[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CONSULATE OF THE SLOVAK 
                        REPUBLIC IN KANSAS CITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 17, 2001

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
historic October 18 opening of the Consulate of the Slovak Republic in 
Missouri's Fifth District. Mr. Ross Marine, the Honorary Consul of the 
Slovak Republic to the States of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, 
will receive the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, the Honorable H.E. 
Martin Butora, and his wife Zora Butorova.
  The Consulate will serve to promote cultural, economic, and 
educational partnerships between the United States and the Slovak 
Republic. The Honorary Consul will encourage our expanding community of 
Slovaks to celebrate their heritage and culture, thus increasing 
awareness of the diversity of Kansas City's ethnic communities.
  Eduard Kukan, the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, appointed 
Honorary Consul Marine to the post in September of 2000. The United 
States Department of State granted Honorary Consul Marine approval to 
establish the Consulate in Kansas City. Honorary Consul Marine brings 
an impressive background of civic, community, and health care service 
to the position.
  Kansas City has a history of partnership with Slovakia. Slovaks 
established their first community in Kansas City around 1900. Many of 
them fled the then Austro-Hungarian Empire in search of economic 
security and better lives for their families. Their hard work led to 
the growth of the city's meat packing industry due to the agricultural 
background of many of these immigrants. Today, descendents of these 
Slovak immigrants continue to contribute to the fifth district's 
economic livelihood and cultural soul. The community keeps their roots 
alive by participating in the city's ethnic cultural folk festivals 
performing traditional dances such as the polka, the kola, and the 
paterka. The premier Slavic Festival in the Midwest, the Sugar Creek 
Slavic Festival, is an annual June event drawing Slovak musicians and 
dancers from all over the region. This celebration is always a great 
success since its inception 16 years ago. Representative of the ethnic 
community in Sugar Creek, Missouri, Mayor Stan Salva proudly traces his 
roots back to Slovakia, as do many residents of his city.
  From 1996 to 1998 Truman Medical Center Corporation, the Missouri 
Department of Health, the Missouri Hospital Association, and Hope 
House, a women's shelter in Independence, Missouri, joined together to 
focus on domestic violence and youth drug abuse in Petrzalka, Slovakia, 
a district of the nation's capital city Bratislava. These Missouri 
institutions donated nearly $200,000 to study the problems and create 
solutions including several media campaigns to inform citizens, to 
establish a domestic violence center, and to hold many anti-drug 
forums.
  Since its independence on January 1, 1993 as a result of the Velvet 
Revolution, Slovakia has existed under a democratic government. The new 
Constitution provides for the same liberties we enjoy in America 
including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of 
assembly. Slovakia has made continued progress in the difficult 
transition from communism to a market based economy. More than 85 
percent of the country's GDP is the result of private enterprise. 
Slovakia's social reform and economic prosperity will continue to 
expand in the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming Ambassador Butora and 
congratulating Honorary Consul Marine as they officially open the 
Consulate of the Slovak Republic in my district.




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