Leaders commemorate Czechoslovakia’s centenary in Paris

PARIS – Leaders of France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have met in Paris to commemorate the centenary of the creation of the Czechoslovakia military, which prompted the country’s independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

On June 30, 1918, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire was collapsing, France became the first country to formally recognize Czechoslovakia’s new government, paving the way to the country’s proclamation of independence later that year.

The country peacefully separated into two independent Republics in 1993 after the fall of communism in Europe.

in a joint declaration with Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini and Czech counterpart Andrej Babis Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe to find a way back to “unity” despite the migrant crisis.