SNU commemorations also with Romanian partner
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- Date: 29.08.2016
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At the invitation of SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, Romanian Minister of National Defence Mihnea Ioan Motoc arrived in Slovakia for the 72nd anniversary commemorations of the Slovak National Uprising (SNU). Romania's officials regularly participate in the ceremonies in Banská Bystrica, as the country was a member of the anti-Nazi coalition and Romanian soldiers, too, made a considerable contribution to liberating Slovakia's territory. “We need to respect history, it is unchangeable. Even this way we wish to thank the Romanian nation, soldiers – warriors for their role, alongside the Red Army and other members of the anti-Nazi coalition, in fighting to bring liberty. Never ever should we forget the victims who died in the cause of liberty and democracy,” emphasised the SVK Minister of Defence, noting that liberty came to us from the East.
Still before the SNU commemorations in Banská Bystrica, Minister Gajdoš and his Romanian counterpart visited the Romanian Army Cemetery in Zvolen. “I feel honoured to have visited the cemetery where over 10,000 Romanian soldiers rest in peace. This is the largest military cemetery outside Romania,” said Minister of National Defence Mihnea Ioan Motoc.
In attendance at the SNU commemorations in Banská Bystrica were Slovakia's three top state representatives – SVK President Andrej Kiska, Chairman of the SVK National Council Andrej Danko, and Prime Minister Robert Fico. On the recommendation of the SVK Minister of Defence, the President appointed two direct participants in the insurgency movement – 1st Lieutenant Michal Peter, posthumously, and Colonel (Ret) Ludvík Šesták – into the rank of brigadier general. Brig Gen Emil Boček and Col Václav Kuchyňka, Czech WWII veterans and Deputy Chairmen of the Czechoslovak Legionnaire Community, awarded three Slovak prominent figures, including Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, with the Czechoslovak Legionnaire Community Plaquette for support of legionary and anti-Nazi traditions and veterans.
After attending the SNU commemorative event, the Ministers of Defence also met for a working lunch. They agreed that Slovakia and Romania share the same positions on key foreign policy issues. Both countries are NATO and EU members. A showcase example of the Slovak-Romanian military partnership is, first and foremost, the Multinational Engineer Battalion Tisa. Speaking at the occasion, the head of the SVK MOD thanked his counterpart for dispatching a Romanian soldier to the Slovak NATO Force Integration Unit (SVK NFIU).
SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš also remembered the SNU on 25 August at the SNU Memorial in Bratislava's SNU Square by paying his tribute to the memory of the 60,000 Slovak soldiers and 12,000 partisans who had participated in the struggle for national liberation. He noted that as we commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the SNU, these days we also mark the 24th anniversary of adopting the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, which had laid the foundations for building our modern democratic state. During a ceremonial gathering at the SVK MOD Club, he called on professional soldiers and civilian employees to support commemorative events through their presence, even without receiving official orders to do so.
Still before the SNU commemorations in Banská Bystrica, Minister Gajdoš and his Romanian counterpart visited the Romanian Army Cemetery in Zvolen. “I feel honoured to have visited the cemetery where over 10,000 Romanian soldiers rest in peace. This is the largest military cemetery outside Romania,” said Minister of National Defence Mihnea Ioan Motoc.
In attendance at the SNU commemorations in Banská Bystrica were Slovakia's three top state representatives – SVK President Andrej Kiska, Chairman of the SVK National Council Andrej Danko, and Prime Minister Robert Fico. On the recommendation of the SVK Minister of Defence, the President appointed two direct participants in the insurgency movement – 1st Lieutenant Michal Peter, posthumously, and Colonel (Ret) Ludvík Šesták – into the rank of brigadier general. Brig Gen Emil Boček and Col Václav Kuchyňka, Czech WWII veterans and Deputy Chairmen of the Czechoslovak Legionnaire Community, awarded three Slovak prominent figures, including Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, with the Czechoslovak Legionnaire Community Plaquette for support of legionary and anti-Nazi traditions and veterans.
After attending the SNU commemorative event, the Ministers of Defence also met for a working lunch. They agreed that Slovakia and Romania share the same positions on key foreign policy issues. Both countries are NATO and EU members. A showcase example of the Slovak-Romanian military partnership is, first and foremost, the Multinational Engineer Battalion Tisa. Speaking at the occasion, the head of the SVK MOD thanked his counterpart for dispatching a Romanian soldier to the Slovak NATO Force Integration Unit (SVK NFIU).
SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš also remembered the SNU on 25 August at the SNU Memorial in Bratislava's SNU Square by paying his tribute to the memory of the 60,000 Slovak soldiers and 12,000 partisans who had participated in the struggle for national liberation. He noted that as we commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the SNU, these days we also mark the 24th anniversary of adopting the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, which had laid the foundations for building our modern democratic state. During a ceremonial gathering at the SVK MOD Club, he called on professional soldiers and civilian employees to support commemorative events through their presence, even without receiving official orders to do so.
