Original version

BBC World Service Online

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce'

Documentaries

Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce'

31/01/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce'

Two former Prime Ministers describe how they split Czechoslovakia in two in 1993

30 years ago, Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 

The Prime Ministers who orchestrated it, Václav Klaus and Vladimír Mečiar, speak to Ben Henderson.

30 years ago this month, Czechoslovakia split into the separate states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 

It was a rare instance of a state separating without a single life being lost. Thanks to this it became known as the ‘Velvet Divorce’. 

Rather than putting it to a vote, the country and its assets were divided behind closed doors by the Czech and Slovak leaders, Václav Klaus and Vladimír Mečiar, who became the Prime Ministers of their newly independent states. Ben Henderson speaks to both of them about their memories from the time.

(Photo: Václav Klaus and Vladimír Mečiar negotiate the split. Credit: Zehl Igor/ČTK)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce'

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service