20/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - After his second-round election on 18 April, the new Slovakian centre-left President, Ivan Gasparovic, has declared that he will work together with the centre-right Dzurinda government for Slovakia's integration into the European Union. Mr Gasparovic was the surprise victor over former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, whose nationalist policies plunged Slovakia into isolation during the 1990s. Mr Gasparovic, who was President of the Slovakian Parliament under the Meciar government, led an electoral campaign against the economic and social reforms of the current government, but after his election, he indicated that he felt he could work with Prime Minister Dzurinda. Mr Gasparovic takes over from President Rudolf Schuster, who was knocked out in the first round of presidential elections.