The form of the Bratislava monument to Czechoslovak statehood meets with disapproval

Bratislava - The resistance of individuals, parts of the unionized public, and the cultural and educational organization Matica slovenská is being evoked by the planned new form of the monument to Czechoslovak statehood on the banks of the Danube in Bratislava. A new component of the monument, which is to be unveiled on October 28 on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, will be a 2.2-meter-high statue of the first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Some critics consider him a "Czechoslovakist" who did not recognize the Slovak nation.
    The statue of Masaryk, placed on an approximately two-meter pedestal, will replace the tall pylon on the existing monument to Czechoslovak statehood in front of the Slovak National Museum building, on which stood a statue of a lion holding the state coat of arms of Czechoslovakia. This statue was recently relocated to another place in front of the new building of the Slovak National Theatre. Here, a life-sized statue of one of the founders of Czechoslovakia, Milan Rastislav Štefánik, was also unveiled.
    One of the opponents of the new Masaryk monument is the controversial historian Milan Ďurica, said Alena Kopřivová, spokesperson for the Bratislava city district of Staré Mesto, to ČTK. The historian is among the proponents of Jozef Tiso, the president of the Slovak state.
    According to reports, there is also resistance from Matica slovenská. Its representatives, including the chairman Jozef Markuš, signed a statement last year rejecting the placement of Masaryk's statue in front of the Bratislava museum. They argue that Masaryk, as a "Czechoslovakist," did not recognize the Slovak nation and failed to adhere to the Pittsburgh Agreement, which he signed with representatives of Czech and Slovak compatriots.
    The agreement guaranteed Slovaks their own administration, parliament, and courts, as well as Slovak as the official and teaching language in the common Czechoslovak state.
    Among other opponents of the monument is reportedly actress Eva Kristínová, known as a supporter of Matica slovenská and various nationalist groups.
    However, the local government rejects the criticism and plans to open the monument on the scheduled date in October.
    Some opponents of the monument have reportedly proposed that a statue of Andrej Kmeť, regarded as the founder of Slovak museology, be placed in front of the Slovak National Museum building.
    "The mayor of Staré Mesto, Andrej Petrek, replied to all letters, explaining that the city district is not building a new statue, but is completing a 20-year existing monument according to the conditions of the Heritage Office," emphasized Kopřivová.
    The city district estimates the cost of completing the monument at more than 139,500 euros (almost 3.5 million crowns). The local government intends to partially cover the costs from a public collection. So far, about 44,400 euros have been collected.