BANSKA BYSTRICA, August 29, (WEBNOVINY) – About 2,500 people attended the official celebration of the 66th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising in Banska Bystrica on Sunday. They were addressed by President Ivan Gasparovic, Deputy Speakers of the Slovak Parliament Milan Hort and Robert Fico, Chairman of the Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters Pavel Seckar and Deputy Chair of the Czech Union of Freedom Fighters Vasil Chymcak following the ceremony held to honor those who fell during the event. All of them highlighted in their speeches the important role of the Slovak National Uprising in the fight against totalitarianism and the combat for freedom.
Deputy Prime Minister Jozef Mihal, members of the Slovak Parliament, members of the Slovak Cabinet and representatives of foreign embassies to Slovakia as well as of the town of Banska Bystrica and the Banska Bystrica County also participated in the gathering. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova was present only at the ceremony to pay respect to the participants in the Uprising and headed to Kremnica shortly after a wreath was laid at the Memorial of the Slovak National Uprising. She told the media that, in her opinion, the message of the Slovak National Uprising for the present is that we must not be silent and stand in the corner but we must strive to defy the totalitarianism. “That there are values for which we must not only speak out but often also sacrifice our lives,” she noted.
In his speech, President Ivan Gasparovic underscored that the Slovak left and right wings managed to join their efforts during the Slovak National Uprising, though only for a moment. “If we are seeking permanent values against which our politics can lean, we must not circumvent the Slovak National Uprising, which rightfully belongs to Slovakia’s moral and spiritual values,” said the head of the state and thanked all those who took part in the event or supported it in some way. Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Milan Hort contemplated the Slovak National Uprising as various challenges; a challenge to not be afraid and stand up against efforts to subdue freedom, a challenge to responsibility for the gift of freedom and democracy, to fight against indifference which leads to totalitarianism and war; and a challenge to restore the historical truth of the Uprising because it belongs to the whole of Slovakia and should not split up but unite the society.
Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Robert Fico devoted his speech to Banska Bystrica and prominent figures on the Slovak cultural landscape that came from this town or worked there. Fico called for a more intensive commemorating of these events.
SITA