Minister Gajdoš pays tribute to the heroes of the Battle of the Dukla Pass

Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš today paid tribute to the heroes of the Battle of the Dukla Pass (Carpatho-Dukla Offensive). The 73rd anniversary commemorations at the Dukla Pass Memorial were attended by the three highest state representatives, including Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko. Also in attendance was a Czech parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker of the Czech Parliament's Chamber of Deputies Jan Hamáček. At the “Gate to Freedom”, as the Dukla pass is symbolically called, Head of the SVK MOD presented veterans with commemorative plaquettes.
 
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Head of the SVK MOD said: “As a nation, never ever can weallow the memory of the heroes of theBattle of the Dukla Pass to fade into oblivion. The birth of our nation's freedom was not an easy one, and peace has never been and will never be a matter of course. As young people are often unaware of this, we are obliged to remind them of such events.” At the same time, he emphasised that there is a need for children and young people to visit memorial sites associated with the history of the Slovak Nation.
 
The commemorative gathering in tribute of the heroes of the Battle of the Dukla Pass today continued with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Statue of Army General Ludvík Svoboda and at the Soviet Army Monument in Svidník. Traditionally, distinguished guests were treated to a tour of the Museum of Military History Svidník and the Lookout Tower at Dukla.