2010 Events National Day 

For the fourth time in succession, Honorary Consul Godwin E. Bencini again organised an event to celebrate the National Day of the Slovak Republic. This consisted of a musical recital followed by a lavish reception at the Hotel Phoenicia.

In collaboration with H.E. Stanislav Vallo, Ambassador to Malta, and Dr Peter Krupar, Director of the Slovak Institute in Rome, Slovak pianist Daniel Buranovsky and tenor Ondrej Saling, were brought over to Malta for the recital. In addition, Malta’s top soprano, Lydia Caruana, and her pianist Elizabeth Leonardi were the Maltese part of the programme.

The four artists put up an exceptional recital and brought it to an end with a Slovak and a Maltese song.

Among the 300 guests present were many Slovaks, the President of Malta Dr G. Abela, Minister G. Pullicino, Presidents Emeritus Dr U. Mifsud Bonnici and Dr E. Fenech ADami, besides eight Foreign Ambassadors to Malta, and other senior Maltese personalities. 

Following the recital, a reception was held in the Rotunda Gardens at the Hotel Phoenicia, and during the official part of the evening, President Abela and Ambassador Vallo made speeches fitting for the occasion, and also reciprocal toasts to the two countries. This part of the evening was brought to an end by the playing of the national anthems of Malta, Slovakia and the E.U. The reception continued late into the evening.

Honorary Consul Godwin E. Bencini thanks Betfair, Bank of Valletta, GO, Middlesea Valletta Life Assurance Company Limited, Qube Services, Sparkasse Bank Malta, Volksbank Malta and Emmanuel Vella & Sons for their support of the event.