House Chair Rasi Confers J.M. Hurban Award on Three Figures

Bratislava, 16 September (TASR) - Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) presented on Tuesday the Jozef Miloslav Hurban State Award to three figures - Slovak Bishops Conference head and Archbishop of Kosice Bernard Bober, writer and screenwriter Peter Jaros, and politician and educator Milan Ftacnik in memoriam. The ceremony, which was held on the occasion of Slovak National Council Day (19 September) took place in the old parliament building on Zupne Square in Bratislava. Bober received the award for his active contribution to developing the Church, to education and to the moral and spiritual development of society in Slovakia. Among other things, the award highlights his lifelong pastoral work, spreading of Christian humanism, tolerance, the idea of love and helping one's neighbour. Jaros was awarded for his extraordinary merit in the setting up of the independent state as a legislator who contributed to the constitutional foundations of the state and the formation of modern Slovak statehood. He also received the award for his literary work, which has shaped national awareness and spread the ideas of humanism and tolerance. Rasi honoured Ftacnik in memoriam for his active contribution to establishing the independent state as a member of the Slovak parliament, to developing democracy and for his lifelong efforts to improve the quality of education in the post of education minister and as a university lecturer. am