The Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies presents a panel discussion titled “Making Democracy Work: Slovakia in the Last Decade” at 4 p.m. March 15 in the Palmer Commons Forum Hall.

Past and present Slovak Ambassadors to the United States Peter Burian (since 2008), Rastislav Kacer (2003-08) and Martin Butora (1999-2003), as well as author Zora Butorova, will join Ronald Weiser for a wide-ranging discussion of Slovakia’s democratic developments in honor of the 10th anniversary of Weiser’s appointment as the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia.

Since 2001 Slovakia has emerged as one of Central Europe’s most dynamic economies and democracies. After a challenging decade in the 1990s, when democratic practices and economic reforms were threatened, the country embarked on a program of policy innovation and reform. It became a member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and was among the first of the post-communist countries to adopt the Euro.

Weiser, a graduate of the U-M Business School, was U.S. ambassador to Slovakia from 2001-04. In addition to his diplomatic responsibilities, he was active both in preserving the cultural heritage of Slovakia and Poland, and in organizing three international investment conferences.

In recognition of his work, he received the White Double Cross in 2004 from Slovak President Rudolf Schuster, the highest award given to nonSlovaks, and the Cultural Pluralism Award from the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.

In 2008 Weiser and his wife, Eileen Lappin Weiser, made a gift to establish the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies.

For more information on the center and the panel discussion go to www.ii.umich.edu/wced.