President Ivan Gašparovič awarded the highest state honours to 20 significant figures from the spheres of science, education, art, and sports to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic, the TASR newswire reported on January 1.
Among the personalities receiving awards were Hvezdoň Kočtúch in memoriam for his merit in relation to the founding of an independent Slovakia and his lifelong work on economic theory and for the Slovak economy; university professor Milan Gregor for exceptional merit in developing the economy, science and technology; Roman Catholic priests Vladimír Jukl in memoriam and Silvester Krčméry for defending the democratic principles, human rights and religious freedoms; and canoeist and four-time Olympic gold-medal winner Michal Martikán.
Other honours for exceptional efforts went to nuclear physicist Karel Šafařík, professor František Špaldon, IT specialist Miroslav Trnka, chemist Miroslav Urban, professor Štefan Vašek, film-maker Peter Solan and minority activist Ľubomír Molitoris.
Among the awarded figures from the spheres of art and culture were opera singer Peter Dvorský, painter Andrej Rudavský, folk singer Darina Laščiaková, violinist Peter Michalica, poet Štefan Moravčík, actresses Ida Rapaičová and Magda Pavelekovaá and glass-maker Ján Zoričák.
State honours in Slovakia are awarded as an official form of gratitude towards both Slovaks and foreigners that have produced great achievements for the country, TASR reported.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
