Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman;
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX,
chairman; note - KDS was to merge with ODS in March 1996
opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos
ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Jaroslav ORTMAN,
chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav
GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition),
Frantisek TRNKA, chairman, note - may not still be in existence;
Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), Vavrinec
BODENLOS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Union (CMUS - center
party), Jan JEGLA, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC -
right radical), Miroslav SLADEK, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber of
Trade Unions; Civic Movement

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330
telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847
FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to
the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Economy
-------

Economic overview: The Czech Republic, which separated from
Slovakia on 1 January 1993, emerged from recession with 2.6% growth
in 1994 and 5% growth in 1995. Inflation in 1994-95 was cut in half;
unemployment was kept at about 3%; the budget was balanced; and
exports were reoriented to the EU. Prague's mass privatization
program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares
to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid
progr