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… speaking in Bratislava … living in Bratislava … working in Bratislava … housing in Bratislava … traveling in Bratislava … connecting world in Bratislava … eating in Bratislava … shopping in Bratislava … having fun in Bratislava … health care in Bratislava Slovak Republic is a country located in Central Europe, surrounded by the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Austria. Central and northern Slovakia is more mountainous. High Tatras, which Slovaks qualify as the “smallest of the highest mountains in the world” are located in the center of the country along the Polish border. The south and east of the country lie in the lowlands and is an important agricultural area in Slovakia. Most important river is the Danube, which connects the capital Bratislava with two European metropolises – Vienna and Budapest. Established form: republic Type of government: parliamentary democracy Formation date: 1. January 1993 (after split of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic) EU member since: 1. May 2004 Membership in other international organizations: UN, OECD, WTO, V4, NATO Area: 49,035 km2 Population: 5,379,450 (2001 census) Population density: 109.9 inhabitants per sq km Official language: Slovak Capital: Bratislava (population: 452,288) Largest cities (by population): Bratislava: 452,288; Košice: 249,915, Prešov: 92,687; Nitra: 87,357; Žilina: 86,685; Banská Bystrica: 84,919 Nationalities: Slovak (85.6%), Hungarian (10.8%), Roma (1.8%), Czech (1.2%), Ruthenian (0.3%), Ukranian (0.3%), German (0.1%), Polish (0.1%), other (0.2%) Religion: Roman Catholic (60.3%), Greek Catholic (3.4%), Evangelic (6.2%), Orthodox (0.6%), non-denominational (9.7%), no data (18.2%) Main agricultural crops: wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, sugar beets Breeding: cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats Main fields of industry: automobile industry, chemical industry, iron ore processing, fertilizers, plastics, brown coal mining Natural resources: iron ore, mercury, copper, lead, zinc Electric current: 230 V/50 Hz, outlets with safety peg Political system: The Slovak Republic was established on January 1, 1993 as one of the successors to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. It is a parliamentary democracy, and its Constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens regardless of gender, religion, race, national origin, social status or political conviction. State bodies: The National Council of the Slovak Republic is a unicameral parliament and the country’s main legislative body. The National Council has 150 members elected for 4-year terms in direct elections. The electoral system is proportional representation. Parties as allocated seats in the Parliament according to the percentage share of the votes they get in parliamentary elections. Only a part with at least 5 % of votes can obtain seats in the Parliament. The President is the Head of State elected for a five-year term in a direct two-round election. The same person can be elected President for a maximum of two consecutive 5-year terms. The Government is the highest tier of executive power and consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Primer Ministers and Ministers. The Government is formed on the basis of parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister is appointed and can be dismissed by the President. Upon the advice of the Prime Minister, the President appoints and dismisses other members of the Government. The Government is collectively responsible for the exercise of governmental powers to the Parliament, which may hold a vote of no confidence at any time. The Parliament can hold a vote of no confidence to a single member of the Government too. Local Time: Slovakia is in the Central European Time Zone (GMT +1). During daylight savings time (the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October) the time is GMT+2. Climate: Slovakia has a continental Month Average Average Wet Days climate with 4 seasons (spring, Temperature Precipitation (+0.25 mm) Min - Max (mm) summer, autumn, winter). Summers Jan -3 - 2 43 12 are hot with temperatures often over Feb -2 - 3 47 12 30°C and sometimes stormy. Winters March 1 - 9 42 10 are cold, cloudy and humid. The April 6 - 19 42 11 average winter daily temperature is - May 11 - 21 61 11 2°C, but can plummet to -15°C. The June 14 - 24 64 11 July 16 - 26 73 11 coldest month is January; the warmest Aug 15 - 26 69 10 are July and August. Sept 12 - 22 40 8 Data concerns Bratislava. Weather in Oct 7 - 15 54 11 northern and mountainous regions Nov 3 - 8 55 13 could be much colder. Dec 0 - 4 59 14 Currency: The currency unit in Slovak Republic is the Slovak crown (abbreviation Sk, ISO code SKK). Banknotes in circulation are 20 Sk, 50 Sk, 100 Sk, 200 Sk, 500 Sk, 1000 Sk and 5000 Sk. Main motifs on the front side of the banknotes represents important personalities living in the territory of the present Slovakia in various historical eras. On the back side of the banknotes these motifs are completed by depicting places where these personalities lived and were active. Cards are accepted by most tourist-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, stores in the shopping districts, and petrol stations, but often not in museums, post offices, and train or bus stations. Travellers' cheques can be cashed in banks but are not accepted in shops. Cash machines (ATMs) are relatively widespread and have recently been integrated so that you can use several networks on a single machine. Foreign currency (including travelers' cheques) can be exchanged at exchange offices, main hotels, all banks, and border crossings, as well as major travel agencies. It is planned, that Slovak Republic will adopt Euro currency on January 1st 2009. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local and foreign currency is permitted. When exporting, importing or transiting money or other financial resources through the territory of the EU, amounts above the equivalent of 10,000 EUR must be declared on an official form at the corresponding customs office. Amounts in other currencies follow exchange rates given by the National Bank of Slovakia for the particular day. Financial resources sent by mail to or Country Code Amount Exchange from a third country (outside EU) in the amount exceeding rate 1,000 EUR should also by declared. Australia AUD 1 21.380 Bulgaria BGN 1 17.292 Public Holiday in Slovakia Czech Rep CZK 1 1.182 On public holidays, most of government services, banks Denmark DKK 1 4.543 and schools and closed. As for most shops, opening EMU EUR 1 33.816 hours are reduced for all small shops. Big shopping Estonia EEK 1 2.161 centers are usually open without change in opening Japan JPY 100 20.435 hours. Canada CAD 1 23.646 January 1 New Year’s Day, Independence Day Lithuania LTL 1 9.790 January 6 Epiphany Latvia LVL 1 48.583 March or April Good Friday and Easter Monday Hungary HUF 100 13.587 May 1 Labour Day May 8 Victory over Fascism Day Norway NOK 1 4.209 July 5 St. Cyril and St. Methodius Day Poland PLN 1 8.911 August 29 Slovak National Uprising Day (SNP) September 1 Constitutional Day Romania RON 1 10.555 September 15 Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Switzerland CHF 1 20.356 November 1 All Saints’ Day Sweden SEK 1 3.654 November 17 Day of Struggle for Liberty and Democracy December 24 Christmas Eve U.S.A. USD 1 25.242 December 25 Christmas Day Great Britain GBP 1 50.322 December 26 St. Stephen’s Day Exchange Rates Ticket Valid since June 2007 (www.nbs.sk) Stone Age: The first recorded tribes to settle on the territory of modern Slovakia were Celtic (from around 450 B.C.), whose culture represented the pinnacle of barbarian civilization. The remains of Celtic oppida (fortified settlements) can be found in Bratislava or Devin. The Celts were forced out by the Germanic tribes of Marcomans which fougnt with the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus (166 – 180 A.D.). Remains of the Limes Romanus – the fortifications on the Roman Empire’s northern border – are preserved in Slovakia. The German tribes were driven out by Huns led by Atila. Tribes of Western Slavs arrived on this territory at the end of the 5th and beginning of the 6th centuries. Soon they had to defend themselves against nomadic Avars and this activity led to the creation of tribunal union under the rule of the Frankish merchant Samo, known as “Sano’ s Empire” (623 – 658 A.D.) Early Middle Ages: After the break-up of Samo’s Empire Slavonic tribes enjoyed no political unity. Only Duke Pribina succeeded in establishing a larger state-like entity and founded the first church in this area between 824 and 828. He fought and was defeated by Mojmir, the Duke of Morava. Duke Mojmir I. established a united state called Great Moravia (830 – 908). His successor, Rastislav, invited the missionaries Sts. Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. They established an independent church province, developed the first Slavic alphabet (Glagol) using Greek symbols, and used it to translate the bible into vernacular. The most important ruler of Great Moravia was Svätopluk who battled with the East Frankish Empire. Great Moravia disintegrated after its invasion by Magyar tribes and the successes of the East Frankish Empire. The Magyar tribes established a Hungarian Empire in the Danube area and the territory of present Slovakia was absorbed around 1000 A.D. Developed Middle Ages: The development of the Hungarian Empire was interrupted by the Tatar invasion (1240 – 1242). After the Tatars left, Belo IV invited Saxons to come and live in Hungary, which significantly strengthened urban civilization. After the male line of the Arpad dynasty died out in 1301, Charles Robert of Anjou became king in 1308 and established the Anjou dynasty, which was followed by the Jagello dynasty in 1440.