Welcome Options

[HMA Michael R...]

Welcome to the Student Education Forum. I’m British Ambassador in Bratislava, and am currently organising a visit by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Slovakia at the end of this month. I want her visit to bring out the theme of renewed partnership.

Today, Britain and Slovakia are partners in the EU, NATO, and the UN. Tens of thousands of Slovaks come to live, study and work in the UK, while growing numbers of Brits are discovering Slovakia as a holiday destination and a good base for business. That partnership is new. Until recently, history, political ideology as well as distance kept us apart. Nevertheless there have been striking examples of partnership between us. Like the story of Nicolas Winton, who in 1938 brought 670 mostly Jewish Slovak and Czech children to homes in Britain rather than face Nazi tyranny. Or like the hundreds of brave Slovak and Czech servicemen who came to Britain during World War II to fight alongside us in the Battle of Britain, in North Africa, in the Normandy landings and elsewhere. British servicemen were also active in Slovakia during the 1944 Slovak National Uprising.

Sir Nicolas Winton, some of the “children” he rescued, and the few surviving Slovak veterans of WW2 will be present for the Queen’s visit to Slovakia. Bringing them together with present day history students and school children from both countries will be a good way of demonstrating that renewed partnership.

Thanks for your interest.