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Gala Dinner Commemorating 20th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

On Wednesday November 18,2009 Friends of Slovakia (FOS) and the Slovak Embassy co-hosted a very special black-tie gala dinner at the Washington Golf & Country Club commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The dinner was attended by approximately 220 guests including Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, Slovak Ambassador Peter Burian and Representatives Joe Sestak, John Mica and Joe Wilson.

Representatives Sestak and Mica and U.S. Steel Corporation, the largest foreign investor in Slovakia, were presented with a special FOS award in honor of their support of Slovakia and US-Slovak relations. The award to U.S. Steel was accepted by John Surma, Chairman, President & CEO. Foreign Minister Lajcak was presented with the FOS Medal of Honor designed for FOS by leading Slovak American sculptress Klara Sever. In addition, guests included former Slovak Ambassadors to theUS Branislav Lichardus and Rastislav Kacer as well as former US Ambassadors to Slovakia Theodore Russell, Ralph Johnson, Rodolphe "Skip" Vallee and Vincent Obsitnik.

Minister Lajcak's remarks touched on US - Slovak friendship and the importance of the Velvet Revolution and its afermath in the "Velvet Divorce" of 1993, which created independent Slovak and Czech Republics. FormerAssistant Secretary of State for European & Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried attended on behalf of the Obama Administration and commented on the remarkable progress made by Slovakia since the events of 1989 that altered the course of history and brought profound change to the region and to the world.

Ed Zelenak, Slovak Honorary Consul from Michigan served as MC for the evening. His fellow Slovak Honorary Consuls who attended the Gala Dinner also organized a very successful silent auction with proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund for Roma children in Slovakia.

In November 1989, the Velvet Revolution in then-Czechoslovakia started the journey of the Czech and Slovak nations toward freedom, democracy and prosperity. In the 20 years that have elapsed since 1989, Slovakia has traveled a long and successful road. Today, Slovakia is a proud member of NATO and the EU and a strategic partner, friend and close ally of the United States of America. The progress made by the Slovak Republic since the Velvet Revolution and its independence in 1993 were worthy of a grand celebration like the one held on November 18.

Julie Slavik, Min. Lajcak, Rep. Mica

Rep. Sestak receiving award, Min. Lajcak, Bill Tucker

Rep. Sestak, Amb. Burian, Min. Lajcak, Rep. Mica and Rep.Wilson