May 8th, 2020, BRATISLAVA – U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia, Bridget Brink and the Embassy Defense Attache, Lieutenant Colonel Jakub Andrews, paid tribute to Allied troops with a 9 am candle lighting at Bratislava’s SNP Square to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe. “Seventy-five years after Victory in Europe, we are grateful to all Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots and citizens …
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April 2, 2020 Ambassador Bridget Brink met with members of the new Slovak government during the first week of April. The Ambassador met with Martin Klus, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, as well as Defense Minister Jaro Naď – OĽANO (the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities …
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On December 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control designated Marian Kocner as a person who is responsible for, complicit in, or had directly or indirectly engaged in serious human rights abuses. Mr. Kocner and six entities are designated pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which implements the Global Magnitsky Human …
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The U.S. Embassy in Slovakia has launched a campaign calling on Slovaks to jingle their keys to celebrate the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and the freedoms it brought to Slovakia. As both countries commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the campaign celebrates the “Courage to be …
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Bratislava, July 17, 2019 As Slovakia’s international friends and partners, we join in celebrating LGBTI+ Pride and reaffirm our commitment to protecting and defending the human rights of all. The first ever Pride March in Banska Bystrica on June 29, along with Pride Marches in Bratislava on July 20 and in Košice on August 24, …
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Ambassador Adam Sterling honored three Slovak citizens on April 25 for their efforts in advancing human rights, women’s rights, and transparency in Slovakia at the Embassy’s eighth annual Human Rights Awards Ceremony. Attorney Roman Kvasnica received the Embassy’s Human Rights Defender Award for his continued commitment and outspoken defense of people and organizations whose basic …
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On December 9, we recognize International Anti-Corruption Day as a reminder to strengthen our common efforts to fight corruption globally. The United Nations recognizes corruption as the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development with at least $2.6 trillion stolen annually through global corruption. It weakens economies and corrodes democracy to make us poorer, …
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Bratislava, July 14, 2018 As international friends and partners with Slovakia, we join in celebrating LGBTI+ Pride and reaffirm our commitment to protecting and defending the human rights of all. Pride Marches in Bratislava on July 14 and in Košice on September 1, together with other Pride events, are a celebration of the important societal …
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Ambassador Adam Sterling honored three Slovak citizens on April 25 for their efforts in advancing human rights, women’s rights, and transparency in Slovakia at the Embassy’s annual Human Rights Awards Ceremony. Investigative journalist Jan Kuciak, formerly of aktuality.sk, received the Transparency Award posthumously for his investigative reporting into corruption, his courage to pursue the truth …
Read More» A team of negotiators from the United States Department of Defense arrived in Bratislava on April 18, 2018 for two days of discussions aimed at the implementation of a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the United States and Slovakia. The team of American negotiators will meet with their counterparts at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign …
Read More» The United States Government continues to closely follow developments in Slovakia following the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova. As Slovak society wrestles with the implications of this crime, we urge all parties to refrain from resorting to the use of conspiracy theories and disinformation. The FBI’s Legal Attaché Office …
Read More» We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Aktuality.sk reporter Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina Kusnirova and extend our deepest condolences to their family, friends, loved ones, and Mr. Kuciak’s colleagues at Aktuality.sk. We note with special concern Police Chief Tibor Gaspar’s statements that the murder appears to have been premediated and most …
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Bratislava, December 9, 2017 Today we celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day as a reminder that the fight against corruption requires concerted efforts from all of our countries. Corruption is more than a bribe; it is also the abuse of public funds and power for private gain, and it affects everyone. It impedes economic growth, harms the …
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Registration is open for the fourth SelectUSA Investment Summit in the Washington, DC area, June 18-20, 2017. The Summit offers Slovak businesses seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States the practical tools, information, and connections they need to invest. The theme for this year’s Summit – “Grow with US” – highlights the …
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The Embassy has pursued negotiations with the City of Bratislava on the security perimeter lease in good faith. We agreed to the City’s conditions in renewing the lease, including the imposition of an annual rental fee of approximately a half-million Euros. We are prepared to pay this fee as soon as we have a fully-signed …
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On September 15 the European Union extended its asset freeze and travel ban against Russian officials and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The United States welcomes this step and believes that sanctions are the most important tool the international community has for convincing Russia to end its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and ensuring …
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The U.S. Embassy in Bratislava was pleased to welcome a large U.S. Congressional delegation to Slovakia for meetings from August 3-5. Led by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the bipartisan delegation – which included Representatives Mike Bishop, Doug Collins, Louie Gohmert, Richard Hudson, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Scott Peters – …
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As members of the international community, we consider advocating for respect for universal human rights to be a fundamental aspect of our work, our mission, and our world. We recall the affirmation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that everyone is born free and equal in dignity and rights without distinction of any kind. …
Read More» The U.S. Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia is happy to announce that Radoslav Mizera of Solved, Martina Drahošová of ixworx, and Petra Dzurovcinova of the Slovak Alliance for Internet Economy will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will take place June 22-24, 2016 in Palo Alto, California. They will be joining more than 700 entrepreneurs …
Read More» The Embassy’s Small Grants Program is currently closed and we are not accepting new grant proposals at this time. Please continue to check our website for announcements about new funding opportunities.
Read More» U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry honored Zuzana Števulová with the 2016 International Women of Courage Award today in Washington, D.C. Števulová was recognized for her profound personal dedication in courageously fighting for the rights of refugees and migrants, including during Europe’s migration crisis. Števulová was among 14 women from across the world to receive …
Read More» As part of its Public Affairs Grants Program, the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava is pleased to announce a special competition for projects seeking to raise awareness in Slovakia about Ukraine’s efforts to build a modern democratic state, address corruption, and combat disinformation. More Information (PDF 233 KB – Get Adobe Reader )
Read More» Embassy Bratislava seeks a partner organization to host a TechCamp on Increasing Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking Skills. More information (PDF 409 KB – Get Adobe Reader )
Read More» Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Family Ján Richter and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Liam Wasley discussed changes to Slovak and U.S. regulations that have made trans-Atlantic collaboration much easier. As of January 1, the maximum validity of U.S. visas for Slovak workers in the United States has been extended from two to five years. …
Read More» Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Rob Berschinski visited Slovakia January 20-21, 2016 to discuss a broad range of human rights issues within the context of the strong U.S.-Slovak relationship. During his trip, Berschinski met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Robert Kalinak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister …
Read More» WASHINGTON – The United States today began implementing changes under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (the Act). U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) welcomes more than a million passengers arriving to the United States every day and is committed to facilitating legitimate travel while maintaining the highest standards …
Read More» On December 7th and 8th the U.S State Department’s Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, visited Slovakia to discuss intercountry adoptions between the United States and Slovakia with Slovak government officials. She met with Andrea Cisarova, the director of Slovakia’s Central Authority for adoptions under the Hague Convention (CIPC), as well as with …
Read More» Corruption is extraordinarily costly, consuming more than 5% of global GDP (US$ 2.6 trillion), according to the World Economic Forum. Corruption leads to waste and the inefficient use of public resources, increases the costs of doing business, scares away foreign investment, and undermines public trust in state institutions. To raise awareness of the corrosive effects …
Read More» Joint Press Release of the Embassy of the United States of America and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Representatives from the United States and Slovakia met in Bratislava October 13-15, 2015, to discuss ways to further strengthen their countries’ joint efforts to counter nuclear smuggling. These discussions are a …
Read More» The United States welcomes the European Union’s effort to develop a comprehensive, coordinated solution to the migration crisis that ensures that lives are protected, that human rights are respected, and that proper screening and registration procedures are in place. Continued unity in confronting this challenge is critical, as only a unified Europe has the strength …
Read More» We were very concerned by the recent violent anti-immigration protests in Bratislava which occurred on June 20 – a date also celebrated as World Refugee Day. These are complex issues, and even in the United States there are multiple views of how best to address them. But we can all agree that at the core …
Read More» The U.S. Embassy in Bratislava is pleased to bring a renowned jazz quartet the Chris Byars, back to Slovakia June 30-July 7, 2015 for the 6th time. The first time Quartet visited Slovakia was in 2008. The Quartet will tour Slovak cities sharing ideas and best practices with arts students, teachers, and the general public …
Read More» Commemorated every May 3, World Press Freedom Day recognizes the essential role a free press plays in a democracy. We pay special honor to the importance of media freedom – a crucial element of freedom of expression – at home and abroad. A diverse and independent press is crucial to holding governments accountable and promoting …
Read More» The United States Embassy is pleased to invite members of the public to visit us for the First Annual Embassies Open Doors on May 16, when visitors will have an opportunity to explore some of the city’s most historic buildings and institutions. Visitors will be able to tour a portion of the U.S. Embassy, including …
Read More» U.S. Department of State Senior Anti-Corruption Coordinator for Europe George Kent is visiting Slovakia April 20 and 21 to meet with Prime Minister Fico, government offices, Parliamentarians, civil society activists, and the business community. His visit is part of a regional U. S. government initiative to combat corruption and promote transparent governance. Mr. Kent commented, …
Read More» On April 9 the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava held our annual awards ceremony to recognize those who advocate for human rights in Slovakia. Upholding human rights remains one of the top priorities of the United States worldwide. The work of human rights defenders in Slovakia has a direct impact on the lives of many, and …
Read More» United States Ambassador Theodore Sedgwick met today with the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico. They discussed Slovakia’s anti-corruption efforts, trans-Atlantic and European unity regarding continued Russian aggression in Ukraine, and strengthening trade and investment opportunities. Ambassador Sedgwick commended the steps Slovakia has taken to fight corruption, including recent cooperation with the Rule of Law …
Read More» Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with Slovak Minister of Defense Martin Glváč yesterday at the Pentagon to discuss the strategic partnership between Slovakia and the United States. Secretary Hagel took the opportunity to thank Slovakia for its many contributions to regional security, particularly in Afghanistan, but also through its assistance to Ukraine, epitomized by …
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