On Sunday, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the founding of Slovakia, President Zuzana Čaputová bestowed state awards on 28 people, with six of them being awarded posthumously. The list includes Football player Marek Hamšík, addiction expert Ľubomír Okruhlica and public administration expert Viktor Nižnanský. Among those honoured in memoriam is the first president, Michal Kováč. In addition to him, the honorees include scientists, artists and activists who have contributed to Slovakia's reputation at home and abroad.
"The greatest wealth Slovakia has lies in its people. Slovak men and women, as well as our other citizens, in their excellence over the past decades, have been permanent participants in the development of the European spirit," the Čaputová said in her speech.
At the invitation of the President, the ceremony was also attended by the Presidents of the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria, Miloš Zeman, Andrzej Duda and Alexander Van der Bellen, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Irina Vereshchuk.
Source: TASR
