Premier to Commemorate 1989 Velvet Revolution in Both Prague and Slovakia

Bratislava, November 8 (TASR) - Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution both in Bratislava and Prague on November 17, TASR learnt from the Government Office press department on Friday. The Premier is scheduled to begin the commemorations in Prague, where he will attend the festivities held in the National Museum and subsequently join his Hungarian and Polish counterparts for a ceremonious lunch, hosted by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. In the afternoon, Pellegrini is slated to lay a wreath on the Gate of Freedom Memorial by the Devin Castle in Bratislava. The celebration of the round anniversary will culminate with a televised ceremony, covered live by RTVS public broadcaster, at the Slovak National Theatre new building in Bratislava. Also in attendance will be Czech Premier Babis. "The Velvet Revolution set into motion societal changes that led to the collapse of the totalitarian communist regime and the peaceful split of the Czechoslovak Federal Republic into two successor states. The 30th anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, similarly as the last year's commemorations of 1918 and 1968 historical events, represents a turning point in our history," reads the press statement released by Government Office. mf/am