On 08 January President Andrej Kiska conferred state honours on 30 personalities.

“We meet here today to honour the life and work of 15 women and 15 men. To pay tribute to their good work, outstanding talents, personal courage and outstanding benefit to our country. It is both a personal pleasure and a great honour for me to confer the highest state honours of the Slovak Republic on these 30 people who have made our country a better, more beautiful, more intelligent, and kinder and fairer place for all of us to live.

The Slovak Republic is celebrating 26 years since its foundation. It is a pleasing, dignified and important tradition to award honours on the birthday of our modern, democratic Slovakia to personalities who have made a significant contribution to the healthy development of our country, its freedom, cultural life and prosperity.

It is a chance to highlight the achievements of the women and men who best represent the values that our society stands for and which should be the basis for how we live with one another. Like every year, it was a difficult choice because there are certainly more people deserving such honours in Slovakia today. They may be household names or lesser-known citizens of our country, but they are all people that we can be proud of.

I am even more proud that once again I have the chance as president to honour something more than just outstanding individual performances. Something even more important. I can confer honours on people who make us feel proud and promote love for Slovakia. People whose life stories fill the story of our country with self-confidence, respect and honour. Real leaders who show how to solve problems, overcome obstacles and inspire others. People who help to create, protect and develop the common identity of the Slovak Republic.

This year we will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the most important event in the modern history of our country. In November 1989 we overthrew a regime that trampled on our rights and freedoms. Thanks to people’s courage, combined efforts and correct decisions at critical moments, we have become part of a free, democratic Europe.

I highly appreciate this opportunity, as a representative of the citizens of the Slovak Republic, to thank those people who showed the bravery and courage to stand up to evil at critical moments.

Today it is also my honour to reward free artistic activity, and the competitiveness and hard work of our athletes.

To show respect to the willingness to stand up for justice and decency. To recall once again that as a society we are only as strong and successful as we are able to care effectively for the weakest and most vulnerable amongst us. Whether they are individuals or whole communities who need our attention and assistance.

It is an honour for me to support our inventiveness, curiosity and desire for truth and understanding today. These qualities lead us to a better understanding of the world we live in and help us to prepare for what is to come.

Thank you on behalf of the citizens of the Slovak Republic, whom I represent here today as our president. Thank you for the outstanding experiences and pleasure that you bring us. Thank you for the inspiration with which you motivate us and the knowledge with which you endow us. Thank you for helping us to be better people, a better society and a better country.”