The Guinness Encyclopedia

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Extensible Markup Language | 1995-06-15 | 5KB | 19 lines

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!DOCTYPE card PUBLIC "-//Apple, Inc.//DTD card V 2.0//EN" "" > <card> <id>43041</id> <filler1>0</filler1> <cantDelete> <false /> </cantDelete> <showPict> <true /> </showPict> <dontSearch> <false /> </dontSearch> <owner>5472</owner> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet_3106.css" /> <content> <layer>background</layer> <id>31</id> <text>SLOVAKIAOfficial name: Republika Slovensk├í (Slovak Republic)Member of: UN, CEFTA, OSCEArea: 49 036 km2 (18 933 sq mi)Population: 5330000 (1993 est)Capital: Bratislava 444000 (including suburbs; 1991 census)Other major cities: Kosice 235000, Nitra 90000, Presov 88000 (including suburbs; 1991 census)Languages: Slovak (87%), Hungarian (12%)Religions: Roman Catholic (60%), Evangelical Churches (6%).GOVERNMENTThe 150-member Assembly is elected under a system of proportional representation by universal adult suffrage for four years. The Assembly elects a President for a five-year term. The President appoints a Prime Minister and a Council of Ministers, responsible to the Assembly.GEOGRAPHYSlovakia mainly comprises mountain ranges, including the Tatra Mountains, which rise to Gerlachovka at 2655 m (8737 ft) on the Polish border. The only significant lowlands are in the south adjoining the River Danube. Climate: The climate is continental with warm, relatively dry, summers and cold winters.ECONOMYSlovakia has a mainly agricultural economy into which heavy industry ΓÇô particularly steel and chemicals ΓÇô was introduced when the country was part of Communist Czechoslovakia. Wheat, maize, potatoes, barley and sheep are important. Varied natural resources include iron ore and brown coal. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia about two-thirds of Slovak industry was privatized, but independent Slovakia has slowed the privatization of its uncompetitive out-of-date factories. Currency: Slovakian koruna.HISTORYSlovakia was part of Hungary from the 11th century, although when most of Hungary fell to the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century, Slovakia remained in the hands of the Habsburgs. Slovak nationalism grew in the 19th century and increased Magyarization under the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy (1867ΓÇô1918) was greatly resented. On the collapse of the Habsburg Empire (1918), the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. When HitlerΓÇÖs Germany dismembered Czechoslovakia in 1938, Slovakia became an Axis puppet state. A popular revolt against German rule (the Slovak Uprising) took place in 1944. Following liberation (1945) Czechoslovakia was re-established.After the Communist takeover in 1948, heavy industry was introduced into rural Slovakia. In 1968, moves by Party Secretary Alexander Dubcek (a Slovak) to introduce political reforms met with Soviet disapproval, and invasion by CzechoslovakiaΓÇÖs Warsaw Pact allies. The conservative wing of the Communist party regained control until 1989, when student demonstrations developed into a peaceful revolution. The Communist Party renounced its leading role. A new government, in which Communists were in a minority, was appointed. In 1990 free multi-party elections were held, Soviet troops were withdrawn and the foundations of a market economy were laid, but the pace of economic reform brought distress to Slovakia, whose old-fashioned industries were ill-equipped to face competition. Increased Slovak separatism led to the division of the country in 1993. Independent Slovakia faces possible tension concerning a large Hungarian minority. Slovakia has achieved associate status of the EU/EC and aspires to full membership.</text> </content> <name>Slovakia</name> <script></script> </card>