First Slovak president given ceremonial burial in Bratislava

The first Slovak president Michal Kovac was given a ceremonial burial here on Thursday.

"No other Slovak constitutional official had to make such difficult and painful decisions within such a short period of time as former president Kovac," said Slovak President Andrej Kiska in a speech at St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava.

"Nobody had to deal with the public interest of the country in such stark conflict with the immediate interest of protecting their own security, privacy and closest family's reputation," said Kiska.

Earlier in the day, the first part of Kovac's state funeral took place at Bratislava Castle, where the grieving family received condolences.

All bells in Bratislava tolled for five minutes at noon, when the funeral procession set off for the presidential palace. The road was lined by members of Slovakia's Armed Forces, while the casket was transported by soldiers on a gun carriage.

A minute of silence was observed for Kovac after the Slovak national anthem was played. A 20-gun salute was fired from the bank of the Danube River.

Kovac was buried at Ondrejsky cemetery without the presence of media or the public. He died of heart failure on Oct. 5. Endit