Soldiers Welcome 2017 with Traditional Gun Salute

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) – A 20-gun salute was fired from the banks of the Danube River in Bratislava on Sunday to mark the 24th anniversary of the founding of the Slovak Republic and its Armed Forces, TASR learnt on the same day.

The traditional New Year’s salute, which began at 2 p.m. on Tyrsovo Embankment, was carried out by professional soldiers from the Rocket Brigade in Roznava (Kosice region), with Defence Minister Peter Gajdos (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) and First Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Pavol Macko in attendance.

On this occasion Gajdos noted that the tradition of the New Year’s salute is a link between the past and the modern history of the Slovak Armed Forces.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Danka Capakova told TASR that Gajdos was pleased that so many people attended the event. He wished the Slovak people a successful 2017. “I believe that partly thanks to our Armed Forces, they’ll have a greater sense of security all year round,” said Gajdos, adding that security can’t be taken for granted and doesn’t come for free.