The Ambassador of the French Republic, H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, on Thursday, 5 February, presented the Rector‑Commandant of the University of Defence, Brigadier General Jan Farlík, with the Silver National Defence Medal. Since 1982, this distinction has been awarded in France to service members or civilian employees of the armed forces for long‑term, quality, disciplined, and beneficial service to the military.

In his brief speech before presenting the medal, the French Ambassador first expressed his gratitude for being welcomed in what he called “the heart of the University of Defence, the famous Rohlík building.” Continuing in Czech, Stéphane Crouzat recalled General Farlík’s work for NATO and the European Union.

“The French Ministry of Defence has awarded you this medal for your work at the head of the University of Defence. It has recognised both your engagement and that of the entire university in planning and carrying out programmes and internships for officers of both our armed forces. It is my honour and pleasure to present it to you today,” he concluded before attaching the medal to General Farlík’s uniform.

One of the forms of the mentioned cooperation is the exchange of students between the military academies in Brno and Saint‑Cyr. The five French cadets currently studying in Brno, who were present at the ceremony, were later invited by the Ambassador for a brief informal discussion.

Author: Viktor Sliva