Slovakia's Foreign Ministry plans to create a digital register of Slovaks living abroad. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár announced the initiative after presenting awards to eight members of Slovak communities overseas. According to the ministry, around 1.8 million Slovaks live in 65 countries around the world.
Blanár said the government will continue supporting Slovak weekend schools abroad, helping provide language textbooks and ensuring access to qualified teachers so younger generations can maintain their connection to the Slovak language.
At the same event, Claude Baláž, head of the National Memorial of Slovak Emigration Foundation, renewed plans to establish a memorial dedicated to Slovak emigration and the lives of Slovaks abroad. He noted that the project's foundation stone was laid in Bratislava's Petržalka district back in 2000.
Blanár welcomed the proposal, saying Slovakia owes such recognition to generations of people who left the country for various reasons throughout its history.
He added that Slovaks living abroad remain an integral part of the nation and represent an important intellectual and cultural asset that helps promote Slovakia around the world.
Source: TASR
