Minister of Finance Jan Pociatek of Slovakia

However, he also said Pociatek had behaved unethically by having a social meeting with a private investor the weekend before the crown's revaluation, and that he would take that into account when considering his response to the resignation offer.

However, Pociatek said he had made a mistake by attending a party organised by a private equity investor on a yacht in Monaco the weekend before the revaluation.

Minister Pociatek denies any coordinated procedure with Vitek.

Pociatek said the fears were largely unfounded, but had to be taken seriously.

English (en)franais (fr)Deutsch (de)E-mailPrintFocusBoard of GovernorsJn Pociatek, new Governor for SlovakiaDate:12/07/2006Following the Slovak elections, Mr Jn Pociatek has been appointed Minister of Finance.

Slovak media have reported that Pociatek had advanced knowledge of the revaluation of the koruna to the euro, which took place in May The change was anticipated by the market and strongly lobbied for by the Slovak government, and saw the euro's exchange rate against the koruna decrease by 17.

Pociatek has denied wrongdoing in the TIPOS case and Prime Minister Robert Fico defended him in parliament in the debate before the vote.

Several days before the new rate was announced, Pociatek met representatives of one of the groups, JT, on a yacht inMonaco.

I am an optimist about our euro zone entry," Pociatek said after handing in the assessment request to the European Union executive arm and the European Central Bank at a meeting of EU finance minister and central bankers in Slovenia.

Daily Plus Jeden Den reported this week Pociatek was seen on board a yacht belonging to the head of the JT private equity fund at the end of May, four days before the revaluation of the Slovak crown's parity rate to the euro.

Slovak media have reported that Pociatek had advanced knowledge of the revaluation of the koruna to the euro, which took place in May, and illegally passed that knowledge on to investors in the currency market.

Finance Minister Jan Pociatek said at the same press conference the euro would act as a protective shield for Slovakia amid the global financial crisis.

Finance Minister Jan Pociatek said the switch to the euro will boost Slovakia's annual economic growth rate by one percentage point.

SLOVAKIA - JAN POCIATEKJan Pociatek is a close ally of Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, and has shaped a relatively orthodox economic policy despite the government's populist rhetoric.

He ran into trouble when he sailed on a Mediterranean yacht on a trip organised by a private equity group accused of profiting from currency speculation before the koruna was revalued against the euro in May Mr Pociatek denied wrongdoing but apologised and was allowed to stay on by Mr Fico.

Finance Minister Jan Pociatek said the euro would act as a protective shield for Slovakia amid the global financial crisis.