I. Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between Greece and Slovakia began when the latter gained independence on 01/01/1993, while Greeces representation in Slovakia dates from the establishment of the Greek Embassy in Bratislava in September 1996.

II. Framework of Treaties

The Framework of Treaties between Greece and Slovakia includes agreements still in force with both Czechoslovakia and Slovakia.

A) Main Agreements between Greece and Czechoslovakia still in force

- Accord of friendship, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement (Prague, 08/06/1929)

- Agreement on Tourist Cooperation (Prague, 27/03/1980)

- Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion (Athens, 23/10/1986)

- Consular Treaty (Athens, 22/10/1980).

- Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation (Prague, 04/07/1984)

- Agreement on International Road Transport (Athens, 06/06/1977)

- Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (Prague, 10/02/1976)

- Agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments (Prague, 03/06/1991)

B) Agreements between Greece and Slovakia

- Protocol for the continuation in force of the Agreement between Greece and Czechoslovakia on the avoidance of double taxation (16/05/1995).

- Transport Protocol (Bratislava, 26/04/1996).

- Agreement on Air Transport (Athens, 08/04/1997)

- Agreement on military cooperation between the Greek and Slovakian Ministries of National Defense (Bratislava, 27/01/1998)

- Agreement between Greece and Slovakia on economic and technological cooperation (Athens, 16/10/1997)

- Protocol of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of Greece and Slovakia (Athens, 18/02/1999).

- Memorandum of Cooperation on strategic maritime transport (Multinational Coordination Centre for Strategic Maritime Transport) (Athens, 18/11/2008)

- Memorandum of Cooperation on the Defense Industry (Athens, 18/11/2008)

III. Political relations

The accession of Slovakia to Euro-Atlantic institutions (EU and NATO) in 2004 further strengthened its relations with Greece.

On 09/11/2006, Prime Minister Mr. K. Karamanlis visited Bratislava and had talks with Slovakias Prime Minister Mr. Fico (within the framework of his participation in the 10th Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the EPP-ED Group of the European Parliament).

On the Slovakian side, Prime Minister Mr. Robert Fico carried out a visit to Athens on 3 March 2008 and the President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Ivan Gasparovic, carried out a state visit to Greece on 18-20 November 2008.

Earlier visits include: In 2000, the then President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Schuster, visited Athens. The former President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Stephanopoulos, carried out a visit to Slovakia in 2002.The then Greek Prime Minister also visited Slovakia in September 2001.

IV. Educational/Cultural Relations

Educational relations between the two countries are governed by the Agreement on Cultural, Educational Cooperation between Greece and then Czechoslovakia (Prague, 10/2/1976). It was agreed to keep the agreement in force following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.In implementation of this agreement, a special programme has been concluded to be renewed on a biannual basis (last renewal on 27/02/2004 for the period 2004-2006) concerning scholarship for graduate and postgraduate studies in Greek language and culture, as well as scholarships for Greek-language seminars over the summer.

In Slovakia, the modern Greek language is taught at the School of Philosophy of Comenius University in Bratislava. Modern Greek is also taught at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Presov.

During a visit by a group of officials of the Secretariat General for Research and Technology in Bratislava (November 2004), a new protocol on bilateral cooperation was signed with the Slovak Ministry of Education, and it was based on this agreement that 17 proposals for academic and applied research projects were approved, to be participated in by researchers from both Greece and Slovakia.

It should be noted that in March 2006, the Prefecture of Athens awarded the honorary Ambassador of Hellenism title to the distinguished Slovak historian, writer and Hellenist, Mr. Vojtech Zamarovsky.

V. The Greek community

Apart from some 80 students currently in Slovakia, there are no more than twenty Greeks, and no form of Greek community association. The FILIA Slovak-Hellenic Friendship Society has a majority of Slovak members.