In August of 2018, I spent a hot and memorable evening on the town square in Sabinov.  As part of our embassy’s caravan tour of 26 towns across Slovakia, we were screening a film about how rock ‘n’ roll helped bring down communism.   I spoke after the film to some of the citizens of Sabinov …

On May 10 in Kosice, the United States and Slovakia will face off on the ice in the opening game of the 2019 World Hockey Championship. What does this have to do with freedom? Well, I am sure that both sides will play for pride and play for country in a hotly contested struggle at …

Shortly after gaining independence 26 years ago, Slovaks decided to seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the best means to secure the sovereignty, security, and stability of their new country. NATO, the most successful alliance in history, was also the natural home for a free and democratic Slovakia. As Slovakia marks …

Like everyday citizens, nations enter into agreements with the expectation that all parties will live up to their end of the bargain. In arms control treaties, it is especially important that all sides comply, as these agreements concern our safety and security – even our very existence. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in …

Later this month, Slovakia will celebrate its 15th anniversary in NATO. Your great success over this period as a stable, economically dynamic democracy is no coincidence. For a small country like Slovakia, NATO’s guarantee of “all for one and one for all” means not only peace, but peace of mind for its citizens. Slovakia’s economic …

As the humanitarian crisis created by Nicolas Maduro, the illegitimate self-proclaimed president of Venezuela, deepens, the de facto Maduro regime and its supporters have accused the United States of attempting a coup and targeting Venezuela’s oil reserves. This is a cynical lie told by a failing regime to maintain its repressive control over the Venezuelan …

On December 13, Slovakia and other European Union nations voted to extend comprehensive sanctions against the Russian Federation. This decision reflects not only Russia’s failure to make progress on its commitments in Ukraine under the Minsk Agreements, but also its increasingly aggressive and illegal behavior against Ukraine. Russia’s unwarranted attacks against Ukrainian vessels in the …

As Slovakia marks the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy on November 17, we should pause to consider the ongoing relevance of the protests of 1989 and the Velvet Revolution. Ordinary Slovak and Czech students, later joined by their fellow citizens, courageously took to the streets to protest Soviet-backed authoritarianism and call for democracy …

On May 31, 1918, approximately two dozen Slovak and Czech patriots gathered at the Loyal Order of Moose building in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to sign the Pittsburgh Agreement, also called the “birth certificate” of the first Czechoslovak Republic. From that beginning, the people of the United States and the people of Slovakia have shared history, …

In 1776, the founders of my country had the courage to declare their independence and commit to a national project grounded in democratic governance and liberty for all citizens. Over a century later, communities of Slovak and Czech immigrants in the United States had the courage to seek for their compatriots in Europe the blessings …

I am always delighted to talk to Slovak citizens who have visited the United States and want to share their experiences with me. However, I know that making the long flight across the ocean simply is not possible for everyone. That is why, starting August 13, the U.S. Embassy will bring a little bit of …

The late American Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” I was reminded of that quotation as I read the interview with Viacheslav Nikonov, Head of the Committee for Education and Science of the Russian Duma, in Hospodarske Noviny (June 13, 2018). Mr. Nikonov …

One hundred years ago today, representatives of Czechs and Slovaks living in the United States came together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and signed the “birth certificate” of the first Czechoslovak Republic. The document, primarily authored by T.G. Masaryk, is elegantly simple and clear in its intent: that the Slovaks and Czechs would endeavor to form an …

The morning of February 26, 2018 shocked me as it did all of Slovakia. The brutal murder of a talented young journalist and his fiancée in their home provoked a combination of sadness, disbelief, and anger. If the killing of Jan Kuciak is related to his work, as Slovak investigators suggest, the murder is an …

It is one of the most iconic images of the Second World War. Six United States Marines, in the midst of heavy fighting on the small island of Iwo Jima, struggle to raise the American flag above Mt. Suribachi. Among the six men captured in the iconic photograph, and later permanently memorialized in bronze for …

On New Year’s Eve 1992, thousands of Slovaks gathered on SNP square in Bratislava, counting down the minutes to the start of 1993—and with it, the birth of the Slovak Republic. Alongside thousands of jubilant Slovaks stood an American named Paul Hacker, Consul General of the United States. As the celebrations continued into the early …

Together with our Slovak friends and partners, the U.S. Embassy marked one of the most meaniningful of Slovak public holidays on November 17: the day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. This day reminds us of the heroic struggles of ordinary Slovak and Czech students against Nazi occupation in 1939, and the calls for freedom …

As Slovakia prepares to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of its independence next year, it will also be celebrating twenty-five years of a close diplomatic relationship with the United States as a friend, partner, and ally. The ties that bind the United States of America and Slovakia are strong, encompassing cooperation in the fields of international …

As Slovakia approaches the 25th anniversary of its independence, it can count its decision to join NATO as an essential element of its impressive success, both until now and well into the future. Slovakia chose a future with NATO not long after gaining its independence primarily to secure the sovereignty and freedom that it had …

Support for human rights and democratic values has long been a top priority of the United States, in our own country and around the world. Respect for human rights is not only the right thing to do; it makes the world a safer place. As Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson recently said, “when all …

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a threat to all countries that care about freedom, democracy, and human dignity.  The liberation of Mosul on July 10th was a major step toward defeating ISIS and eliminating this global threat. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS includes 72 members, including Slovakia, the United States, …

On my recent trip to the United States I met with people across the country, from New York to Pittsburgh to San Francisco, who care passionately about Slovakia.  I met descendants of 19th century immigrants, Czechoslovaks who left in the 1960s, Slovaks recently arrived in Silicon Valley, and Americans long committed to strong partnerships with …

International Roma Day – celebrated on April 8 each year – is an opportunity to celebrate Roma, who have been an integral part of the rich cultural tapestry of Slovakia for hundreds of years. Roma number an estimated 10 to 12 million across Europe, while one million American citizens of Romani descent live in the …

In my trips across Slovakia over the six past months, I’ve met with government representatives, business leaders, civil society activists, artists, educators and journalists. I’ve been impressed by the talent and energy of the Slovak people, and by the pride you take in your country. Yet, if there is one area that all parties agree …

As the Obama Administration comes to a close, it’s important to look back at the past eight years to appreciate how far America and its global partners have come, as well as to better understand the challenges we will face over the coming years. Today, America’s unemployment rate is 4.6 percent versus 10 percent in …

Education is the essential foundation for prosperity and opportunity. It strengthens our democracy, enriches our civic life, and serves as a pathway to economic success. It also cultivates young people’s talent and creativity, encourages them to connect with other people, and inspires them to discover and analyze the world in which they live. Everyone – …

  Entrepreneurship and innovation are key economic drivers in Slovakia. The first reception I hosted as Ambassador was a kick-off event for this year’s Startup Awards, and in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve already heard a lot about how Slovakia is on the move – cybersecurity companies, offline navigation systems, and gaming giants …

In my first month in Slovakia I have been struck by the depth and dynamism of U.S.-Slovak economic ties. But even more so by the potential for the future. Nearly 150 American companies operate here, companies such as U.S. Steel, Microsoft, AT&T, IBM and Cisco Systems. They have created around 50,000 jobs and have contributed …