The Slovak and Romanian postal services are jointly issuing a stamp to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic, which emphasizes the long-term good relationship between the Slovak and Romanian nations as well as the fact that Romania was the first state to recognize the existence of an independent and sovereign Slovak Republic.
The mutually friendly Slovak-Romanian relations are deeply rooted in the past and are defined by a mutual deference, respect and assistance in times of national suppression and lack of national freedom. Slovak and Romanian people frequently suffered similar fates in the past and their relationship is currently marked by their mutual support within the Euro-Atlantic Group.
The stamp bears a motif of the monument that stands at the Central Military Cemetery of the Royal Romanian Army, those who fell fighting for the liberation of the Slovak Republic from fascist occupation at the end of World War II. Soldiers of the Royal Romanian Army participated in battles for the liberation of Slovakia from the beginning of December 1944 until the final battles of the War in May 1945. Around 240,000 Romanian soldiers fought on Slovak territory. The Royal Romanian Army suffered overall losses of 65,000 men, of which 11,000 fell, in battles for the liberation of Slovakia. A major portion of the fallen soldiers (10,382) are buried at the Central Military Cemetery in the City of Zvolen.
The stamp bears the motive of the Central Monument represented by a mound of an ancient style made of white travertine.


Anton Hrnko