Slovakia

Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of over 49,000 square kilometers. Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, and Hungary to the south. The capital and largest city is Bratislava. Slovakia is a member of the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, the Visegrád Group, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The country is also a member of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement of people between member states. The Slovak economy is based on manufacturing, services, and agriculture. The country's main exports are machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and metals. Tourism is also an important sector of the economy. The history of Slovakia can be traced back to the 9th century, when the area was inhabited by Slavic tribes. In the 11th century, the territory was divided between Hungary and Poland. In the 12th century, Slovakia became a separate duchy under the Hungarian king. In 1918, Slovakia joined with the other former Austrian and Hungarian territories to form Czechoslovakia. After World War II, Czechoslovakia was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1968, the country was invaded by Warsaw Pact troops to crush the "Prague Spring" reforms. In 1989, the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved into its two constituent republics, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Slovakia is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral parliament. The head of state is the president, who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The prime minister is the head of government and is appointed by the president. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislature. The Constitution of Slovakia guarantees the right to a fair trial and the right to an appeal. Slovakia has a developed economy and a high standard of living. The country is ranked as the 28th most prosperous nation in the world by the Legatum Institute. Slovakia is also a member of the Eurozone and uses the euro as its currency.