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10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SLOVAKIAN FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY

PRISTINA, Kosovo. Ten years ago today, 42 men and women from Slovakia died tragically in an airplane crash in northern Hungary. To commemorate those who died in this tragedy, a memorial by Pristina Municipality was unveiled at Pristina City Park.

The Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, (KFOR) Commander Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta and high level Kosovar and international officials attended the ceremony.

On the same day, the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Mr. Patrick Turner, on behalf of the Secretary General and all the twenty eight NATO members honoured the Slovakian personnel who lost their lives by attending a ceremony at Hejce, Hungary.

"It is a great privilege to be present at today’s commemorative ceremony to honour and remember all those who so tragically lost their lives ten years ago and to join with their families who lost loved ones on that day”, Mr. Turner said. "On behalf of the Secretary General and all the members of NATO, let me express our profound gratitude for their service and our profound sorrow at their loss” the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations added.

Later in the afternoon, at KFOR Headquarters, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta and the Slovakian Representatives laid a wreath to commemorate Slovakian soldiers and all the KFOR service personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, in the cause of peace.

"We honour and remember them today and we will continue to honour their memory, be grateful for their service and mourn their loss”, said General Miglietta. KFOR soldiers present also remembered their fallen colleagues that died serving on NATO operations around the world.