MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, May 10, 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, May 9): MOSCOW/BRATISLAVA - Following the military parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe on Friday, Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) paid tribute to those who fell in battles by laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin walls. Fico himself has posted this information on social media, adding that he laid the flowers along with other leaders present. "Part of the celebration of the victory over fascism was the laying of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin walls as an expression of respect for all soldiers. I view it as my patriotic duty to confirm our gratitude to our liberators. It is also a response to those who want to forcibly change history in the name of current geopolitical goals," wrote the Slovak premier. Fico claims that by his visit to Moscow, Slovakia "stood alongside world powers as an equal and respected partner, mainly thanks to its clear, legible stances and value anchoring". According to Fico, one of the pillars of modern Slovak statehood is "the clear anti-fascist tradition that we are rightly proud of." MOSCOW - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the visit by Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe was an act of heroism. Peskov said this in an interview with Russian state television Channel One, reported Russia's TASS news agency. "Nowadays – especially when we talk about Vucic and Fico – it's actually heroism. A true act of heroism, as to demonstrate sovereign will in paying homage to the memory of Victory Day so decisively, despite blatant and insane pressure is certainly worthy of the highest recognition," said Peskov. Fico was the only leader of an EU country to attend the celebrations in Moscow on Friday. Before the military parade he briefly met Russian President Vladimir Putin and spoke to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. KIEV - MPs from the opposition 'Slovakia' party, Igor Matovic, Roman Mikulec and Gabor Grendel, paid a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Friday, party spokesman Matus Bystriansky informed TASR on the same day. They did so while Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) was in Moscow celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. "Millions of people in Slovakia felt ashamed and betrayed when they saw Fico bowing and kissing the symbolic ring of the murderer [Russian President Vladimir] Putin today. That's why we came here to encourage the Ukrainians on behalf of those people and to show that Slovakia is not just Fico," stated party leader Igor Matovic. BRATISLAVA - The European Commission Representation in Slovakia highlighted the importance of cooperation and celebrating peace and unity in Europe on the occasion of Europe Day on Friday, with several events organised in this regard. "Europe Day is a reminder of the vision that 75 years ago united the nations of our continent for the common goal of peace, security, unity and prosperity. Slovakia has been part of this successful project for 21 years. We aren't just recipients of the benefits of integration, but also active co-creators of European policies and the direction of the European Union (EU)," said acting head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia Radim Dvorak. "May 9 reminds us every year of its significance for maintaining stability and sustainable development. This day symbolises the commitment to building Europe as a space of freedom, security and opportunities for all citizens," he added. MEDZILABORCE - We live in a time in which historical facts are being questioned, when there is an effort by many to rewrite history and an effort by many to tell our generation that perhaps we were not liberated by the Soviet Army, the Red Army, or anyone else, said House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) during a ceremonial event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII held in the town of Medzilaborce (Presov region) on Friday. Along with Interior Ministry State Secretary Michal Kalinak (Voice-SD) and other guests, he honoured the memory of the victims by laying wreaths at the Memorial to the Fallen in the First and Second World Wars. "We are here today to keep in mind that more than 60 million people died in WWII, more than 25 million soldiers. They were Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, they were soldiers of the Czechoslovak Army corps, they were resistance fighters, in Slovakia they were also Romanians. I believe that all of us who already have grey hair will continue to spread the truth, which is the only one, and remind our youngest generation, so that they will know what horrors we have experienced, so that they will know that peace is not a matter of course and that we must fight for peace," said Rasi. BRATISLAVA - Dusan Keketi was appointed as vice-governor of Slovakia's central bank (NBS) by President Peter Pellegrini on Friday after previously serving as tourism and sport minister until March, when he was replaced by Rudolf Huliak (Independent) following a coalition agreement. The president praised the new NBS vice-governor's professional and personal qualities, but emphasised that Slovakia faces tougher times ahead when it comes to economic growth, with potential impacts from trade wars and tariffs contributing to economic uncertainty and a gradual collapse of the global market. ko