Consulate

After centuries of foreign domination, mainly by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Czechoslovakia came to exist at the end of World War I. The strong lobbying of the Czechs and Slovaks in the United States played an important part in the formation of the new country. The Cleveland and the Pittsburgh Agreement signed in 1918, by the leaders of the Czechs and Slovaks in America, was the final step in the birth of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.

At the end of World War II, Czechoslovakia was aligned with the Iron Curtain block and remained under the communist regime unti11989. The Slovaks yearning for self rule, became independent in 1993. This was accomplished peacefully in what is known as the Velvet Divorce.

Official Name	Slovak Republic
Location	Central Europe
Population	Approximately 5 ½ million
Area	Size of West Virginia or New Hampshire
Terrain	Rugged mountains in central and north; low lands in south
Climate	Mild summers, cold winters
Boundaries	Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria (land-locked)
Official Language	Slovak
Nationality	85.6% Slovak, 10.8% Hungarian
Religion	60.4% Roman Catholic; 6.2% Evangelical Lutheran; 3.4% Greek Catholic; 1.6% Calvinist; .7% Russian Orthodox
Transportation	Airports = 10 (2 International); Railway = good
Capital	Bratislava (450,000 population)
Other Cities	Kosice = 242,000 Presov = 93,000 Nitra = 88,000 Zilina = 87,000 Banska Bystrica = 85,000 Trnava = 70,000 Martin = 61,000 Trencin = 59,000
Government	---1999 Constitution = President (Head of State) elected by popular vote (2-5 yr. terms) Ivan Gasparovic ---Parliament = 150 members ---Prime Minister (appointed by Parliament) Robert Fico
Holidays	JAN 1 -Independece Day JAN 6 -Epiphany MAY 1 -Labor Day MAY 8 -End of World War II JULY 5 -St. Cyril & St. Methodius Day AUG 29 -Slovak National Uprising Day SEP 1- Slovak Constitution Day SEP 15 - The Day of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows NOV 1 -All Saints Day NOV 17 - Day of the Fight for Freedom and Democracy DEC 24 - Christmas Eve DEC 26 -St. Stephen´s Day
Currency	Crown
Education	18 universities; 500 high schools
Wages	Average monthly = 20,000 crowns
Unemployment rate	8.5%
Inflation	3.5%
Historic Sites	219 castles; 20 spas; 3 UNESCO sites