Slovak and Slovenian Defence Ministers Robert Kaliňák and Borut Sajovic unveil Slovenian Soldiers Memorial in Becherov

In an unveiling ceremony at the WWI cemetery in Becherov, northeastern Slovakia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák and his Slovenian counterpart Borut Sajovic unveiled the Slovenian Soldiers Memorial dedicated to the Slovenian servicemen of the First World War who lost their lives in Slovakia. The Memorial was commissioned by the Slovenian Ministry of Defence with support from local authorities.

Speaking at the unveiling of the memorial stone, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák said: “We are honoured to ensure that these fallen soldiers will never be forgotten and that our generations will remember not only their sacrifice, but also the true value of just how far from home they were deployed to fight.”

A total of 147 SVN soldiers from the 47th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Maribor, lie at rest in cemeteries across Slovakia. Becherov WWI Cemetery is the final resting place for 15 of them. “I think these fallen soldiers deserve our huge respect and I am pleased we can commemorate the great milestones of our history in this way,” Minister Kaliňák said.

As part of their official programme earlier in the morning, Slovak and Slovenian Defence Ministers Robert Kaliňák and Borut Sajovic delivered keynote speeches at a conference titled 'Enhancing the Slovak Armed Forces through Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Needs and Insights' in Košice. The Ministers spoke about how the UAS has risen to become a battle-proven platform in modern combat operations.