Is a country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague (Czech: Praha). The country is composed of the historic regions of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as parts of Silesia. The Czech Republic has been a member of NATO since 1999 and of the European Union since 2004. From 1 January 2009 to 1 July 2009, the Czech Republic held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the Czech lands fell under Habsburg rule, becoming part of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and of Austria–Hungary in 1867. The independent Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire after World War I. After the Munich Agreement, German occupation of Czechoslovakia and the consequent disillusion with the Western response and gratitude for the liberation of the major portion of Czechoslovakia by the Red Army, the Communist party won plurality (38%) in the 1946 elections. In a 1948 coup d'état, Czechoslovakia became a communist-ruled state. In 1968, the increasing dissatisfaction culminated in attempts to reform the communist regime. The events, known as the Prague Spring of 1968, ended with an invasion by the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries (with the exception of Romania); the troops remained in the country until the 1989 Velvet Revolution, when the communist regime collapsed. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into its constituent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic is a pluralist multi-party parliamentary representative democracy. President Václav Klaus is the current head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government (currently Jan Fischer). The Parliament has two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group. The Czech Republic made economic reforms such as fast privatizations. Annual gross domestic product growth has been around 6% until the outbreak of the recent global economic crisis. The country is the first former member of the Comecon to achieve the status of a developed country according to the World Bank (2006) and the Human Development Index (2009), which ranks it as a "Very High Human Development" nation. History Please go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Czech_lands Geography Please go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Czech_Republic Other info Oficial name: Česká republika Independence (formed 9th century): from Austria-Hungary October 28, 1918 - Czechoslovakia dissolved January 1, 1993 Area: 78.866 km2 Inhabitants: 12.000.000 Languages: Bavarian [bar] 9,245 in Czech Republic (2000 WCD). North Bavarian is in Western Bohemia and in the north of Regensburg to Nuremburg; Central Bavarian is in the Alps and Lower Austria and Salzburg; South Bavarian is in the Bavarian Alps, Tyrol, Styria, including the Heanzian dialect of Burgenland, Carinthia, northern Italy, and part of Gottschee. Alternate names: Bayerisch, Bavarian Austrian. Dialects: Central Bavarian, North Bavarian, South Bavarian. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian More information. Czech [ces] 10,004,800 in Czech Republic (1990 WA). Population total all countries: 11,525,089. Western part, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia. Also spoken in Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Israel, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, USA. Alternate names: Cestina. Dialects: Central Bohemian, Czecho-Moravian, Hanak, Lach (Yalach), Northeast Bohemian, Southwest Bohemian. All Czech and Slovak dialects are inherently intelligible to each other's speakers. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak More information. Czech Sign Language [cse] Dialects: Partially intelligible with French Sign Language. Classification: Deaf sign language More information. German, Standard [deu] 50,000 in Czech Republic (1998). In the Erzgebirge, a mountain range along the border of Czech Republic. Dialects: Erzgebirgisch. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German More information. Polish [pol] 50,000 in Czech Republic. Alternate names: Polski. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, West, Lechitic More information. Romani, Carpathian [rmc] 220,000 in Czech Republic (1980 UBS). Population includes Slovakia. Population total all countries: 461,000. Central, Bohemia, and Moravia. Also spoken in Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, USA. Alternate names: Bashaldo, Romungro, Hungarian-Slovak Romani. Dialects: Moravian Romani, East Slovakian Romani, West Slovakian Romani. Not intelligible with Vlax Romani or Angloromani. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern More information. Romani, Sinte [rmo] 5,100 in Czech Republic (2004). Alternate names: Rommanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane. Dialects: Lallere. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern More information. Silesian, Lower [sli] Alternate names: Lower Schlesisch. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German Nearly extinct. More information. Extinct languages Knaanic [czk] Extinct. Alternate names: Canaanic, Leshon Knaan, Judeo-Slavic. Dialects: Judeo-Czech. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak Capital city: Praha Meaning of the country name: From Čechové (Češi, i.e. Czechs), the name of one of the Slavic tribes on the country's territory, which subdued the neighboring Slavic tribes around 900. The origin of the name of the tribe itself remains unknown. According to a legend, it comes from their leader Čech, who brought them to Bohemia. Most scholarly theories regard Čech as a sort of obscure derivative, i.e. from Četa (military unit). Bohemia (Latin and traditional English variant): after a Celtic tribe Boii. Description flag: The flag of the Czech Republic is the same as the flag of the former Czechoslovakia. Upon the dissolution of Czechoslovakia the Czech Republic kept the Czechoslovak flag while the Slovak Republic adopted its own flag The flag contains red and white colors derived from the ancient Coat of arms of Bohemia; because the flag was almost identical with the Polish flag and had the same colors as the Austrian flag, a blue wedge was added in 1920. (The version without the wedge is identical to the flag of Bohemia.) The blazon is per pall fesswise Argent, Azure, and Gules. The flag has been officially approved by the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia (ČSR) on 30 March 1920. Since then, the flag has been used continuously, excluding the World War II occupation years. Coat of arms: The Coat of Arms of the Czech Republic (Czech: Státní znak České republiky) displays the three historical regions which make up the nation. The arms of Bohemia show a silver double-tailed lion on a red background1. It is repeated in the lower-left-hand side of the coat of arms (from the perspective of the person holding the shield). The Moravian red-and-silver chequered eagle is shown on a blue blackground. The arms of Silesia are a black eagle with the so-called "clover stalk" in his breast on a golden background, although only a small south-eastern part of the historical region of Silesia belongs to the Czech Republic (see Czech Silesia). The shield is also used as the badge for the Czech national football team and Czech national ice hockey team Motto: "Pravda vítězí" National Anthem: Kde domov můj Czech national anthem lyrics Kde domov můj, kde domov můj? Voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj! Original Czech lyrics (from Fidlovačka, 1834) Kde domov můj!? Kde domov můj!? Voda hučí po lučinách bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ zemský ráj to na pohled! a to jest ta krásná země, země česká domov můj! země česká domov můj! Kde domov můj!? Kde domov můj!? V kraji znáš-li bohumilém duše outlé v těle čilém, mysl jasnou, vznik a zdar a tu sílu vzdoru zmar, to je Čechů slavné plemě mezi Čechy domov můj! mezi Čechy domov můj! English translation Where is my home? Where is my home? Waters roar across the meads Pinewoods rustle upon the cliff-rocks, Bloom of spring shines in the orchard, Paradise on Earth to see! And that is the beautiful land, The Czech land, my home! The Czech land, my home! Where is my home? Where is my home? If, in the heavenly land, you have met Tender souls in agile frames, Of clear mind, vigorous and prospering, And with a strength that frustrates all defiance, That is the glorious race of Czechs, Among the Czechs (is) my home! Among the Czechs, my home! Internet Page: www.czech.cz www.czechtourism.com Czech Rep. in diferent languages eng: Czech Republic ast | glg | spa: República Checa ces | slk: Česká republika hrv | slv: Češka republika kin | run: Republika ya Ceke lim | nld: Tsjechische Republiek afr: Tjeggiese Republiek arg: Republica Checa aze: Çex Respublikası / Чех Республикасы bam: Ceki bos: Češka Republika / Чешка Република bre: Republik Tchek cat: República Txeca cor: Repoblek Chek cos: Republica Cecca crh: Çehiya Cumhuriyeti / Чехия Джумхуриети csb: Czeskô Repùblika cym: Gweriniaeth Tsiec dan: Den Tjekkiske Republik deu: Tschechische Republik / Tſchechiſche Republik dsb: Česka republika epo: Ĉeĥa Respubliko est: Tšehhi Vabariik eus: Txekiar errepublika fao: Lýðveldið Kekkia fin: Tšekin tasavalta / Tshekin tasavalta fra: République tchèque frp: Rèpublica tch•èca fry: Tsjechyske Republyk fur: Republiche Ceche gag: Çehiya Respublikası / Чехия Республикасы gla: Poblachd na Seice; Poblachd nan Seacach; Poblachd nan Seic gle: Poblacht na Seice / Poblaċt na Seice glv: Yn Phobblaght Çheck hat: Repiblik Tchèk hau: Czechiya hsb: Čěska republika hun: Cseh Köztársaság ibo: Chekia ina: Republica Chec ind: Republik Ceko / ريڤوبليك چيكو isl: Lýðveldið Tékkland ita: Repubblica Ceca jav: Republik Ceko jnf: Républyique Tchèque kaa: Chex Respublikası / Чех Республикасы kal: Tjekkia kmr: Çêxî / Ч’ехи / چێخی; Çêkî / Ч’еки / چێکی kur: Komara Çekiyayê / کۆمارا چەکیایێ lat: Res Publica Cecha; Res Publica Tzecha; Res Publica Bohemica lav: Čehijas Republika lin: Republiki Sheki lit: Čekijos Respublika lld: Republica Ceca ltz: Tschechesch Republik / Tſchecheſch Republik mlg: Repoblika Tseky mlt: Repubblika Ċeka mol: Republica Cehă / Република Чехэ mri: Taika msa: Republik Czech / ريڤوبليك چيك nds: Tschechisch Republiek / Tſchechiſch Republiek nno: Den tsjekkiske republikken nob: Den tsjekkiske republikk nrm: Républlique tchièque oci: Republica Chèca pol: Republika Czeska por: República Checa; República Tcheca que: Chiksuyu rmy: Republika Čexiya / रेपुब्लिका चेख़िया roh: Republica tscheca ron: Republica Cehă rup: Republica Cehia scn: Ripùbbrica Ceca slo: Cxehju Republik / Чехйу Републик sme: Čeahka republihkka smg: Čekėjės Respoblėka smo: Siekia sqi: Republika Çeke srd: Repùbrica Ceca swa: Jamhuri ya Czech swe: Tjeckiska republiken szl: Rypublika Česko tet: Repúblika Xeka tgl: Republika ng Sek; Republika ng Tsek ton: Lepāpulika Sekí tuk: Çeh Jumhuriýäti / Чех Җумхурийәти tur: Çek Cumhuriyeti uzb: Chexiya Respublikasi / Чехия Республикаси vie: Cộng hòa Séc vol: Tjegän; Tsyegän vor: Tsehhi Vabariik wln: Republike Tcheke wol: Réewum Cek zza: Çekıstan chu: Чешьско (Češĭsko) krc | kum: Чехия (Čeĥija) tyv | udm: Чех Республика (Čeĥ Respublika) abq: Чешска Ареспублика (Češska Arespubłika) alt: Чешский Республика (Češskij Respublika) bak: Чех Республикаһы / Çeĥ Respublikahı bel: Чэшская Рэспубліка / Češskaja Respublika; Чэская Рэспубліка / Českaja Respublika bul: Чешка република (Češka republika) che: Чешски Республика (Čеšski Respublika) chm: Чехий Республика (Čeĥij Respublika) chv: Чехи Республики (Čеĥi Respubliki) kaz: Чех Республикасы / Çex Respwblïkası / چەح رەسپۋبليكاسى kbd: Чешскэ Республикэ (Čеšskă Respublikă) kir: Чех Республикасы (Čeĥ Respublikasy) kjh: Чешскай Республика (Češskaj Respublika) kom: Чешскӧй Республика (Čеšsköj Respublika) mkd: Чешка Република (Češka Republika) mon: Бүгд Найрамдах Чех Улс (Bügd Najramdaĥ Čeĥ Uls) oss: Чехаг Республикӕ (Čeĥag Respublikä) rus: Чешская Республика (Češskaja Respublika) srp: Чешка Република / Češka Republika tat: Чех республикасы / Çex respublikası tgk: Ҷумҳурии Чех / جمهوری چخ / Çumhuriji Cex ukr: Чеська Республіка (Čes'ka Respublika) xal: Чех Таңһч (Čeĥ Taṅġč) ara: جمهورية التشيك (Ǧumhūrīyâtu t-Tišīk) fas: جمهوری چک (Jomhūrī-ye Ček) prs: جمهوری چک (Jomhūrī-ye Ček) pus: چېک جمهوريت (Ček Jumhūriyat) uig: چېخ جۇمھۇرىيىتى / Chéx jumhuriyiti / Чех җумһурийити urd: چیک جمہوریہ (Čæk Jumhūrīyâ); چیک ریپبلک (Čæk Rīpablik) div: ޗެކް ރިޕަބްލިކް (Ček Ripablik) syr: ܩܘܛܢܝܘܬܐ ܬܫܝܟܝܬܐ (Qūṭniyūtā Tšēkītā) heb: הרפובליקה הצ׳כית (ha-Repûblîqah ha-Čeḫît), הרפובליקה של צ׳כיה (ha-Repûblîqah šel Čeḫyah) lad: ריפובליקה ג'יקה / Republika Cheka yid: טשעכישע רעפּובליק (Tšeḫiše Republik) amh: ቼክ ሪፐብሊክ (Ček Ripäblik) ell-dhi: Τσεχική Δημοκρατία (Tseĥikī́ Dīmokratía) ell-kat: Τσεχικὴ Δημοκρατία (Tseĥikī̀ Dīmokratía) hye: Չեխիայի Հանրապետություն (Č̣eĥiayi Hanrapetouṭyoun) kat: ჩეხეთის რესპუბლიკა (Č̣eĥeṭis respublika) hin: चेक गणराज्य (Ček Gaṇrājyā); चेक रिपब्लिक (Ček Ripablik) nep: चेक रिपब्लिक (Cek Ripablik) ben: চেক প্রজাতন্ত্র (Ček Prôjātôntrô) pan: ਚੈਕ ਗਣਰਾਜ (Čæk Gaṇrāj) kan: ಚೆಕ್ ಗಣರಾಜ್ಯ (Ček Gaṇarājya) mal: ചെക്ക് റിപ്പബ്ലിക് (Čekk Ṟippablik) tam: செக் குடியரசு (Ček Kuṭiyaraču) tel: చెక్ రిపబ్లిక్ (Ček Ripablik) zho: 捷克共和国 (Jiékè Gōnghéguó) yue: 捷克共和国 (Jithāk Guhngwòhgwok) jpn: チェコ共和国 (Cheko Kyōwakoku) kor: 체코공화국 (Cheko Gonghwaguk) bod: ཅེ་ཁེ་ (Če.kʰe.) dzo: ཅེཀ་རི་པབ་ལིཀ་ (Ček Ri.pab.lik.) mya: ခ္ယက္သမ္မတနုိင္ငံ (Čeʿ Ṯãmátánaĩṅã) tha: สาธารณรัฐเช็ก (Sātʰāronrât Čʰek); สาธารณรัฐเช็ค (Sātʰāronrât Čʰek) lao: ເຊັກກີ (Sekkī) khm: សាធារណរដ្ឋឆេក (Sātʰāroṇrod[tʰ] Čʰek); សាធារណរដ្ឋឆែក (Sātʰāroṇrod[tʰ] Čʰæk)