forces to both republics in an attempt to secure Yugoslavia’s borders. In Slovenia a ten-day war ensued, in which Slovene forces defeated the JNA. The JNA’s defeat, perhaps coupled with fighting in Serbia’s closer neighbor, Croatia, allowed Slovenia quickly to secure true independence as well as international recognition as a separate republic. In January 1992 the European Community (now the European Union, or EU), led by Germany, acknowledged the independence of Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States acknowledged the countries’ independence in April.
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Slovenia is a high-income economy which enjoys the highest GDP per capita (US$21,567 in 2005) of the former Communist states of Europe. The country has a relatively high rate of inflation (3.6% in 2004) when compared to the European Union average, even though inflation is expected to decline in 2005 to 2.3%. Slovenia's economy grew impressively in 2004, by 4.6%, after relatively slow growth in 2003 (2.5%). Overall, the country is on a sound economic footing. However, much work remains to be done in the areas of privatisation and capital market reform.
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Slovenia may be the best-kept secret in Europe. Just half the size of Switzerland, the country is often treated as fly-over -- or drive-through -- territory by travelers heading to better-known places in Croatia or Italy. That's good news for anyone choosing Slovenia as a destination in its own right. It means fewer crowds -- even in the peak summer touring months -- fewer hassles, and in many ways a more authentic travel experience.
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As the most prosperous republic of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia emerged from its brief 10-day war of secession in 1991 as an independent nation for the first time in its history. Since that time, the country has made steady but cautious progress toward developing a market economy. Economic reforms introduced shortly after independence led to healthy economic growth. Despite the halting pace of reform and signs of slowing gross domestic product (GDP) growth today, Slovenes now enjoy the highest per capita income of all the transition economies of central Europe.
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