Rudolf Schuster (January 4, 1934, Košice) – Civil engineer, since 1999 president of the Slovak Republic. After his graduation from the Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Construction in 1959, he worked at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, at the investment and management department in VSŽ, and later he served with the Košice National City Council. He was elected Mayor for the first time in 1983. In 1986 he became Chairman of the Eastern Slovak Regional National Council. In the years 1989 – 1990 he headed the Slovak National Council. Since 1990 he has worked in diplomatic service as an Ambassador of the former ČSFR to Canada. After returning, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. In 1994, he was elected for a second term, and again in 1998 for his third term as Mayor of Košice. In the first direct presidential elections in May 1999, Mr. Schuster was elected by the citizens for the President of the Slovak Republic and entered the office after the inauguration on June 15, 1999. Rudolf Schuster is the author of several travelogues, radioplays, radio shows, travel and documentary movies. Besides other honors and awards, Mr. Schuster has been awarded the highest state prize of the Slovak Republic, 1st Class Pribina Cross, as well as highest state prizes of Greece, Brazil, Romania, Lebanon, Argentina, Chile, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Italy, Vatican, and Luxemburg. He has honorary doctorates from prestigious universities in Germany, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Slovakia. © 2003 Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Post, s. o. e.

Sheet of 100 stamps