Kanada a Slovensko: Prvých 25 rokov
Canada and Slovakia: The First 25 Years

Author(s): Pavol Demeš
Subject(s): Politics, Diplomatic history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade
Published by: Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA)
Keywords: Canada; Slovakia; International Relations; Foreign Policy;
Summary/Abstract: As the Ambassador of Canada to Slovakia, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Pavol Demeš’ Canada and Slovakia: The first 25 years. The author, Pavol Demeš, as Slovak Minister of International Relations and Foreign Policy Advisor to Slovakia’s first President, Michal Kováč, participated in some of the events captured in its pages. He has managed to capture the full range of the multi-faceted nature of Canada and Slovakia’s long-standing friendship in all its aspects, in particular: the renewal of ties during the transition to democracy and a market-based economy in the 1990’s; engagement and support in Slovakia’s successful bids to join NATO and the EU 1998–2004; collaboration in multilateral fora, in international peace and security, and in economic growth as allies and likeminded partners since 2004. Pavol’s thorough research, including collecting photographic records, covers not only the history of political and diplomatic relations, but also development and military cooperation, trade and investment relations, public diplomacy, culture, and the immense contribution that successive waves of Slovak immigration have made to Canada, and that returning Slovak-Canadians have made to Slovakia. I am grateful to Pavol as well as to former ambassadors of both Slovakia and Canada who contributed. In all of these domains, and beyond, the contribution of Slovak-Canadians to building and strengthening our relations has been vital. Pavol has captured many of their stories. Pavol has created an important record of our relations that will be of immense benefit not only for the future but in reminding us all of how broad and deep our relations are todayIndeed, with the provisional application as of 2017 of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), as well as Slovakia’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltics from July 2018, Slovakia ranks among the group of Canada’s closest and most-valued allies. In this year of anniversaries, it is important to recall, and learn the lessons from, the seventieth anniversary of the Soviet-backed coup that led to the imposition of forty years of totalitarian communism, as well as the fiftieth anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia that crushed Alexander Dubcek’s Prague Spring experiment and led to the deaths or exile of thousands of Slovaks. We are also pleased to celebrate happier birthdays: the centenary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the thirtieth anniversary of the Candle Demonstration that preceded the Velvet Revolution and the fall of the communist regime that led to freedom and democracy for Slovakia, as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the independence of the Slovak Republic. The history of Slovakia demonstrates that the desire of people to be free and to govern themselves can never be permanently suppressed. It is a testament to the courage and determination of the Slovak people that at long last they achieved freedom, democracy and independence in their own state. The people of Slovakia can take pride in what they have achieved in a very short time. I am very proud that Canada has contributed constructively to Slovakia’s success. This book tells that story.

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