London, 19 April 2016. Anthony Bailey, Chairman of Anthony Bailey Consulting, was decorated with the Medal of The President of the Slovak Republic at an Investiture Ceremony held at the Slovak Embassy in London.
This high award has been granted to Anthony Bailey by order and decree of His Excellency Andrej Kiska, President of the Slovak Republic, in recognition of “his significant
contributions to the development to Slovak-British relations and for promoting the good reputation of the Slovak Republic abroad.” During the ceremony His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur, 675th Lord Mayor of London was invested with the same award.
The Investiture Ceremony was hosted by the Slovak Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, HE Mr Lubomír Rehák and was attended by members of several European royal families, members of both Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps to the Court of St James’s and Ambassador of Kuwait, the Ambassadors of Austria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Georgia, Kosovo, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, the High Commissioners of Cyprus and Malta, the Representative of the European Commission to the UK, His Eminence Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawod, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, diplomats, many British, Irish and other friends of Slovakia, colleagues of the recipients and family members.
In presenting the award, Ambassador Rehák said “By decorating these two distinguished gentlemen today, I would like to thank symbolically all those friends of Slovakia in the United Kingdom, who do spare their time, forces and resources spreading the good name of my country and fostering overall cooperation between our two nations.
“This Embassy has been for years advised by Anthony Bailey, businessman, philanthropist, inter-religious dialogue campaigner and diplomatic adviser. Being both British and Irish, he has established a close relationship to the centre of Europe, as demonstrated by his family ties and longstanding assistance to the region, including Slovakia.”
In extending his sincere thanks and appreciation to President Andrej Kiska, the Honours Commission and to the Slovak Embassy, Anthony Bailey said:
“My connections with your beautiful country go back over 25 years when I witnessed, sometimes at first hand, your hard-fought successful struggle which replaced totalitarianism, dictatorship and oppression with freedom and democracy.
“Today, with one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, the Slovak Republic is one of the success stories of EU enlargement. The country is preparing to take the EU presidency on the 1 July this year – one week after this country holds its referendum on EU membership. This Presidency will be an important occasion to contribute to the formation of key EU policies and reforms for the benefit of all member states, including, I so earnestly hope, the United Kingdom.
“Tonight has been truly memorable and I end in reaffirming to Your Excellency and through you to the President and your Government my will and determination to partner with them in new activities which can ensure our relations become even more deeper, fruitful and meaningful.”
During the ceremony, a reception and the performance of the renowned Slovak soprano Božena Ferancová took place, who sang famous arias of Dvorak, Bellini, Puccini and Poulenc, accompanied by London-based Slovak pianist Peter Janík.
The ceremony followed the visit of the Prime Minister David Cameron to Bratislava in 2015 and the highly successful visits of President Kiska to Britain in June 2015 and January 2016, which included an Audiences with HRH The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle and Dumfries House and a meeting with the Lord Mayor of the City of London at Mansion House.
In June 2015 Anthony Bailey Consulting hosted a luncheon in honour of the Slovak Head of State at the historic Armourers’ Hall in London attended by leading state, diplomatic and business leaders, which celebrated the ever growing importance of the economic and political ties between the United Kingdom and Slovakia and its peoples.
To read the speech of Anthony Bailey please click here.
To read the speech of HE Lubomír Rehák Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Court of St James’s, please click here.
For more information on the President of the Slovak Republic please click here.
For more information on the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London please click here.
