Liberation80: President Pellegrini Asks People to Honour All Liberators

Banska Bystrica, March 25 (TASR) - During celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city of Banska Bystrica on Tuesday, President Peter Pellegrini asked the local people to honour all Slovakia's liberators with dignity in the coming months, not to rewrite the history of 80 years ago or link it with what is happening today beyond Slovakia's eastern border. At a wreath-laying ceremony at the black obelisk on SNP Square, invited ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Romania and Ukraine and the consul of the Hungarian Embassy took part in the commemoration as well. Children and students from nursery schools, primary and secondary schools also came to the ceremony. "Eighty years ago, soldiers of the Red and Romanian armies fell on our territory. They laid the foundation for us to live here in peace. For that, to all the brave people who joined the resistance and hid the persecuted or helped the partisans, our thanks go to them, whether there is a military conflict beyond the eastern border today or not. Eighty years ago, completely different people were fighting here, and respect should be shown to all the fallen heroes, no matter what nationality they were or what country they came from, both Ukrainians and Russians, they had nothing to do with what is happening today," stressed Pellegrini. The head of state also pointed out that freedom and peace are not automatic, as has been witnessed for three years now, when Ukraine has been facing military aggression. We're witnessing the brutal recognition that even in the 21st century, mutual conflicts may be resolved by military force, and hundreds of thousands of innocent people are dying. Mayor Jan Nosko is convinced that Banska Bystrica, whose liberation day is March 25, 1945, will always be a city of heroism, righteous resistance and resilience. "I believe that what unites us, also in the light of current events and events in a war not far from our borders, in which just a few hours ago our twin city of Sumy [in Ukraine] was the target of a rocket attack with many victims, is the natural desire within us to pay tribute to all those who cherish the noble values of freedom, tolerance, democracy and peace. And if necessary, they don't hesitate to accept even the greatest sacrifice," said Nosko. Humanitarian aid will soon be sent from Banska Bystrica to Sumy. am/df