2008 Events National Day 

The National Day of the Slovak Republic was celebrated in Malta on Saturday 11th October 2008.  To mark this important occasion, the Honorary Consulate organised a violin and piano recital, followed by a reception  at the Casino Maltese, in Valletta.

During his address before the recital, Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic,  Godwin E, Bencini said that his Honorary Consulate in collaboration with the Embassy in Rome and with the Slovak Institute, regularly brought over to Malta from Slovakia, singers and musicians of the highest calibre.  He said that the violinist and pianist who would be performing on the day would certainly be no exception.

Mr Bencini thanked the sponsors for the evening – Mr Norbert Prihoda of Go Mobile, Mr Julian Jaeger of Malta International Airport, Mr Anthony Schembri of Raiffeisen Malta Bank Limited and Mr Herbert Skok of Volksbank Malta Limited.  He said that without the generous support of these firms it would be impossible for the Honorary Consulate to provide the cultural scene in Malta with this extraordinary level of musical entertainment.

Playing in front of a packed hall, both musicians gave a highly impressive performance.  However, the evening belonged to the 14 year old violinist, Karol Danis, who was the star attraction, and who received repeated long rounds of applause and shouts of ‘Bravo, Bravo’,  from the audience.    President Edward Fenech Adami, commenting at the end of the recital, said that “the audience was ecstatic at the performance,  and the violinist is a prodigy”.

During the official part of the evening President E. Fenech Adami and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Dusan Caplovic, made speeches fitting for the occasion, followed by reciprocal toasts, and the playing of the National Anthems of the Slovak Republic, Malta and the European Union.

Among the many distinguished guests present, besides President and Mrs Fenech Adami,  were Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tonio Borg, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs Mr George Pullicino, H.E. Professor Guido De Marco and H.E. Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici Members of Parliament, various Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls.   Slovak Ambassador Stanislav Vallo was also present, having come to Malta, together with Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Mr Dusan Caplovic.