Former German President receives Slovak State Decoration

Joachim Gauck, the former German president from 2012 to 2017, received the Slovak State Decoration - Order of the White Double Cross for developing relationships between Slovakia and Germany from Slovak President Andrej Kiska on Monday. Gauck visited Slovakia on the occasion of the commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of the Candle Demonstration against the Soviet-led totalitarian regime, which took place on March 25^th 1988, preceding the collapse of the Soviet Block in autumn 1989. The former German president said that the Candle Demonstration had given the Germans courage to overcome fear at that time. "On such occasions I remember how strong the desire for liberty and democracy was, how much effort was needed to overcome the fear and stand up against Communism," said Gauck.