Defence Minister Sklenár on the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia: It belongs to the darkest moments of our national history, and we renew our pledge never to forget
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- Date: 21.08.2023
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Attending a commemorative ceremony in Bratislava's Šafárik Square, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár along with MOD officials and Armed Forces leaders paid their respects to the victims of the 1968 invasion and occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies.
In a statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “The drastic invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops and the violation of our stateʼs sovereignty belong to the darkest moments of our national history. These have strengthened us in the view that it is extremely important to choose fair international partners and give preference to allies who respect national identity and territorial integrity. On the other hand, we should not associate with those who show no hesitation to occupy another country. I am convinced that our own experience and the legacy of the victims of the occupation will leave no one doubt about the importance of democracy and stability, let alone about our membership in the EU and NATO.”
The Warsaw Pact armies, of which the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was a member, invaded Czechoslovakia in what was codenamed Operation Danube on the night of 20-21 August 1968. Taking to the airwaves, the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party made a public announcement of the Warsaw Pact's invasion at 1:55 a.m. on 21 August 1968.
The military intervention aimed to put a stop to the democratisation process known as “socialism with a human face” and to restore the “normalisation of relations” in society. Czechoslovakia was occupied for 23 years, claiming scores of dead and injured, political prisoners, and other victims of persecution at the hands of the communist regime.
In a statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “The drastic invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops and the violation of our stateʼs sovereignty belong to the darkest moments of our national history. These have strengthened us in the view that it is extremely important to choose fair international partners and give preference to allies who respect national identity and territorial integrity. On the other hand, we should not associate with those who show no hesitation to occupy another country. I am convinced that our own experience and the legacy of the victims of the occupation will leave no one doubt about the importance of democracy and stability, let alone about our membership in the EU and NATO.”
The Warsaw Pact armies, of which the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was a member, invaded Czechoslovakia in what was codenamed Operation Danube on the night of 20-21 August 1968. Taking to the airwaves, the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party made a public announcement of the Warsaw Pact's invasion at 1:55 a.m. on 21 August 1968.
The military intervention aimed to put a stop to the democratisation process known as “socialism with a human face” and to restore the “normalisation of relations” in society. Czechoslovakia was occupied for 23 years, claiming scores of dead and injured, political prisoners, and other victims of persecution at the hands of the communist regime.
