United States Ambassador to Slovakia
Encyclopedia
Until 1992 the Slovak Republic had been united with the Czech Republic
as the nation of Czechoslovakia
.
Following World War II, a U.S. consulate was established in Bratislava
, but the consulate was closed on May 27, 1950, on the order of the Czechoslovak government, at the height of the Cold War. In 1990 the consulate was reestablished in Bratislava. The Consulate was upgraded to the status of Consulate General on October 21, 1991. In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the Czech-Slovak federation dissolved peacefully
on January 1, 1993. The United States recognized the Slovak Republic as an independent state and established diplomatic relations
with it on January 1, 1993. The embassy in Bratislava was established January 4, 1993, with Mr. Hacker as Chargé d’Affaires
ad interim
. He was replaced by Eleanor Sutter on July 7, 1993. The first ambassador, Theodore E. Russell
was commissioned to Slovakia on November 22, 1993. The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Slovakia since 1993.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
as the nation of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
Following World War II, a U.S. consulate was established in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, but the consulate was closed on May 27, 1950, on the order of the Czechoslovak government, at the height of the Cold War. In 1990 the consulate was reestablished in Bratislava. The Consulate was upgraded to the status of Consulate General on October 21, 1991. In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the Czech-Slovak federation dissolved peacefully
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
on January 1, 1993. The United States recognized the Slovak Republic as an independent state and established diplomatic relations
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
with it on January 1, 1993. The embassy in Bratislava was established January 4, 1993, with Mr. Hacker as Chargé d’Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
ad interim
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
. He was replaced by Eleanor Sutter on July 7, 1993. The first ambassador, Theodore E. Russell
Theodore E. Russell
Theodore E. Russell was the first U.S. ambassador to Slovakia . He subsequently served as deputy commandant for international affairs at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania...
was commissioned to Slovakia on November 22, 1993. The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Slovakia since 1993.
Ambassadors
- Theodore E. RussellTheodore E. RussellTheodore E. Russell was the first U.S. ambassador to Slovakia . He subsequently served as deputy commandant for international affairs at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 22, 1993
- Presented credentialsLetter of CredenceA letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
: December 16, 1993 - Terminated mission: Left post March 29, 1996
- Ralph R. Johnson – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 18, 1996
- Presented credentials: April 4, 1996
- Terminated mission: Left post May 21, 1999
- Carl SpielvogelCarl SpielvogelCarl Spielvogel is a former United States ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Mr. Spielvogel was appointed to the post by President Bill Clinton on August 3, 2000 as a recess appointment. He presented his credentials on September 7, 2000 and served in that post until April 15, 2001...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 3, 2000
- Presented credentials: September 7, 2000
- Terminated mission: Left post April 15, 2001
- Ronald WeiserRonald WeiserRon Weiser was the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, elected to that office in February 2009. He previously served as Ambassador to Slovakia under President George W. Bush from late 2001 through the end of 2004....
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 26, 2001
- Presented credentials: January 5, 2002
- Terminated mission: Left post December 19, 2004
- Rodolphe M. “Skip” Vallee – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 21, 2005
- Presented credentials: August 23, 2005
- Terminated mission: Left post December 5, 2007
- Vincent ObsitnikVincent ObsitnikVincent Obsitnik was sworn-in as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Slovak Republic on November 9, 2007 and served in this role until January 20, 2009. Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Obsitnik was appointed in 2006 by President George...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 9, 2007
- Presented credentials: December 6, 2007
- Terminated mission: January 20, 2009
- Keith A. Eddins
- Title: Chargé d'Affaires
- Theodore Sedgwick – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 4, 2010
- Presented credentials: August 18, 2010
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Slovakia – United States relations
- Foreign relations of SlovakiaForeign relations of SlovakiaSlovak Republic has been a member of European Union since 2004. Slovakia has been an active participant in U.S.- and NATO-led military actions. There is a joint Czech-Slovak peacekeeping force in Kosovo. After the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the United States, the government opened its...
- Ambassadors of the United States