[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 1 (Thursday, January 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SALUTE TO SLOVAK REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 3, 2013

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate our ally and 
friend, the Republic of slovakia, on her 20th anniversary of 
independence.
  In two brief decades, Slovakia has dramatically transitioned to an 
independent, democratic and economically viable free nation.
  As some of my colleagues may know, my great grandparents emigrated 
from Slovakia to the United States at the turn of the last century. 
Like so many others, my family was drawn to America by the promises of 
freedom and opportunity. My ancestors would be proud to see both the 
progress of America over that century and the positive development of 
the Slovak Republic in its 20 years of independence.
  For a millennia, the Slovak people were ruled or governed by others. 
After centuries of power shifts and realignments, in 1989, the Velvet 
Revolution brought down the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. 
Democracy came to that nation as formerly jailed dissident and 
political activist Vaclav Havel was elected to the presidency. However, 
the Slovak people's yearning for self-governance was not realized until 
1993.
  Following the peaceful separation of the Czech and Slovak Republics, 
January 1, 1993 marks the birth of the Second Slovak Republic. As fate 
would have it, days later I was sworn in as a Member of the U.S. House 
of Representatives. As one of the Members of Congress with Slovak 
ancestry, I have been proud to work with many who have been so 
successful in strengthening U.S.-Slovak relations and to aid in the 
political and economic development of the Slovak Republic.
  Like any new democracy, the Slovak Republic has experienced some 
growing pains. After President Michal Kovacs service as the first 
president, my good friend and former Kosice Mayor Rudolf Schuster was 
elected president after a constitutional amendment changed the 
presidency to a directly elected position. His successor is now 
President Ivan Gasparovic. I commend these and all the other Slovak 
leaders who have helped fashion a new era for their people.
  Even with many difficult challenges as a new nation, the Slovak 
Republic made outstanding progress over the last 20 years, and I am 
proud to have played a very small part in its history. In 2000, 
Slovakia became a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation 
and Development and in 2004, joined both NATO and the European Union. 
The Republic of Slovakia and its people continue to provide 
international leadership both in Europe and throughout the world.
  For the United States and the American people, we are fortunate to 
have such a strong ally and friend in the family of nations. So today 
we salute and congratulate the Slovak Republic on the special occasion 
of their 20th anniversary of independence. We wish them every continued 
future success as they mark this historic milestone.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Slovak Republic 
and look forward to peace and prosperity for both of our countries for 
decades to come.

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