The Claimant in this case is the Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S. (CSOB), a commercial bank organized under Czech law; the Respondent is the Slovak Republic. Claimant filed its “Request for Arbitration” with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID or Center) on April 18, 1997, charging Respondent with a breach of the “Agreement on the Basic Principles of a Financial Consolidation of Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.” (Consolidation Agreement), which was concluded on December 19, 1993 by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, and CSOB. Claimant alleged that the breach consisted in the failure of the Slovak Republic to cover the losses incurred by the Slovenska inkasni spol. s.r.o (Slovak Collection Company), as agreed to in the Consolidation Agreement. It seeks fulfillment by Respondent of its obligations under the Consolidation Agreement and damages for the losses sustained, plus costs. The request was registered by the Centre on April 25, 1997.