[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11999]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING AMBASSADOR RASTISLAV KACER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2005

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Rastislav Kacer, 
the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the United States and welcome 
him to the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. Ambassador Kacer 
has the distinct honor of representing one of America's closest allies. 
This new democracy dates back to 1993 when Slovakia peacefully seceded 
from Czechoslovakia in what has become known as the ``Velvet Divorce.'' 
Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, the Slovak Republic has fought 
by our side, joining the United States under flags of red, white and 
blue.
  Ambassador Kacer's legacy is entrenched in his efforts to promote the 
Slovak Republic's stature in the world and at home. He served as 
Director General of the Division of International Organizations and 
Security Policy at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As State 
Secretary with the Ministry of Defense, he was instrumental in 
obtaining full membership for the Slovak Republic in NATO and the 
European Union. He was appointed Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to 
the United States in July 2003 and on September 8, 2003 was named 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to 
the United States of America.
  During his first visit to the Fifth Congressional District of 
Missouri, the Ambassador will participate in the 20th Anniversary of 
the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival promoting our country's rich Slavic 
heritage. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich 
traditions and cultural customs of the beautiful mountainous region now 
known as the Slovak Republic. The festival will feature ethnic dancing, 
including the polka, folk singing, and Slovakian music.
  The Ambassador's agenda includes meetings with civic, business and 
community leaders, fostering new partnerships and renewing old 
initiatives. They will explore trade and cultural exchange between the 
heartland of the United States and the geographic heart of Europe, the 
Slovak Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, please join with me in expressing our appreciation to 
Ambassador Rastislav Kacer and the Slovak Republic. This new democratic 
republic has gained world-wide stature through membership in NATO and 
continues to grow in world recognition as they preserve their identity 
through culture and heritage. In Sugar Creek, and all around Missouri's 
Fifth Congressional District, Slovakian immigrants celebrate their 
roots with new generations, linking America's heartland to the heart of 
Europe. By preserving our past, we will foster an understanding for the 
future. I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to the 
Slovak Republic and its Ambassador, Rastislav Kacer.

                          ____________________