Rasi: Dukla Has Never Been on Periphery in Slovak History

Vysny Komarnik, 3 October (TASR) - Anniversaries are only meaningful if, when marking them, we ask not only what happened back then, but also what it tells us today, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) said in his speech at the celebrations marking the 82nd anniversary of the Carpathian-Dukla Operation, adding that natural differences of opinion on the government, laws, the economy or the country's direction shouldn't spill over into disparaging the country itself. According to him, Dukla reminds us of four things. First and foremost, the House chair emphasised that Dukla is home. "Patriotism doesn't mean claiming that everything in Slovakia is fine. Quite the opposite. It means seeing its problems, naming them and wanting to put them right," he said, adding that we bear responsibility for the country we've inherited from the generations before us. Secondly, he mentioned respect for Slovakia. In his view, democracy can't exist without debate; therefore, differing opinions on the government, laws, the economy or the country's direction are natural. Rasi added that it's necessary to distinguish between criticising conditions in Slovakia and disparaging Slovakia itself. "And this is particularly true when we cross its borders. Because abroad, our words don't merely shape the image of a single government, a single political party or a single politician. We also shape the image of Slovakia," he stated. According to Rasi, respect for Slovakia also means respect for each of its regions. "When we look at a map of Slovakia from Bratislava, this place may seem like the periphery. In Slovak history, however, Dukla was never on the periphery. During one of the most difficult periods of our modern history, it was one of the gateways to Slovakia," he said. Fourthly, the House chair pointed out that a Slovakia that values itself need not be a Slovakia that closes itself off from the world. In his view, a self-confident country doesn't need to shout that it is the best, but is able to speak openly about its problems, listen to its partners and cooperate. am