The corruption watchdog Transparency International ranked Slovakia 52nd out of 102 countries in its 2003 index measuring how corrupt each nation is perceived to be.
Slovakia tied for the position with the neighbouring Czech Republic, Lithuania and Morocco.
Another Transparency survey found that 80 per cent of Slovak respondents said that either all or most public officials were corrupt, the fourth highest result of the 10 countries applying for entry to the EU.
Slovaks have long expressed the belief in surveys that corruption is most common in the health sector, the courts and among police.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
