The Czechs are organizing the biggest military parade since the cold war

In the Czech Republic, the biggest military parade has taken place since the end of the Cold War. Some 4,000 soldiers took part in the event, which took place in cold and wet weather.

Spectators saw tanks and artillery cross one of the main streets of the capital Prague. Participants also included soldiers from other NATO countries, such as France, Italy, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. US Defense Minister Mattis was also present. He expressed his condolences to four Czech soldiers killed in Afghanistan this year.

The President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Zeman, stressed that his country would respect the obligations of NATO. He called international terrorism "the greatest enemy of humanity".

Celebrations

The parade celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia were a country between 1918 and 1993, before being divided in two. The anniversary was also celebrated with concerts, the reopening of the renovated Czech National Museum and visits by foreign leaders.

Czechoslovakia was a communist country until 1989. The velvet revolution of November and December 1989 put an end to forty years of communist rule.