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Stano: Events to Mark November 1989 in America Didn't Go Unnoticed
Sunday 22 November 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, November 22 (TASR) - Events held by Slovaks in the U.S.A to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution have drawn the attention of top state representatives, Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on Sunday.
"Representatives of the U.S.A. might have had the impression that Washington has become one of the main places to celebrate the Velvet Revolution," said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak about his meetings with American congressmen, investors and representatives of the administration. Lajcak personally opened a number of events dedicated to November 17 (the beginning of the Revolution).
U.S. President Barack Obama sent a personal message to Slovaks in which he praised their courage in the fight for freedom and human rights. Obama added that he regards Slovakia and the Czech Republic as valuable partners of the U.S.A.
With respect to the Velvet Revolution, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed the commitment to a strong alliance between U.S.A. and the two states and the readiness to address new issues.
American congressmen passed a resolution in which they emphasised the importance of post-November changes in the former Czechoslovakia and confirmed that the U.S.A. views Slovakia and the Czech Republic as reliable and vital partners.
The Slovak foreign affairs minister also took part in a series of lectures, exhibitions and social events dedicated to November 1989 that were attended by American politicians, businessman and others. Several thousand dollars were collected by a fundraiser at a cultural event in New York. Some of the money will be sent to an orphanage in Nove Mesto nad Vahom (Trencin region).
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