We should continue to hold education in esteem while also being prepared to defend our freedom, which is a message from a great figure whose significance and abilities transcended both his era and Slovakia's borders, President Peter Pellegrini stated on Tuesday to mark the 146th anniversary of Milan Rastislav Štefánik’s birth.
"His example shows that education is the foundation of success, both for individuals and for nations," added Pellegrini.
According to the Slovak President, Štefánik earned respect through his scientific work, which helped him pursue his political goals, and, at a crucial moment, he also demonstrated exceptional abilities as a soldier.
"It was the determination and heroism of Czech and Slovak legionnaires [during the First World War - ed.note] that convinced the world that setting up a Czechoslovak state was both meaningful and justified," added Pellegrini.
According to the Government Office, Štefánik was an exceptionally strong personality and made a huge sacrifice for his nation, adding that his message remains relevant even today.
The Government Office further went on to say that Štefánik possessed remarkable diplomatic skills and was the first person from the Slovak nation to have a real influence on European politics.
“Štefánik captured his love for his homeland in a unique personal credo: 'believe – love – work'. General Štefánik’s message remains as relevant today as ever,” stressed the Government Office, highlighting his life as one that shaped Slovakia's national history.
"He played a significant role in setting up the first common state of Czechs and Slovaks. In 1916, in Paris, together with Masaryk and Beneš, he founded the Czechoslovak National Council. It was largely thanks to him that the Czechoslovak Army in France was officially formed, made up of 100,000 soldiers at that time," stated the Government Office.
The Government Office also praised Štefánik’s diplomatic skills: "He was the first person from our nation to have a real influence on European politics. It is precisely because of this international influence that we now view him as the first 'European'. Even back then he referred to the process of 'Europeanisation' in his reflections on the harmony of nations," stressed the office.
According to House Chair Richard Raši (Hlas-SD), who marked the 146th anniversary of Štefánik’s birth in front of his birthplace in the village of Košariská (Trencin region), Štefánik was an incredible combination of a politician, diplomat, scientist, a broad-minded person and a European with Slovakia always at the forefront of his mind.
"He was one of the key figures behind the creation of today's Slovakia, because together with Edvard Beneš and Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, he was one of those who literally managed to diplomatically push through the establishment of Czechoslovakia," emphasized Raši. He said that today we are facing attempts by many to rewrite history, with figures who are crucial to the Slovak nation being relegated to the background.
Štefánik was born on 21 July 1880. He died on 4 May 1919 in a tragic plane crash while landing near Bratislava. He was buried together with the Italian aviators at the monument on the Bradlo hill, which was granted the status of national cultural monument in 1968.
Source: TASR
