Slovakia remembers heroism of Soviet soldiers-Gasparovic.

BRATISLAVA, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Slovakia regards it as "an
exceptionally important task to organize and hold ceremonies marking the
65th anniversary of the liberation of the republic and the end of the
Second World War," Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic told Itar-Tass in an
exclusive interview on the eve of Tuesday's official visit by Dmitry
Medvedev to Bratislava.
"This must be done primarliy in the interests of young people," the
Slovak Head of State emphasized. "Unfortunately, human memory has the
property of growing weaker. The rising generations no longer view the
tragedy of war as their own misfortune. They forget that that was a bitter
experience of their fathers and forefathers. The loss of historical memory
is the most dangerous phenomenon that one must constantly strive against.
This is why large-scale ceremonies will be held in our country for people
to pay a tribute of memory to the victims of fascism, to Soviet soldiers
the liberators, and to the heroes of the anti-Hitler Resistance movement,"
Gasparovic stressed.
"We shall not allow any of the periods of our history to sink into
oblivion. Each of those stages is an invaluable source of experience to us
and to our posterity. Therefore we shall not forget the sacrifices made
during the liberation of Bratislava, the victims of the fiercest battles
in the Carpathian Mountains, for the Dukel and Dargov Passes, for the city
of Liptovski-Mikulas, and fighting in the area of the Gron River. We shall
not forget the heroes of the Slovak National Uprising and the inhabitants
of more than 100 Slovak villages that were burnt down by fascists," the
President added.
"The Head of State, the Parliament, and the Government of Slovakia,"
he went on to say, "together with ordinary citizens of the republic
remember those event of war every year and pay a tribute of memory to the
heroism of Soviet servicemen, the soldiers of the Separate Czechoslovak
Army Corps, and the soldiers of other states of the anti-fascist coalition.
"Traditionally we take part in ceremonies to honour the memory of
Soviet soldiers the liberators at (Mount) Slavin in Bratislava, in
ceremonies held near the monument to the Slovak National Uprising in the
city of Banska-Bistrica and ceremonies at Dukel Pass," Gasparovic pointed
out.
"This year is especially significant. Dmitry Medvedev will pay an
official visit to Slovakia during the celebration of the end of the war.
In May, at the invitation of the Russian leader, I will participate in
Moscow festivities on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the end of
the WWII," the Slovak President said in conclusion.
-0-pop