Ask500

Yes, I agree. The success of Slovakia is big, even bigger if we consider the political situation between 1993 and 1998 when Slovakia was left in international isolation thanks the former Slovak prime minister Mečiar. So, we should consider as a start line of the Slovak rocket start year 1998. We can see that Slovakia has managed everything in last 10 years. Of course, only thanks the European integration, but also thanks the risky and effective steps made by new government. I think Slovakia was awarded as a most reformed country. Everything has changed, but in a positive way. And I´m still so surprised, when my colleges from western Europe say: hi, where are you from? Slovakia? Really? And do you have electricity there? And what about internet or colour TV? Its incredible, that you can use the microwave or you have an I-pod. Central Europe is considered to be Eastern Europe, but it is not so (historicaly, politicaly, culturaly), and, to be objective, it doesn´t mean that if Czechoslovakia had been a socialistic state for more than 40 years, the life standard and economy had been so bad. Compared to the AUSTRIA (which is one of the most developed state of the EU), Czechoslovakia had been in much better situation before 1945 and 1960s. But, after the invasion of armies of socialistic countries, the process of reforms failed and was stopped. Unfortunately. But it doesn´t mean, that before 1989 there was no electricity or colour TV or underground or microwave or so. Yes, our people missed the freedom, some atributes of life standard, quality of state-managed-everything etc. But it doeasn´t mean that we lived like animals - only to be objective and to explain some characteristics... And - there is still not only gap of wealth but also of mutual knowing. As I visited Switzerland (2 yaers ago), I tried to get to know what do Swiss people know about our state. The result: some older people I met knew that something like Czechoslovakia exists, younger people didn´t know, where Slovakia is (unfortunately, they where limited by Eastern borders of Austria and they really didn´t know, that behind them some state like Slovakia is). That is! Citizens from Western Europe aren´t informed. I´m personally convinced that if there would be a question Do you know where Switzerland is (or if sth like this exists) in Slovakia, the answer would be YES in most of examples. Why? The education structure in both countries is not so different, so why? The answer is: because Slovakia is not presented well (by our governemt and organisations), people from Western Europe aren´t interested in poorer or transformed countries...And, still it is considered to be a part of Eastern Europe (it is a huge misunderstanding), to be a poor country (in some way YES, BUT the things are changing and the thinking of people from Western Europe is not). And what to do? How can such states like Slovakia repair their damaged, laying and deformed image abroad? Is it possible? Thats the question...

Yes, I absolutely agree. Prices are going to be higher with or without euro currency. It´s economicly declared that the influence of euro currency on inflation rate has been very small in all euro-zone-members, the feel that everything is more expensive is right, but the cause is different from that one you talked about,Wingnutt. Except from this, Slovakia became a destination for new VW investition (new factory) in this financial crisis mainly because Slovakia adopted euro (not only because of cost of labour, because in Romania are the costs of labour´s selleries much lower).

Yes, indeed, they do have. Not a lot of people know that Czechoslovakia was federation created by two nations with different languages, culture and habits (on the other side not so different to be incomprehensible), so the whole system of government, media etc. were organised on a biligual principle.

I know about fiendishly good language skills of Dutchmen, and I´m really very happy that such small nation was able to preserve its independence and to develop itself to the one of the richiest and most successful nations. I hope Slovakia is going to follow the success-story of Netherlands.

Yes, for nations in Europe, there are some very important languages. From my point of view the first language (languages) which should be spoken and taught in EU states should be the official language (languages) of particular countries. Of course, after that there is English, but to answer the question, in my region of Europe, German language is spread and very important (because of mutual economic cooperation and German and Austrian investitions in my country). And all of our people (also children) understand and speak Czech language because of our common history, similarity of languages and very good international relations. After that also French and Russian are quite popular. My first language is Slovak, but since my early childhood I have been speaking also Czech. As a pupil I started with German, after that I had to choose the next langguage - it was English, and finally, at the university, I´m learning the third (actually fourth, if I would count Czech) foreign language - Russian. Spanish language is beautiful, but I would prefer Chinese or Arabic.

You´re right. That is. If there is a general mood of depression (not only the economic one), everything is going to be worse. The only we have to do is to trust (because there is a general lack of trustworthiness now)...and not to think about depression/recession (or even about the world war wich is necessarily comming, as some people have already written).

Well, not so bad, no depression (or recession) at the moment, historically lowest rate of unemployment, highest rate of GDP growth in the EU and OECD, since january 2009 Slovakia is going to be a member of eurozone; except for Austria and the Czech Republic the highest life standard in the central and eastern european region...Maby its still not one of the most developed countries, but Slovakia made a big progress (only 20 years after the velvet revolution Slovakia is going to be classified as a free market and developed economy).

Good evening, actually the solving of problems (or no-problems) with Hungarians in western Ukraine was maby very similar to the referendum in this region, which declared that Zakarpatská Ukrajina was not eastern part of the Slovak land (region of the Czechoslovak republic) from that moment and that it became a part of the USSR (1945). Well, it was maby more than a quarter of area of Slovak land. After the export of Slovaks and Rutherians from this territory to Czechoslovakia the referendum was rreally clear :). One point why the EU and its member states (Czech republic, Slovakia, Poland etc.) support Georgia in this conflict. So or so, you are right, there shouldn´t be soldiers of Russia and of NATO. I wrote there should operate the forces of OSN. And who is more competent to solve international conflicts? It´s very sad that in a lot of countries OSN = NATO. And it would be irresponsible to invite Chineese forces, because the state which has problems with keeping the human rights in its own regions should not be responsible for democratic and peaceful solving of foreign conflicts. I´m sorry YOU as an European and Slavic, a member of brother-nation, would accept Chineese help rather than European :(. I´m surprised that Russia doesn´t except these regions as independent states in this moment, although our media are saying that Russia is the only one state which accepted these regions as independent states...and that its still supporting them in their fight for independence. But as you wrote, we can´t solve this problem. I want to say I was very pleased to discuss with you and I look forward to writing with you later at ask500people.com. Have a nice week.

Good afternoon. At a lot of points I agree with You. But I personally can´t agree with you in the point of making the common nation in this state. The identity of every nation and nationality should be saved. Because from making one nation could profit the biggest nationality, majority and culture, traditions and typical life of minorities could be endangered. But very good is status of citizen of particular state. So for example, Hungarian in SLovakia is inhabitant of the Slovak republic but so called Slovak Hungarian. Hungarians in Slovakia can use their own language, all transparents, commercials, their newspapers are written in Hungarian language, in these areas is Hungarian used as business and teaching language, Slovak television broadcasts some Hungarians programmes. Maybe you won´t believe but also in Slovakia (and also Czechoslovakia) were problems which were similar to the problems in Giorgia. Finally we managed to save our land and areas in the south and to build a new school and social system and good relations with Hungarians in SK (CS before). BUT: there was no state which would accept the declaration of independence of these regions where Hungarians lived (but Hungary sometimes really didn´t accept the independence of the Slovak/Czechoslovak republic, very similar to the reactions of Russia!!!). Unlike the situation in Slovakia, Russia made a wrong step: Russia accepted the act of declaring independence of S.Ossetia and Abchasia! It was wrong decission, because it started a wave of anxiety in Georgia. The same wrong step made EU by accepting of independence of Kosovo. Although the aims of EU weren´t bad: they only wanted to have peace in two will-be-member states of EU. Good aims, bad way. And only one note: Russia doesn´t reduse the same rules in two Georgian regions and in Chechnya. Maby that´s the reason why Russia is often considered to be an agressor although its not true. And, I would say, the intervention of foreign force is needed, but so said, why Russian army? Why not official forces of OSN? Wouldn´t be it all more objective?? Its only a question... And, have you ever been to Cyprus? I think no one inhabitant of Cyprus would agree with you the Cypreese solution was good. No, it was the same like in Georgia. One big state accepted new "state" in the north (Turkey in this case). And this North-cypreese Turkish Republic started its existence. But from my point of view there is only one Cyprus, two biggest nationalities and a big Green line between them which doesnt solve this problem. It only wants to save status quo.

They they aren´t probably :D

Yes, you are right, my principle can´t be used generally. So, I suppose you are German, so, let me ask you, do you think that Austrians consider themselves to be Germans? As an inhabitant of the neighbour state of Austria I can see some differences between Germans and Austrians. Sorry, if you think I´m wrong it can be possible, I am not German or Austrian. You know, there was Mr. Hitler and his crazy ideas of the leading nation etc. I strongly disagree with his planes and ideas. Thats true that for exmaple Switzerland is specific state, but on the other side, you know that the existence of such state like Switzerland or Austria is strongly connected with long history, ´cause there were long periods of history when Austria was a part of Austrian-Hungarian state, Switzerland was independent also for longer time. As a European you certainly know that there are so many nations, nationalities and ethnic groups so its impossible to let every such group of people create its own state. I think for Europe would be better not to support creating of new states but supporting peace in multicultural states by creating low, school systems and other forms of services and infrastructure for minorities in these states and making policy which would give a signal to all inhabitants that they are equal and that the state can profit from its multiculturality (f.e. Slovakia). Trying to create a Hungarian autonomy or even new republic we would risk a really big international conflict (I dont tink the same like in Georgia but I´m sure there would be a big Slovak-Hungarian international hatred). Now about 10% of population are Hungarians and I´m personally convinced relations are on a high level. And my second point: maby such a big country as Canada can accept that some group of people would like to live in independent separate state but in my country and other small countries (Serbia, Georgia)I think its impossible because such small areas and nations are very weak and the next dividing of them means a loss of their identity. But you´re right about my principle, it can´t be used generally, maby when I wrote this I was influenced by the situation in my country and in the whole central and eastern Europe.