OLD-SLAVONIC EMPIRE - INFOMA

6
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Hlboká cesta 2
833 36 Bratislava 37, SLOVAKIA
tel.: +421-2-5978 1111
fax: +421-2-5978 3999
e-mail: info@mzv.sk
www.foreign.gov.sk
ADRESS BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRÍHOVOR MINISTRA ZAHRANIČNÝCH VECÍ
Dear Readers,
You are getting in touch with one of the most
successful and most exciting stories of Europe
since the end of the Cold War. It is highly likely
that your off-road car or family car, or at least
a part of it, was produced in Slovakia. It is also
highly likely that the plasma or LCD TV-set in
your home bears the label “Made in Slovakia”.
Slovakia has confidently become a part of globalisation
and found its firm place in the globalised
world. Our country enters the year 2010
determined to continue in its successful story
of building its statehood, transforming the society
and modernising the economy. We have
opened ourselves to the world and the world
is opening for us. During the relatively short
historic period since obtaining independence
in 1993 Slovakia gained a firm position in the
world map, membership in the European Union
and in other important international groupings.
We form a part of the Schengen free movement
area without border controls, we use the euro –
the same currency as more than 200 million of
our European fellow citizens. We have a good
and successful story behind us, and we are
ready to share our experiences with our partners
from the neighbouring countries and from
other parts of the world.
The global economic crisis placed obstacles
and new challenges also to Slovakia, but the
creativity and diligence of our people can cope
with them. Our advantage is that in seeking the
solutions and the ways out we are not alone.
We know that we can rely on our allies and
friends within the EU, just as they can rely on us.
Slovakia is a team player, which is also reflected
in our active involvement in the cooperation
with our neighbours within the regional group
– the Visegrad Four (V4).
The world exhibition EXPO is the world in a
nutshell, an overview of its diversity. Slovakia
wishes to show its contribution to this diversity
and demonstrate to the visitors not only that
we are here, but that we have something to
offer, too. It is not only about being recognised
by foreigners, but also about getting known by
them: who we are, what we have left behind
us and where we are heading to. We want to
show that we are not only a beautiful country,
but also a responsible and reliable member of
the global community with our particularities
that we want to share with you. I am confident
that Slovakia’s presentation in the EXPO world
exhibition will raise your interest not only in the
Slovak pavilion, but also in the story of Slovakia
as a whole.
Miroslav LAJČÁK
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Slovak Republic