Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and his wife Silvia on January 8 greeted the country's religious leaders at the traditional New Year's meeting, wishing their organizations success in their activities throughout the year. The President praised Catholic, Protestant and Jewish clergy for their contribution to the development of Slovakia in cultural, spiritual and other respects, noting the self-sacrificing attitude of their predecessors in difficult times in the nation's history.
Speaking at the presidential palace in Bratislava on behalf of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, respectively, bishops František Tondra and Miloš Klatik reassured the presidential couple that Churches registered in the country will continue to pursue their religious mission. Representative of Jewish religious organizations Pavol Traubner thanked Gašparovič for attending a Righteous Among The Nations award presentation for people who risked their lives by sheltering persecuted fellow citizens during WWII. Traubner expressed his hope that relations between the state and the Jewish community will remain honest and open. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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