--- title: Slovakia — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 3 description: Wikipedia's «Slovakia», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Slovakia # Slovakia · page 3 From Wikipedia, [«Slovakia»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/7/) On 18 October 1918, [Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomáš_Garrigue_Masaryk), [Milan Rastislav Štefánik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Rastislav_Štefánik) and [Edvard Beneš](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Beneš) declared in [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.) [corpus](../../../Washington,_D.C./ "in our corpus") the [independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_declaration_of_independence) for the territories of [Bohemia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Bohemia), [Moravia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margraviate_of_Moravia), [Silesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silesia), [Upper Hungary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Hungary) and [Carpathian Ruthenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_Ruthenia) from the [Austro-Hungarian Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Empire) and proclaimed a common state, [Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Czechoslovak_Republic).[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") During the chaos following the break-up of Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia was formed with numerous [Czechs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechs), [Germans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_people), [Slovaks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovaks), [Hungarians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarians) and [Ruthenians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenians).[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") The borders were set by the [Treaty of Saint Germain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Saint-Germain-en-Laye_%281919%29) in 1919 and [Treaty of Trianon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Trianon) in 1920.[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") By the treaties following the World War I, Czechoslovakia emerged as a sovereign European state.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") During the [Interwar period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interwar_period), democratic Czechoslovakia was allied with France, and also with [Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania) [corpus](../../../Romania/ "in our corpus") and [Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia) ([Little Entente](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Entente)); however, the [Locarno Treaties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locarno_Treaties) of 1925 left East European security open.[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") Both Czechs and Slovaks enjoyed a period of relative prosperity.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") There was progress in not only the development of the country's economy but also culture and educational opportunities.[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet the [Great Depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression) caused a sharp economic downturn, followed by political disruption and insecurity in Europe.[\[62\]](../../page/7/#ref-62 "note 62")[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1930s, Czechoslovakia came under continuous pressure from the [revanchist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revanchism) governments of Germany, Hungary and Poland who used the aggrieved minorities in the country as a useful vehicle.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") Revision of the borders was called for, as Czechs constituted only 43% of the population.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") Eventually, this pressure led to the [Munich Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement) of September 1938, which allowed the majority ethnic Germans in the [Sudetenland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudetenland), borderlands of Czechoslovakia, to join with Germany.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") The remaining minorities stepped up their pressures for autonomy and the State became federalised, with Diets in Slovakia and Ruthenia.[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") The remainder of Czechoslovakia was renamed Czecho-Slovakia and promised a greater degree of Slovak political autonomy.[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") This, however, failed to materialise.[\[63\]](../../page/7/#ref-63 "note 63")[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") Parts of southern and eastern Slovakia were also reclaimed by Hungary at the [First Vienna Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vienna_Award) of November 1938.[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Fascist regime during World War II (1939–1945) Main article: [Slovak Republic (1939–1945)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Republic_%281939–1945%29), [Slovakia during World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia_during_World_War_II), [Slovak National Uprising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_National_Uprising) See also: [Occupation of Czechoslovakia (1938–1945)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Czechoslovakia_%281938–1945%29), [Czechoslovak government-in-exile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_government-in-exile), [Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectorate_of_Bohemia_and_Moravia) After the [Munich Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement) and its [Vienna Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Award), [Nazi Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany) threatened to annex part of Slovakia and allow the remaining regions to be partitioned by Hungary or Poland unless independence was declared.[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, Slovakia seceded from [Czecho-Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Czechoslovak_Republic) in March 1939 and allied itself, as demanded by Germany, with [Hitler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler)'s coalition.[\[64\]](../../page/7/#ref-64 "note 64")[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") Secession had created the first Slovak state in history.[\[65\]](../../page/7/#ref-65 "note 65")[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") A [one-party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-party_state) [clerical fascist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_fascism) [Slovak Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Republic_%281939–1945%29) governed by the far-right [Hlinka's Slovak People's Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_People%27s_Party) was led by President [Jozef Tiso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jozef_Tiso) and Prime Minister [Vojtech Tuka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vojtech_Tuka).[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") The (First) Slovak Republic is primarily known for its [collaboration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborationism) with Nazi Germany, which included sending troops to the [invasion of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_invasion_of_Poland) in [September 1939](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_Campaign) and the [Soviet Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barbarossa) in 1941.[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") On 24 November 1940, Slovakia joined the [Axis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers) when its leaders signed the [Tripartite Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact).[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") The country was strongly influenced by Germany and gradually became a [puppet regime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_state) in many respects.[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile, the [Czechoslovak government-in-exile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_government-in-exile) sought to reverse the [Munich Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement) and the subsequent [German occupation of Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Czechoslovakia) and to return the Republic to its 1937 boundaries.[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") The government operated from [London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London) [corpus](../../../London/ "in our corpus") and it was ultimately considered, by those countries that recognised it, the legitimate government for [Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia) throughout the Second World War.[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") The [local Jewish population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Slovakia) was heavily persecuted.[\[66\]](../../page/7/#ref-66 "note 66")[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") As part of the [Holocaust in Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_in_Slovakia), 75,000 Jews out of 80,000 who remained on Slovak territory after Hungary had seized southern regions were deported and taken to German [death camps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_camps).[\[67\]](../../page/7/#ref-67 "note 67")[\[68\]](../../page/7/#ref-68 "note 68")[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") Thousands of Jews, Gypsies and other politically undesirable people remained in Slovak forced labour camps in [Sereď](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sereď_concentration_camp), Vyhne, and Nováky.[\[69\]](../../page/7/#ref-69 "note 69")[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") Tiso, through the granting of presidential exceptions, allowed between 1,000 and 4,000 people crucial to the war economy to avoid deportations.[\[70\]](../../page/7/#ref-70 "note 70")[188](../../188/ "tree and pragmatics") Under Tiso's government and Hungarian occupation, the vast majority of Slovakia's pre-war Jewish population (between 75,000 and 105,000 individuals including those who perished from the occupied territory) were murdered.[\[71\]](../../page/7/#ref-71 "note 71")[\[72\]](../../page/7/#ref-72 "note 72")[189](../../189/ "tree and pragmatics") The Slovak state paid Germany 500 [RM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsmark) per every deported Jew for "retraining and accommodation" (a similar but smaller payment of 30 RM was paid by [Croatia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_State_of_Croatia)).[\[73\]](../../page/7/#ref-73 "note 73")[190](../../190/ "tree and pragmatics") After it became clear that the Soviet [Red Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army) was going to push the Nazis out of eastern and central Europe, an anti-Nazi [resistance movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_movement) launched.[191](../../191/ "tree and pragmatics") Internal opposition to the fascist government's policies culminated in the [Slovak National Uprising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_National_Uprising), near the end of summer 1944.[192](../../192/ "tree and pragmatics") A bloody German occupation and a guerilla war followed.[193](../../193/ "tree and pragmatics") Germans and their [local collaborators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hlinka_Guard) completely destroyed 93 villages and massacred thousands of civilians, often hundreds at a time.[\[74\]](../../page/7/#ref-74 "note 74")[194](../../194/ "tree and pragmatics") Although the uprising was eventually suppressed, [partisan resistance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_partisans) continued.[195](../../195/ "tree and pragmatics") The territory of Slovakia was liberated by Soviet and Romanian forces by the end of April 1945.[196](../../196/ "tree and pragmatics") ### From Fascism to Communism (1945–1948) Main article: [Third Czechoslovak Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Czechoslovak_Republic), [1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Czechoslovak_coup_d%27état) See also: [Soviet annexation of Transcarpathia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_annexation_of_Transcarpathia) As a result of the [Yalta Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_Conference) in February 1945, Czechoslovakia came under the influence of the [Soviet Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union).[197](../../197/ "tree and pragmatics") After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and [Jozef Tiso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jozef_Tiso) was executed in 1947 for collaboration with the Nazis.[198](../../198/ "tree and pragmatics") More than [80,000 Hungarians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarians_in_Slovakia#Population_exchanges)[\[75\]](../../page/7/#ref-75 "note 75") and 32,000 Germans[\[76\]](../../page/7/#ref-76 "note 76") were forced to leave Slovakia, in a series of [population transfers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Germans_after_World_War_II) initiated by the Allies at the [Potsdam Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam_Conference).[\[77\]](../../page/7/#ref-77 "note 77")[199](../../199/ "tree and pragmatics") Out of about 130,000 [Carpathian Germans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_Germans) in Slovakia in 1938, by 1947 only some 20,000 remained.[\[78\]](../../page/7/#ref-78 "note 78")[200](../../200/ "tree and pragmatics") In February 1948, the [Communist Party of Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Czechoslovakia), with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of [Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia) through a [coup d'état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Czechoslovak_coup_d%27état) and Czechoslovakia came under direct occupation of the Soviet Union and its [Warsaw Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact).[201](../../201/ "tree and pragmatics") It became a [puppet state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_state) of the Soviet Union, but it was never part of the Soviet Union and remained independent to a certain degree.[202](../../202/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Communist party rule in Czechoslovakia (1948–1989) Main article: [Czechoslovak Socialist Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_Socialist_Republic) See also: [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War), [Iron Curtain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Curtain), [Prague Spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring), [Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact_invasion_of_Czechoslovakia), [Communist Party of Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Czechoslovakia) Borders with the West were protected by the [Iron Curtain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Curtain).[203](../../203/ "tree and pragmatics") About 600 people, men, women, and children, were killed on the Czechoslovak border with Austria and [West Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany) between 1948 and 1989.[\[79\]](../../page/7/#ref-79 "note 79")[204](../../204/ "tree and pragmatics") 8,240 people went to forced labour camps in 1948–1953.[\[80\]](../../page/7/#ref-80 "note 80")[205](../../205/ "tree and pragmatics") On 11 July 1960, the [Constitution of Czechoslovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Constitution_of_Czechoslovakia) was promulgated, changing the name of the country from the "Czechoslovak Republic" to the "Czechoslovak Socialist Republic".[206](../../206/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1968, following the [Prague Spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring), the country was [invaded](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact_invasion_of_Czechoslovakia) by the Warsaw Pact forces ([People's Republic of Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_Bulgaria), [People's Republic of Hungary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_People%27s_Republic), [People's Republic of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_People%27s_Republic), and [Soviet Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union), with the exception of [Socialist Republic of Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Romania) and [People's Socialist Republic of Albania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania)), ending a [period of liberalisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring) under the leadership of [Alexander Dubček](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Dubček).[207](../../207/ "tree and pragmatics") 137 Czechoslovak civilians were killed and 500 seriously wounded during the invasion.[\[81\]](../../page/7/#ref-81 "note 81")[\[82\]](../../page/7/#ref-82 "note 82")[208](../../208/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1969, Czechoslovakia became a [federation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Act_on_the_Czechoslovak_Federation) of the [Czech Socialist Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Socialist_Republic) and the [Slovak Socialist Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Socialist_Republic) within the [Czechoslovak Socialist Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_Socialist_Republic).[209](../../209/ "tree and pragmatics") Czechoslovakia was allied with communist regimes worldwide.[210](../../210/ "tree and pragmatics") As one of the first countries in the world acknowledged [Kim Il-sung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Il-sung)'s [Democratic People's Republic of Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_People%27s_Republic_of_Korea).[211](../../211/ "tree and pragmatics") After the beginning of the [Korean War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War), Czechoslovakia protested against measures taken by the Security Council.[212](../../212/ "tree and pragmatics") Czechoslovak communist leaders considered the intervention against North Korean aggression illegal.[213](../../213/ "tree and pragmatics") During summer 1950, many resolutions against "American imperialism" were sent to the United Nations from Czechoslovakia.[214](../../214/ "tree and pragmatics") During the Korean War in 1952, Czechoslovakia sent a military hospital with two hospital teams consisting of 58 people to North Korea.[\[83\]](../../page/7/#ref-83 "note 83")[215](../../215/ "tree and pragmatics") When [Fidel Castro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro) took power after the [Cuban Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution) in 1959, Czechoslovakia opened an embassy in Cuba and developed mutual relations.[216](../../216/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 1968, Castro denounced the [Prague Spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring) as led by a "fascist reactionary rabble" and praised the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.[\[84\]](../../page/7/#ref-84 "note 84")[\[85\]](../../page/7/#ref-85 "note 85")[217](../../217/ "tree and pragmatics") During the [Vietnam War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War), Czechoslovakia sent [significant aid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_participation_in_the_Vietnam_War) to [North Vietnam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Vietnam).[\[86\]](../../page/7/#ref-86 "note 86")[218](../../218/ "tree and pragmatics") The Czechoslovak government created committees which sought to not only promote and establish peace, but also to promote victory for [Viet Cong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Cong) and [Vietnam People's Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_People%27s_Army) forces.[\[86\]](../../page/7/#ref-86 "note 86")[219](../../219/ "tree and pragmatics") Czech-made equipment and military aid would increase significantly following the Prague Spring.[\[87\]](../../page/7/#ref-87 "note 87")[220](../../220/ "tree and pragmatics") Czechoslovakia continued to send tens of thousands of Czech-made rifles as well as mortar and artillery throughout the war.[\[87\]](../../page/7/#ref-87 "note 87")[221](../../221/ "tree and pragmatics") ### From Communism to Democracy (1989–1992) Main article: [Czech and Slovak Federative Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_and_Slovak_Federative_Republic) See also: [Slovak National Council's Declaration of Independence of the Slovak Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_National_Council%27s_Declaration_of_Independence_of_the_Slovak_Nation), [Constitution of Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Slovakia) The end of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989, during the peaceful [Velvet Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_Revolution), was followed once again by the country's dissolution, this time into two [successor states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_of_states).[222](../../222/ "tree and pragmatics") [Czechoslovak Socialist Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_Socialist_Republic) renamed as [Czech and Slovak Federative Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_and_Slovak_Federative_Republic), the word "socialist" was dropped in the names of the two republics within the federation, the Slovak Socialist Republic renamed as [Slovak Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Socialist_Republic).[223](../../223/ "tree and pragmatics") On 17 July 1992, Slovakia, led by Prime Minister [Vladimír Mečiar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimír_Mečiar), declared itself a sovereign state, meaning that its laws took precedence over those of the federal government.[224](../../224/ "tree and pragmatics") Throughout the autumn of 1992, Vladimír Mečiar and [Czech Prime Minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_the_Czech_Republic) [Václav Klaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Václav_Klaus) negotiated the details for disbanding the federation.[225](../../225/ "tree and pragmatics") In November, the federal parliament voted to dissolve the country officially on 31 December 1992.[226](../../226/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Slovak independence (since 1993) #### 1990s The Slovak Republic and the [Czech Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic) [corpus](../../../Czech_Republic/ "in our corpus") went their separate ways on 1 January 1993, an event sometimes called the [Velvet Divorce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_Czechoslovakia), after 74 years of joint existence disrupted only by World War II.[\[88\]](../../page/7/#ref-88 "note 88")[\[89\]](../../page/7/#ref-89 "note 89")[227](../../227/ "tree and pragmatics") Slovakia has, nevertheless, remained a close partner with the Czech Republic; the two countries are close European allies and both co-operate with Hungary and Poland in the [Visegrád Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visegrád_Group).[\[90\]](../../page/7/#ref-90 "note 90")[228](../../228/ "tree and pragmatics") The first President of the Slovak Republic became [Michal Kováč](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michal_Kováč), elected by the [National Council of Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Council_of_Slovakia) in February 1993.[\[91\]](../../page/7/#ref-91 "note 91")[229](../../229/ "tree and pragmatics") Slovakia became a member of the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) on 19 January 1993, on 31 March 1993 ratified the [UNESCO World Heritage Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Convention), making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO) list and on 15 April 1993 joined [GATT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GATT) (current [World Trade Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization)).[\[92\]](../../page/7/#ref-92 "note 92")[230](../../230/ "tree and pragmatics") After the fall of communism and the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the country was unprepared for organised crime.[\[93\]](../../page/7/#ref-93 "note 93")[231](../../231/ "tree and pragmatics") [Crime rates in Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Slovakia) soared in the 1990s, the first post-communist gangsters emerged and [mafia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_mafia) became the major problem in the country.[\[94\]](../../page/7/#ref-94 "note 94")[232](../../232/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges had no experience of investigating, trying, or sentencing criminals.[233](../../233/ "tree and pragmatics") Many officials lacked even basic knowledge of the leading criminal operators in their communities.[\[95\]](../../page/7/#ref-95 "note 95")[234](../../234/ "tree and pragmatics") Between 1994–1998, during the government of [Prime Minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Slovakia) [Vladimír Mečiar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimír_Mečiar), organised crime became well established and it penetrated the highest political positions.[\[96\]](../../page/7/#ref-96 "note 96")[235](../../235/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the major crime events was kidnapping of Slovak president's son Michal Kováč Jr. in 1995, organised by [Slovak intelligence service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenská_informačná_služba) and the government of Vladimír Mečiar.[\[97\]](../../page/7/#ref-97 "note 97")[\[98\]](../../page/7/#ref-98 "note 98")[236](../../236/ "tree and pragmatics") Processes of [privatization in Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization_in_Slovakia) began, often criticized for lack of transparency and corruption.[237](../../237/ "tree and pragmatics") Hundreds of state assets came into private hands to only a selected group of businessmen.[\[99\]](../../page/7/#ref-99 "note 99")[238](../../238/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1990s, Slovakia had central Europe's worst-performing economy, marked by high unemployment rates and inflation with least democratic government.[239](../../239/ "tree and pragmatics") [Madeleine Albright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Albright), the [U.S. secretary of state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._secretary_of_state), referred to it as "a black hole in the heart of Europe".[\[100\]](../../page/7/#ref-100 "note 100")[240](../../240/ "tree and pragmatics") This time period in Slovakia is also known as "[Wild 90s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_wild_nineties)" ("Divoké 90.roky").[\[101\]](../../page/7/#ref-101 "note 101")[241](../../241/ "tree and pragmatics") Since March 1998, the country was 14 months without a head of state, when the National Council of Slovakia [multiple times failed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Slovak_presidential_election) to elect the new president, which led to the introduction of a [direct presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Slovak_presidential_election) in 1999.[\[102\]](../../page/7/#ref-102 "note 102")[242](../../242/ "tree and pragmatics") After the [1998 parliamentary election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Slovak_parliamentary_election), [Mikuláš Dzurinda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikuláš_Dzurinda) went on to replace Vladimír Mečiar as prime minister, and during two successive governments between 1998–2006, relaunched the transformation processes that had stalled under Mečiar.[\[103\]](../../page/7/#ref-103 "note 103")[243](../../243/ "tree and pragmatics") The country embarked on a reformist course that saw the introduction of a flat tax, liberalisation of the labour market, deregulation of business, and partial privatization of social security.[244](../../244/ "tree and pragmatics") Government of Mikuláš Dzurinda led Slovakia into OECD, NATO and the European Union.[\[104\]](../../page/7/#ref-104 "note 104")[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1999, the second President of Slovakia became [Rudolf Schuster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Schuster), first directly-elected president.[\[105\]](../../page/7/#ref-105 "note 105")[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") #### 2000s Slovakia became a member of [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD) on 14 December 2000, [NATO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) on 29 March 2004 and of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) on 1 May 2004.[\[106\]](../../page/7/#ref-106 "note 106")[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") The country used to be dubbed the "[Tatra Tiger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_Tiger)" in the 2000s as achieved, on average, roughly 6% per capita GDP growth each year from 2000 to 2008.[\[107\]](../../page/7/#ref-107 "note 107")[\[108\]](../../page/7/#ref-108 "note 108")[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") [Ivan Gašparovič](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Gašparovič) became the third president of Slovakia in 2004 and in 2009 became the first and the only Slovak re-elected president.[\[109\]](../../page/7/#ref-109 "note 109")[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2006, [Robert Fico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fico) became prime minister, during his first government, Slovakia joined the [Schengen area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_area) on 21 December 2007, allowing visa free travel and on 1 January 2009 adopted the [Euro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro) as its national currency at 30.1260 [korunas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_koruna) to the euro.[\[110\]](../../page/7/#ref-110 "note 110")[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") The Slovak economy was involved in a major slowdown during the [2008 financial crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis), experiencing the deepest [recession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession) in history.[\[111\]](../../page/7/#ref-111 "note 111")[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") At the beginning of 2009, Slovakia faced energy crisis and declared a [state of emergency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_emergency), after Russia cut gas supplies to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines as part of a [price dispute with Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Russia–Ukraine_gas_dispute).[\[112\]](../../page/7/#ref-112 "note 112")[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/2/) **3** [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/7/) - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/2/) - next →: [page 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Slovakia/page/4/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)