Ministry of Defence calls for a compass of values to be set for guidance and rejects the aggressor's propaganda
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- Date: 16.01.2023
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The Slovak Ministry of Defence is strongly opposed to the Liberation Day celebrations in the town of Poltár on Friday 13 January 2023, which saw participation from a delegation of the Russian Federation – the aggressor against the unprecedented attacks of which Ukraine has been defending itself for over 10 months. Such action is in absolute contradiction with the set of values shared by the Ministry of Defence, Slovakia and the entire democratic world. The MOD wants to remind that Russia put Slovakia on the list of hostile countries in July 2022.
Therefore, the MOD will send neither its representatives nor Slovak Armed Forces service personnel to the commemorations where representatives of Russia are invited, where the Soviet or Russian national anthem is played, and where the Russian flag is raised – just as was the case last week, regardless of whether such commemorations are hosted or co-hosted by organisations, town councils or the Slovak Anti-Nazi Fighters Association (SZPB), as with the celebrations in Poltár.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “If any of the SZPB Association branches continue to co-organise commemorative events where the state which kills innocent people is glorified, we will have to break off cooperation with them – all forms of cooperation as set out in the cooperation agreements, and we may even consider whether it is still suitable to issue honorary invitations for the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) celebrations to representatives of the SZPB Association.”
Therefore, the MOD will send neither its representatives nor Slovak Armed Forces service personnel to the commemorations where representatives of Russia are invited, where the Soviet or Russian national anthem is played, and where the Russian flag is raised – just as was the case last week, regardless of whether such commemorations are hosted or co-hosted by organisations, town councils or the Slovak Anti-Nazi Fighters Association (SZPB), as with the celebrations in Poltár.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “If any of the SZPB Association branches continue to co-organise commemorative events where the state which kills innocent people is glorified, we will have to break off cooperation with them – all forms of cooperation as set out in the cooperation agreements, and we may even consider whether it is still suitable to issue honorary invitations for the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) celebrations to representatives of the SZPB Association.”
