Kalinak: No Better Place for Military Oath Than Banska Bystrica

Banska Bystrica, 29 August (TASR) - For soldiers who are starting their careers and taking their military oath to defend their homeland, there's no better place than Banska Bystrica, the heart of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), stated Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) in Banska Bystrica during celebrations marking the 82nd anniversary of the SNP. In the afternoon, approximately 500 candidates joining the Slovak Armed Forces took their military oath in the park below the SNP Memorial. "We started this tradition during the 80th anniversary of the SNP, which was organised on a larger scale. I think it's a grand event for them as well, because in an open space like this, all their family members - parents, wives, husbands, partners, children - can come and see their loved ones who have decided to dedicate their lives to the mission of protecting their country. It's the highlight of the entire celebrations," said Kalinak. During the swearing-in ceremony, he thanked the soldiers for choosing one of the most challenging paths: protecting Slovakia's freedom, democracy and sovereignty. "Today, this isn't just a phrase anymore. Amid major military crises in our neighbourhood, we can never know when we may need to protect the interests of the Slovak Republic by these means as well," stressed Kalinak. He welcomed the soldiers into the new family of the Armed Forces and the Defence Ministry, telling them that they would always be one team because that's what makes them strong. jrg/df