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In less than one month, the Czech Republic will mark an historic anniversary: 90 years since the founding of Czechoslovakia. To commemorate this day, the Czech Senate has put the original of the Pittsburgh Agreement, a document that created the basis for the new state, on display. On Monday, the US ambassadors to the Czech Republic and Slovakia presented the document to the head of the Czech Senate, Přemysl Sobotka. Ruth Fraňková has the details.

January 6, or Three Kings Day, is often thought of as the end of the Christmas period. It is less well known as one of the anniversaries of Czechoslovak independence – that is more commonly celebrated on October 28. But, on January 6 some 90 years ago, Czech politicians unanimously signed a declaration, calling for a united Czechoslovakia, free from Habsburg rule. While the Habsburg monarchy stepped in and censored the document, some historians credit the so-called Three Kings Declaration with getting the ball rolling towards Czechoslovak independence.

This Sunday marked the 89th anniversary of the founding of independent Czechoslovakia, a holiday on which the Czech president addresses the nation and honours individuals for outstanding service for their country.

The Czech Republic commemorates the 89th anniversary of the foundation of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918. President Vaclav Klaus laid wreaths on Sunday to the grave of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the founder of Czechoslovakia and its first president. A commemorative ceremony will be held on Sunday evening at Prague Castle where distinguished Czech personalities will be decorated. Among those who will receive awards are Anna Honova, an anti-communist resistance fighter, Marie Goretti Boltnarova, a member of the catholic order of Sisters of Mercy, Second World War veteran Stanislav and visual artist Oldrich Kulhanek who designed the currently used Czech banknotes.

At the traditional October 28th ceremony at the national memorial on Prague's Vitkov Hill, a minute of silence was held to commemorate those who fell in battle and wreaths were laid at the memorial of Hussite warrior Jan Zizka. Besides hundreds of spectators, the event was attended by senior politicians like the president, prime minister, defence minister, and Senate chairman, as well as the Army's chief-of-staff, and members of the Czechoslovak Union of Freedom Fighters.

A separate ceremony was also held in Prague's National Museum on Saturday, organised annually by the Czechoslovak Union of Freedom Fighters and the Union of Czechoslovak Legions.

Czechs marked the 88th anniversary of the foundation of an independent Czechoslovak state on Saturday. The national holiday continues to be celebrated in the Czech Republic although Czechoslovakia no longer exists. The country split into two separate states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia - on January 1st 1993. Neighbouring Slovakia no longer marks the event with a state holiday.

As has become tradition for every seated Czech head of state, President Vaclav Klaus marked October 28th with several events. At Lany, near Prague, Mr Klaus laid a wreath at the grave of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the founder and first president of Czechoslovakia. The Czech President also received foreign diplomats.

At a ceremony at Prague Castle on Saturday evening, President Klaus will award state honours and medals of bravery to over twenty personalities. Though it has not been revealed who will receive the state distinctions, it is believed that they will include cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova, Chairwoman of the Confederation of Political Prisoners Nadezda Kavalirova, football legend Josef Masopust, and actress Iva Janzurova.

The 28th October is an unlikely date for Czechs to be celebrating their national holiday. After all, it commemorates the founding of a state that no longer exists. Czechoslovakia was established in 1918 with the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy at the end of World War I, and was relegated to the history books 74 years later, when Czechs and Slovaks - or rather their political leaders - decided to go their separate ways at the end of 1992. While Slovaks quickly forgot their old national day, Czechs went on as if nothing had happened. To this day

The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, is facing criticism from a number of politicians, who say Friday's address marking the 87th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia was too political. Besides stressing that Czechs should value their independence, President Klaus warned of European integration and EU rules and regulations.

To Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek such anti-EU sentiment was misplaced as it is not shared by the majority of Czech citizens. The Communist Party's Pavel Kovacik believes the President took the opportunity to use the address as a pre-election speech - the general elections are to be held next year and the chances of a victory for the opposition right-of-centre Civic Democrats, which Mr Klaus founded, look promising. Most of the leading Czech press also criticised the presidential address, saying that Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak president, would have supported European integration.

This Friday is a national holiday in the Czech Republic, marking the 87th anniversary of the founding of the first Czechoslovak state. The "Velvet Divorce" of January 1993 saw Czechoslovakia split into two separate states, the Czech Republic, which continues to celebrate the October 28 holiday, and Slovakia, which no longer does. To mark the occasion, the seated Czech president traditionally lays a wreath at the statue of the first Czechoslovak president, Tomas G Masaryk, and receives foreign diplomats at Prague Castle.