News
FOS Events & News
Friends of Slovakia Co-Hosts the Inaugural SlovakPRO Summit in New York!
Friends of Slovakia co-hosted the inaugural SlovakPro Summit in New York City on September 19, 2023. This historic event brought together a group of accomplished Slovaks from business, science, academia, arts, and technology. The summit was organized under the patronage of Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová by SlovakPRO in collaboration with the Consulate General of the […]
19
Sep
2023
By Friends of Slovakia
networking
FOS Co-Sponsors Washington-Area Performance by Slovak Theater Ensemble Túlavé divadlo
Friends of Slovakia partnered with the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C. to cosponsor the only Washington-area performance of the Slovak Theater Ensemble Túlavé divadlo (“Wandering Theater”) during its recent U.S. tour. The performance of Hana and Matúš – Literature Lessons took place on October 13, 2022, at the […]
13
Oct
2022
By Friends of Slovakia
Announcement
Third FOS Student Summit Concludes with Discussion of Ukraine War
Written by Dr. Elizabeth Guran, FOS Board Member The Ukraine War and its impact on democratic societies was the topic of the final Student Summit sponsored by Friends of Slovakia and its partners at Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Over 60 students from Matej Bel University, […]
22
Apr
2022
By Friends of Slovakia
webinar
FOS Ready to Launch Its Third Student Summit on Challenges of Democracy
The Friends of Slovakia (FOS) International Student Summits are off and running! Two successful virtual summits were held in 2021 and a third summit will occur in April 2022. All three events address the theme, “Challenges of Democracy.” The students, faculty, and expert guest speakers from past summits have all participated virtually due to covid-19 restrictions and will continue to do so for the third Student Summit.
17
Mar
2022
By Thomas W. Skladony
webinar
FOS Statement on the Ukraine Crisis
Friends of Slovakia expresses its full support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for the freedom and democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people. We strongly condemn Russia’s unjustified military invasion of Ukraine and support current and future actions by the United States, the European Union, and international institutions to hold Russia’s […]
25
Feb
2022
By Friends of Slovakia
webinar
In the Same Boat: Slovakia, the European Union, and the United States in the Pandemic Year
FOS Board of Advisors member and Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Dr. Pavol Demeš gave the Annual Thomas Kukucka Lecture at the University of Pittsburgh as a part of the Slovak Studies Program.
11
Apr
2021
By Thomas W. Skladony
webinar
75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War
“In our self-absorption over contemporary assaults on our freedom — political and medical — we in the United States seem to have entirely overlooked this seminal event which continues to shape our lives today. We should never forget the core lessons from that time — the importance of allies who share our values and the […]
08
May
2020
By Friends of Slovakia
Anniversary
The Velvet Revolution: Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom (1989 – 2019)
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 had a significant impact on Eastern Europe’s political scene. In Czechoslovakia, the Communist regime was replaced by a democratic revolution, which was led by student movements and dissidents. November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a non-violent transition of power with demonstrations against the […]
01
May
2019
By Friends of Slovakia
webinar
A Multi-Generational Saga Of A Slovak Family
A Country Lost, Then Found by Rick Zednik is a touching account of his Slovak family, with a special focus on his father, Juraj “Jay” Zednik. Jay was lucky to be out of Czechoslovakia when the Warsaw Pact troops invaded in 1968. He sought asylum in West Germany and eventually settled in the US, where […]
01
Feb
2013
By Friends of Slovakia
presentation
“My Slovakia-My Family” by John Palka
John Palka, scion of one of the most distinguished families in the history of Slovakia, has written a masterful account of Slovakia’s history. The Hodža and Palka families played a significant role in Slovakia’s history. John Palka’s mother was the daughter of Milan Hodža, the last prime minister of interwar Czechoslovakia. Mr. Palka attended the […]
10
Dec
2012
By Friends of Slovakia
presentation