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Fico: Slovakia's Modern History Tied to Liberation by Red Army
Wednesday 07 April 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, April 7 (TASR) - Slovakia's modern history is tied to its liberation by the Red Army at the end of WWII, and no modern history interpreter will change anything in this, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the end of the WWII and the liberation of Bratislava at the Slavin Memorial.
"Don't be afraid to foster the Slavic solidarity freely. Next to the (Slovak National) Uprising (in 1944), the liberation was an opportunity that self-confident Slovaks turned into a reality of lasting freedom and democracy. It's a holy right and duty of the Slovak Government to foster those values," said Fico.
The Slovak premier described the Slavin monument, which towers above Bratislava, as a symbol of thanks for the liberation. "Other nations may have built a national pantheon with sculptures of national luminaries at such a dominant place, but we decided it to be a place of reverence, as there lie almost 7,000 young boys who reached Bratislava to find their death in its arms," said Fico.
According to Fico, Slovaks should begin to behave to this place without otiose pathos but with appropriate reverence. "Slavin must not become a playground for skateboarders that destroy the marble here. Let it better remain a place for May dates of student pairs in love," said Fico.
The ceremony at Slavin was attended by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his broad entourage, and Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and a host of Slovakia's top officials.
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