Vesna from Czechia will soon be taking to the Eurovision grand final stage - and Eurovision fans are all asking the same thing: what is Czechia and where is it? Czechia is simply another name for the Czech Republic, a landlocked country in central Europe.
The capital of Czechia is Prague, known as 'Praha' in the Czech language, and the country is bordered by Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Germany
Back in 2017, media agency the AP Stylebook reported: "Country name: the Czech Republic. The government says Czechia can be used in English communications, but it hasn't caught on."
On July 1, 2022, the Stylebook updated its online entry about the country and said: "Czechia, the Czech Republic. Both are acceptable. The shorter name Czechia is preferred by the Czech government. If using Czechia, clarify in the story that the country is more widely known in English as the Czech Republic."
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Describing the country, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union states: "On a European scale, the Czech Republic is a medium-sized country. It became an independent state in 1993 after a peaceful split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Although it is a relatively young country, it builds on more than a thousand-year history of its statehood.
"The Czech Republic lies in Central Europe. Its geographical position makes it a natural crossroads of the main transit corridors. The Czech Republic is a democratic state with a stable political and social environment, and a functioning legal system. The values that the Czech foreign policy builds on are in full accordance with the principles and objectives supported by the EU in its external relations: democracy, rule of law, universality and indivisibility of human rights, respect for human dignity, equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
"The history, culture and natural beauty of Czechia represent an important part of the European and world cultural heritage. The Czech Republic cares for its cultural and natural heritage with a view to preserving it for the next generations. It also provides substantial support to contemporary art."
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