Promoting friendship between the United States and Slovakia since 2001

Lecture by Dr. Carol Skalnik Leff on Slovakia in 1968

Dr. Leff gave a talk on April 21 about the Warsaw Pact invasion of 1968 and the impact of Czechoslovak institutional relations. She discussed the federalization that survived the Prague Spring and how it influenced events in 1989 and the Velvet Divorce. Dr. Leff also talked about the roles of Dubček, Husák, and Biľak in […]

Velvet Revolution and Velvet Divorce Examined

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 […]

FOS Salutes Ambassador Kmec

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 […]

Lecture on Slovakia’s “Borders on the Move” Delivered At The Embassy

“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 […]

Slovak Ambassador to USA Ivan Korčok Receives Transatlantic Award

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 […]

Amb. Rastislav Káčer Attends A Roundtable To Review Trends in Central Europe

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 […]

Prestigious Annual Freedom Lecture Delivered by Slovak Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda

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 […]

Celebrating 100 Years Of The Slovak-American Ties

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 […]

Passing of former Amb. Branislav Lichardus

Friends of Slovakia mourn the passing of former Amb. Branislav Lichardus, on February 8 at the age of 88.  Dr. Lichardus, a noted medical doctor and researcher, became the first Slovak ambassador to the U.S. following Slovakia’s independence in 1993.  He served successfully in Washington from 1994-1998, a particularly challenging time for the U.S. – […]

Golden Medal of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic awarded to Amb. Theodore Russell and Joseph Senko

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák has selected Friends of Slovakia (FOS) Founding Chairman, Amb. Theodore Russell, and  Board Chairman, Joseph Senko to receive the prestigious Golden Medal of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.  The medals were presented to the two recipients on February 15, 2019 by Slovak Ambassador Ivan […]