Romanian President Traian Basescu and chairman of the Russian Duma Sergei Naryshkin together unveiled two commemorative plaques designed to express Slovak gratitude and respect towards Soviet and Romanian soldiers who fell during the liberation of Banská Bystrica during the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič also attended the ceremony in the historic local town-hall.
“With the commemorative plaques, we pay our respects and show gratitude and the admiration of our inhabitants toward the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and future,” Banská Bystrica Mayor Peter Gogola said in his speech, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Even though SNP was initially suppressed and Nazi armies took control of Banská Bystrica for six months, Soviet and Romanian soldiers helped Slovaks reclaim their freedom and stand tall among the victors, said Gogola.
(Source: TASR)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
