President bestows state accolades on 10 public figures

President Andrej Kiska on Tuesday awarded state honours to 10 prominent figures from the spheres of art, science, history and sociology to commemorate the 22nd anniversary since Slovakia came into being as an independent state. "Each of you who has received the accolade shows us through their work the power and authority of a free spirit, creativity, resourcefulness, civil responsibility, fortitude, perseverance, commitment to one's case and hard work, but also what is often the hardest thing to - being demanding of oneself", said Kiska. He stressed that some of those honoured worked during unfavourable and oppressing social conditions, yet they persevered and never betrayed their ideals. It is these very days when we realise how dangerous the world is that we're obligated to remind ourselves of the fact that the abilities and the power of European civilisation stem from freedom and creativity, said Kiska. "No matter how endangered and insecure we feel, we still live in the best part of the world and during the best times, and we need to safeguard, recognise and promote the freedom and the free spirit", he added. The Ľudovít Štúr First Class Order was awarded in memoriam to Milan Zemko for his extraordinary national achievement in the field of historiography. The Ľudovít Štúr Second Class Order went to sociologist Helena Woleková for her extraordinary merit in the development of democracy and civil society. The same accolade was bestowed on psychiatrist Jozef Kafka, and designer and sculptor Stefan Klein. Incoming Slovak Academy of Sciences head Pavol Šajgalík received Ľudovít Štúr Third Class Order. Ballet artist Augusta Herényiová-Starostová became the recipient of the Pribina Cross First Class. Three personalities received the Pribina Cross Second Class - musician and composer Marian Varga, author and translator Pavel Vilikovský and film critic and historian Pavel Branko. Composer, concert organist and conductor Ján Valach was awarded the President's Medal.