Pro-European Rudolf Schuster’s election as president of the Slovak Republic has been welcomed by the EU

Date: 03/06/1999

In a joint statement, Union governments said Schuster's election would reinforce the institutional stability which Slovakia needed to carry out a rigorous reform policy. By electing a new president, Slovakia has complied with one of the political criteria which prevented it from being invited to start negotiations on EU membership last December. Schuster beat former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar in the election run-off by winning 57&percent; of the vote.