Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 1, 1993 TAG: 9301010065
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA LENGTH: Medium
BELLS TOLL END FOR CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Czechs and Slovaks rang in the New Year in separate nations today, leaving behind a shared state that anchored central Europe from Germany to Ukraine but began fraying with the end of Communist rule.Bells tolled in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, and in Bratislava, the Slovakia capital, at midnight to launch the two newest countries in Europe.
The division of Czechoslovakia apparently came with a complete absence of the violence that plagued the country's 74-year existence in one of the 20th century's most troubled regions.
As a peaceful reassertion of national identities in the post-Communist world, the split offered an alternative to the violent break-ups of two other Slav-dominated federations, the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
"We did as best we could in the situation," Slovakia's Premier Vladimir Meciar told reporters late Thursday. "We did it democratically and quietly."
He said Slovakia was prepared to be on its own and pledged there would be no problems in its relation to the Czech Republic.
But the mood in Prague, the Czech capital, was regretful.
"Breakup of Czechoslovakia, despite the relief of the neighboring world over the peaceful divorce, has disappointed this world," said an editorial in the newspaper Lidove Noviny. "There is nothing to celebrate. Crying is useless."
Defying the gray winter mist hugging Bratislava, low-key celebrations held in the Slovak capital, included the raising of the new flag, songs, and fireworks to commemorate the birth of an independent country of 5.2 million people.
Many Slovaks welcomed the chance for independence after centuries of playing second fiddle, first to Hungary, which ruled Slovaks until after World War I, then to the more populous and urbane Czechs.
Their happiness was tempered by worry over the 12 percent unemployment rate and the fragile economy's dependence on Communist-era factories.
"The only thing I fear is that the nation will become nervous," said Ludovit Cernak, the Slovak economics minister, in an interview published Thursday. "If people massively begin to withdraw money from the banks and transfer it to Czech banks, everything would fall like a house of cards."
The division of property - setting up embassies, border and customs posts and separate currencies - was nearly complete. Many countries, including the United States, have consulates in Bratislava that could be upgraded to embassies.
The CTK news agency quoted Jan Klak, finance minister of the outgoing federal government, as saying there would be no limit on the movement of citizens for the time being, but 20 border crossings would open Sunday.