NEWS

The Friends of Slovakia, together with The Embassy of the Slovak Republic to the United States, The American Friends of the Czech Republic, and The Embassy of the Czech Republic to the United States, co-organized the 2024 Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture on November 14th in Washington, DC, hosted by the Hudson Institute. Titled “The […]

On November 14, 2024, the Hudson Institute, in partnership with the Friends of Slovakia, American Friends of the Czech Republic (AFOCR) and the Embassies of the Czech and Slovak Republics, hosted the 25th annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture. Titled “The Future: On Energy, Change, Innovation, and Democracy,” the lecture featured Senator Miroslav Bárta, a […]

Just three days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Jana Rajcová, a Bratislava-based photographer, felt compelled to use her documentary photography skills to make a difference. FOS is sponsoring the project’s first solo US exhibition at the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids. The exhibit opens on September 19, 2024 and will run through January 26, 2025, marking a significant milestone in Rajcová’s journey as she brings her perspective on Ukrainian refugees to the American Midwest.

Slovakia is celebrating two significant anniversaries this year. It has been 100 years since the establishment of Czechoslovakia and 25 years since the existence of the Slovak Republic. These historic milestones are the result of a strong and friendly relationship between our countries and people. We will always be grateful for the contribution of Slovak […]

Friends of Slovakia invited former Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda to present the 2018 Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture at the Woodrow  Wilson  Center. The lecture was entitled “Miracles in the Heart of Europe.” The transcript of the former Prime Minister’s optimistic and visionary presentation is below. FOS hopes you will enjoy it as much […]

Mikuláš Dzurinda, former Slovak Prime Minister (1998-2006) delivered the 2018 Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture on November 16, 2018. This lecture was entitled “Miracles in the Heart of Europe,” celebrating the governmental reforms that enabled Slovakia to enter NATO and the European Union in 2004. 

The German Marshall Fund organized a roundtable discussion on September 21, 2018, in Washington, DC, titled “Trends in Central Europe: Addressing Liberal Democracy.” The former Slovak Ambassador to the U.S., Rastislav Káčer, who served from 2003-2008, was the main speaker at the event. Currently, Amb. Káčer is the Chairman of GLOBSEC, a non-governmental organization that […]

The Friends of Slovakia (FOS) recently had the pleasure of sponsoring the CEPA Forum, hosted by the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group. This gathering brought together experts to discuss important security matters affecting Central Europe, NATO, and Transatlantic cooperation. Notable attendees included Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák and Slovak Ambassador to Washington Ivan Korčok, […]

The Slovak American Society of Washington, D.C. andFriends of Slovakia present:  “The American Formation of Czecho-Slovakia: the Cleveland Agreement and the Pittsburgh Pact” by Prof. Gregory C. Ference, Salisbury University   Saturday, September 29th, 2:00 pmColumbia Pike Branch Library816 South Walter Reed Dr.Arlington, VA     Admission is free, but RSVP is required, by 11 pm, Wednesday, […]

Ivan Korčok, the Slovak Ambassador to the USA, was awarded the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award at the NATO Days in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on September 16, 2018. Ian Brzezinski, son of US foreign policy legend Zbigniew Brzezinski, presented the award to Amb. Korčok in recognition of his many years of efforts in supporting transatlantic […]

“Borders on the Move: A Look at Southern Slovakia’s Tumultuous 20th Century” was the subject of an evening lecture at the Slovak Embassy on June 15 sponsored by Friends of Slovakia and the Slovak American Society of Washington DC (SASW). Professor Leslie J. Waters of Randolph-Macon College addressed a full house audience of SASW and […]

On May 19, Slovak Ambassador to Washington Peter Kmec was honored at a farewell reception hosted by FOS Treasurer Dr. Eva Jenkins and her husband Robert. The event was held at their home in Great Falls with 40 guests attending, including members of FOS and the Slovak American Society of Washington. The guests enjoyed American […]

On May 4th, Ambassador Ted Russell (Ret.) spoke at the Slovak Embassy about his experiences as Deputy Chief of Mission in Czechoslovakia during and after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. He also spoke about his role as the first U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia after the 1993 Velvet Divorce. During his speech, he discussed the involvement of […]