Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
Together with our Slovak friends and partners, the US Embassy marked one of the most meaniningful of Slovak public holidays on November 17: the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. This day reminds us of the heroic struggles of ordinary Slovak and Czech students against Nazi occupation in 1939, and the calls for freedom and democracy in 1989 in Bratislava and Prague.
As Slovakia looks towards its twenty-fifth anniversary of independence in just a few weeks, now is also a time to assess how well the dreams of those who fought for a free and sovereign homeland in Europe have been realized. I believe that the answer is “extremely well”. Slovaks must nevertheless remain vigilant to safeguard their hard-won security, prosperity, and independence.
