Slovak Embassy Holds Reception on Day of Commemoration in Tbilisi

On November 17, Embassy of Slovak Republic in Georgia held a reception to commemorate the 28th year since the revolution of Czechoslovakia at Art Palace. Simultaneous to that, the signing of an official agreement between Tbilisi and Bratislava, regarding direct flights, took place. 

Following the national anthems of the two countries, H.E. Mr. Rudolf Michalka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic in Georgia, greeted the audience: There are several holidays in the Slovak calendar that we celebrate either as national, religious holidays or remembrance days. We celebrate the establishment of the Slovak Republic in January, Constitution day in September and a few more important days. However, the Slovak Embassy in Tbilisi has always used November 17 as a day of commemoration. It makes the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989. This is when students went to the streets and were brutally met with Communist police ofrces. Students were longing for a better future, for open society. They did not know how democracy works, all they knew was that what we had in our country these 28 years ago, was not a free society.  28 years ago, it was us, people from behind the iron curtain, who were trying to flee to the free Western countries. Many of our citizens were voluntary immigrants, not because they were poor, and definitely not because they didn’t like their motherland. Many Slovaks and Czechs before November 17, 1989, fled their homeland. They chose a new country to live in, despite the love for their motherland. They chose to leave because freedom meant more to them then the country itself. This day, November 17, is the day when we celebrate freedom. Freedom which we had to fight for. In Slovakia, we managed this without violence. But there are other countries, including Georgia, that were not so lucky, and for something as natural as freedom, blood was spilled. In the international calendar, this day is written as Students Day. In my country, it is the day of the struggle for freedom. I wish that today we can all celebrate freedom together. For me, freedom means my free choice. I choose Europe. I, like most of people of my country, choose living in the European community of cooperation and mutual security. This is what is always on my mind when I speak to Georgians about their country, about their future. You chose to join the family of European democracies. Your choice is to contribute to our common Trans-Atlantic security. Now it´s up to us to help you to realize this vision”.

Then, vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Janelidze, made a speech: “Despite the difficulties, Slovakia kept on moving towards Europe and freedom; and through its hard work, it achieved this. This is a great motivation for Georgia to keep moving towards the path of freedom and democracy. This is the decision that the Georgian people made since the restoration of independence, and despite certain obstacles, it has seen real success. We are proud that Georgia is an EU-associated country, meaning it is oriented towards democratic values, protection of human rights and the stability and interests of its citizens.” Positively assessing relations between the two countries, Minister Janelidze said the parties are actively working on deepening this cooperation. An official agreement was signed during the reception between Georgian Airways and Bratislava Airport, on establishing direct flights that will boost tourism. The agreement was signed by Radek Zabransky, Aviation and Strategic Marketing Director of Stefanik Airport, and Givi Davitashvili, General Director of Georgian Airways. The reception was attended by diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, Georgian MPs, Government officials, business and cultural representatives and other distinguished guests.

By Maka Lomadze