PRIME MINISTER OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO MALTA

The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, H.E. Mr Mikulas Dzurinda, accompanied by Mrs Dzurindova, will be paying an official visit to Malta between Monday, 18th and Tuesday,19th June, 2001. He will also be accompanied by the Slovak Minister of Health, H.E. Dr Roman Kovac and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Mr Jan Figel.

During his visit, the Slovak Prime Minister will have official talks with the Prime Minister, followed by a joint press conference with Prime Minister Fenech Adami at the Auberge de Castille.

The Slovak Prime Minister will call on The President. He will also meet the Leader of the Opposition and representatives of the business community and trade unions. A visit to the Malta External Trade Corporation is included in programme.

H.E. Dr Kovac, will be meeting the Minister of Health, the Hon Louis Deguara.

Mr Jan Figel will call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Joe Borg and meet with the Chairman of the EU Core Negotiating Group, Mr Richard Cachia Caruana.

DOI 13.06.2001

HIS EXCELLENCY MR MIKULAS DZURINDA

PRIME MINISTER OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

CURRICULUM VITAE

HE, Mr Mikulas Dzurinda, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic was born on February 4, 1955, in Spissky Stvrtok, in the Kosice region.

Mr Dzurinda received his university education at the University of Transport and Communications, Zilina (1974-1979). He finished his external science research student's post at the Traffic Economy Faculty in 1989 and gained the title of science candidate. In 1993 Dzurinda attended a six-week course at the Adam Smith Institute and at the Economical Relations in London.

Mr Dzurinda began his professional career at the Transport Research Institute in Zilina where he worked as a researcher from 1979-1980. From 1980 to 1988 he was an Information Technical Officer at the Czechoslovak Railways Regional Directorate, Bratislava. From 1988 he was the Head of the Automated Control Systems Department.

From 1991-1992, he was Deputy Minister for Transport and Postal Services, and from March 16 to December 13, 1994, he was the Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works.

Mr Dzurinda has been a member of the Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH), as the Vice-Chairman for the Economy since 1993. He was also the spokesman of the Democratic Coalition Party (SDK) from 1997 to 1998, and Chairman from 1998. From 1992 he has also been a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Mr Dzurinda is married and has two children. His leisure interests are sport and family.