Kiska: Duty of Democratic Politicians to Defend Our Freedom

Bratislava, August 21 (TASR) - It's the duty of contemporary democratic politicians to defend our freedom and our right to make decisions about our future without concerns that the said decisions will be trampled by brute force, said President Andrej Kiska in his televised speech on public broadcaster RTVS marking the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by armies of the Warsaw Pact. In light of this historical event, Slovakia needs allies subscribing to the same values and respect for freedom, human rights and democracy, stated Kiska. "We have such allies in the EU and NATO, the two foundation stones of our prosperity and security." "The occupation of our country by armies of the Warsaw Pact is condemned today by three fifths of Slovakia's inhabitants. However, there's a growing number of those who know very little about it or nothing at all, particularly among young people," claimed Kiska, who extended a plea to parents, teachers, relatives and people who lived through the events to find some time and share their memories and experiences with young people. According to the president, there's a need to familiarise youth with "those times of hope, but also moments of betrayal, desperation and humiliation". Kiska pointed out that 50 years ago millions of Czechoslovakia's inhabitants were left in shock when foreign armies barged into their country. "Our homeland was overwhelmed by half a million soldiers, more than 6,000 tanks, 800 aircraft and 2,000 pieces of artillery. Soviet divisions attacked us overnight from the east, west, north and also south, joined by Polish, Hungarian and Bulgarian troops. And units of the East German army stood at the borders as a reserve," he said, adding that the greatest occupation in the history of the Warsaw Pact proved successful, with the whole republic occupied by sunrise and dozens of civilians killed. mf/df