Assembly of the Slovak Matica (November 16–17) in Martin was held in a difficult situation, marked by the adoption of the Library Act, which excluded the Slovak National Library from the administration of the Slovak Matica. 2004 The General Assembly of Slovak Matica in Spišská Nová Ves adopted the Program Intentions for the period from 2004 to 2007 with a view to 2010, as well as the Memorandum of Slovaks at home and abroad. 2007 Slovak Matica organized the 1st European Congress of the Maticas of Slavic Nations, which was attended by representatives from all countries (Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine), where national Matica´s associations operate. 2008 The historically first meeting of the Government of the Slovak Republic with the participation of the highest constitutional officials and the Chairman of the Slovak Matica was held on January 2 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Slovak Republic in a residential building on Pavla Mudroňa Street in Martin. 2009 The Year of Jozef Cíger Hronský was opened as part of the Martin Matica´s Festival (August 2009 to July 2010) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Foreign Slovak Matica and the 50th anniversary of the death of Jozef Cíger Hronský. 2010 Slovak Matica in cooperation with the Nitra self-governing region, the city of Nitra, other cities and municipalities organized the 11th year of the World Festival of Slovak Youth from July 1 to 5. In November, the General Assembly of Slovak Matica in Martin elected Marián Tkáč as its new chairman, who took over Jozef Markuš after a twenty-year controversial presidency. 2013 The 2nd European Congress of the Maticas of Slavic Nations took place in Martin on August 1, 2013, which was attended by representatives of the Slovak Matica, Slovenian Matica, Silesian Matica, Matica bunjevacka, Czech Matica, Montenegro Matica, Serbian Matica (Lusatian-Serbian Matica in Germany), Slovak Matica in Transcarpathia, the Union of Slovaks in Croatia, the Slovak Matica in Serbia and the Forum of Slavic Cultures from Slovenia. The Congress Memorandum states: "We will intensify our cultural activities within national cultures and respect the values of minority and regional cultures, because ignoring them ultimately impoverishes the richness and diversity of the human spirit, which protects all cultures and languages of the world in the most diverse aspects." The National Maticas Festivities took place in Martin from August 1 to 4, culminating in