Slovakia (original) (raw)

Slovakia (in Slovak: Slovensko), officially also called the Slovak Republic (in Slovak: Slovensk� republika), is a landlocked republic in Central Europe, bounded on the northwest by the Czech Republic, on the north by Poland, on the east by Ukraine, on the south by Hungary, and on the southwest by Austria.

Slovensk� Republika

History

Main article: History of Slovakia

Slovakia became a part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle Ages and as such was later part of Austria-Hungary prior to 1918. In that year Slovakia joined with the regions of Bohemia and neighbouring Moravia to form Czechoslovakia. Following the break-up of that country after the Munich Agreement of 1938, Slovakia became a separate republic that would be tightly controlled by Nazi Germany.

Post World War II Czechoslovakia was reinstated and came under the influence of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact from 1945 onward. The end of communist Czechoslovakia in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution also meant the end for Czechoslovakia as a whole and a creation of two successor states; Slovakia and the Czech Republic went their separate ways after January 1, 1993. Slovakia is expected to become a member of the European Union in May 2004.

See also: Bratislava - History, and History of Bratislava

Politics

Main article: Politics of Slovakia

The Slovak head of state is the president, elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term. Most executive power lies with the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the major party or a majority coalition in parliament and appointed by the president. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Slovakia's highest legislative body is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic (N�rodn� Rada Slovenskej Republiky). Delegates are elected for 4-year terms on the basis of proportional representation. Slovakia highest judicial body is the Constitutional Court (�stavn� s�d), which rules on constitutional issues. The 13 members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by parliament.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Slovakia

As for administrative division, Slovakia is subdivided into 8 "kraje" (singular - kraj, usually translated as regions, but actually meaning rather county), each of which is named after their principal city. As for territorial division and the definition of self-governing entities, since 2002, Slovakia is divided into 8 "vyššie �zemn� celky" abbr. V�C (Higher Territorial Units) and 8 "samospr�vne kraje" (Self-governing (or: autonomous) Regions), both of which are presently identical with the 8 "kraje":

• Banska Bystrica region (Banskobystrick� kraj) (see also Banska Bystrica)
• Bratislava region (Bratislavsk� kraj) (see also Bratislava)
• Kosice region (Košick� kraj) (see lalso Kosice)
• Nitra region (Nitriansky kraj) (see also Nitra)
• Presov region (Prešovsk� kraj) (see also Presov)
• Trencin region (Trenčiansky kraj) (see also Trencin)
• Trnava region (Trnavsk� kraj) (see also Trnava)
• Zilina region (Žilinsk� kraj) (see also Zilina)

(the word "kraj" can be replaced by "V�C" or "samospr�vny kraj" in each case)

The "kraje" are - and have always been - subdivided into many "okresy" (singular - okres, usually translated as districts)

See also: List of traditional regions of Slovakia

Geography

Main article: Geography of Slovakia

The Slovak landscape is noted primarily for its mountainous nature, with the Carpathian Mountains extending across most of the northern half of the country. Amongst them are the high peaks of the Tatra mountains, which are a popular skiing destination and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the Gerlachovsk� at 2,655 m. Lowlands are found in the southwestern (along the Danube) and southeastern parts of Slovakia. Major Slovak rivers, besides the Danube, are the V�h and the Hron.

The Slovak climate is temperate, with relatively cool summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Slovakia

Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The Dzurinda government made progress in 2001 in macroeconomic stabilisation and structural reform. Major privatisations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in the early 2000's, despite recession in key export markets.

Revival of domestic demand in 2002, partly due to a rise in real wages, offset slowing export growth to help drive the economy to its strongest expansion since 1998.Solid domestic demand boosted economic growth to 4.4% in 2002. Strong export growth,in turn, will boost economic growth to about 4% in 2003. Unemployment, rising to 19.8% at the end of 2001, decreased considerably in 2003. Slovakia will become a member of the European Union in May 2004.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Slovakia

The majority of the inhabitants of the Slovak Republic are ethnically Slovak (86%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (10%) and are concentrated in the southern and eastern regions of Slovakia.
Other ethnic groups include Roma, Czechs, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Germanss, and Poles.

The Slovak constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (69%) practice Roman Catholicism; the second-largest group are Protestants (9%). About 2,300 Jews remain of the estimated pre-WWII population of 120,000. The official state language is Slovak, a member of the Slavic languages, but Hungarian is also widely spoken in the south and enjoys a co-official status in some regions.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Slovakia

• Music of Slovakia

Holidays

see also:

Remembrance days in Slovakia

National Holidays (as of 2003)

Miscellaneous topics

• List of famous Slovaks
• History of Ice Hockey in Slovakia
• List of traditional regions of Slovakia
• List of towns in Slovakia
• Communications in Slovakia
• Transportation in Slovakia
• Military of Slovakia
• Foreign relations of Slovakia
• Education in Slovakia

External Links

• Slovakia.org - Official Slovak portal
• The Slovak Republic Government Office - Official governmental site
• President - Official presidential site (in Slovak)
• N�rodn� Rada - Official parliamentary site
• [1] - What is the difference between Slovakia and Slovenia

European Union:
Austria | Belgium | Denmark | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Ireland
Italy | Luxembourg | Netherlands | Portugal | Spain | Sweden | United Kingdom

Countries acceding to membership on May 1, 2004:
Cyprus | Czech Republic | Estonia | Hungary | Latvia | Lithuania | Malta | Poland | Slovakia | Slovenia

Countries of the world | Europe | Council of Europe

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