OECD says Slovakia must pursue reforms

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development -- the OECD - has said that Slovakia needs to pursue deep structural reforms in the banking and financial sectors.

In a report released today Thursday, the OECD also says the Slovakian government must curb its fiscal deficit.

Slovakia wants to join the OECD as early as possible, but the BBC economics correspondent says the United States is opposing the move because of Slovakia's economic weaknesses.

The Slovak President, Rudolph Schuster, has accused the Americans of being motivated by political concerns.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service