Kiska recalls Czechoslovakia’s founding

The Czechoslovak Republic established a tradition of democratic values which created a fundament to link to in the next decades when it was necessary to fight for these principles and values, President Andrej Kiska said October 28, the 96th anniversary of founding the Czechoslovak Republic. Kiska also said that October 28, 1918 is one of the most important dates in the modern history of Slovakia. He therefore considers remembering this date important in terms of our past as well as in terms of the democratic present and future which we must strive for also today. “It was the first state form in which Slovaks constituted themselves as a modern European nation and along with the Czech nation, they stood up for the principles of parliamentary democracy with a high level of civil rights,” Kiska said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “These rights, later guaranteed in the Constitution of 1920, declared the equality of men and women, of both state-forming peoples and minorities living on the territory of Czechoslovakia, the freedom of religion, press, expression and assembly of citizens as well as the protection of private property.”

The Czechoslovak Republic established a tradition of democratic values which created a fundament to link to in the next decades when it was necessary to fight for these principles and values, President Andrej Kiska said October 28, the 96th anniversary of founding the Czechoslovak Republic.

Kiska also said that October 28, 1918 is one of the most important dates in the modern history of Slovakia. He therefore considers remembering this date important in terms of our past as well as in terms of the democratic present and future which we must strive for also today.

“It was the first state form in which Slovaks constituted themselves as a modern European nation and along with the Czech nation, they stood up for the principles of parliamentary democracy with a high level of civil rights,” Kiska said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “These rights, later guaranteed in the Constitution of 1920, declared the equality of men and women, of both state-forming peoples and minorities living on the territory of Czechoslovakia, the freedom of religion, press, expression and assembly of citizens as well as the protection of private property.”

The Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed in Prague on October 28, 1918. Slovak politicians joined the proclamation with the Martin Declaration of October 30, 1918. October 28 is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, but notably not in Slovakia.

Several dozens of people commemorated the anniversary near the memorial of the Czechoslovak statehood at the Danube embankment in Bratislava, including several MPs, head of the Bratislava region Pavol Frešo and Bratislava Old Town Mayor Tatiana Rosová. Organiser of the event, Ondrej Dostál of the OKS party, noted that now Slovak parliament decides about whether October 28 will or will not be a national holiday in Slovakia, but for those who came, this day already is a national holiday.

(Source: SITA)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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