Slovak President Čaputová: Slovakia can learn a lot from Slovenia

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, the President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Čaputová, is paying an official visit to Slovenia.

The two presidents regularly meet at various multilateral meetings, and today's official meeting is an opportunity to further build on the relations between Slovenia and Slovakia. President Pahor paid an official visit to Slovakia in July 2020, and he and President Čaputová also talked via video link in March 2021.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

Following an official reception with military honours, the presidents laid a wreath at the Monument to All Victims of Wars and War-Related Victims in Congress Square in Ljubljana. President Pahor and President Čaputová then held a lengthy one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Palace, followed by plenary talks between the official delegations of the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic, headed by their respective presidents.

At the press conference that followed, President Pahor began by saying that, on the occasion of President Čaputová's first visit to Slovenia, he wanted to say that, since they first met after her election, they had immediately taken a political liking to each other, because they both belonged to liberal democracy in terms of political labels.

President Pahor assessed that their talks so far demonstrated a high degree of mutual trust and shared views on key international challenges. He added that he and the Slovak President agreed that relations between the two countries were friendly, with no unresolved issues, and that they wanted to continue on this path. Slovenia and Slovakia cooperate within the EU and NATO, which brings them together, meaning that the concerns they face are easier to address. President Pahor also said that tackling the pandemic is easier because we are tackling it together and called for more understanding of the science behind the call to vaccinate. The Slovenian President expressed his concern about new issues that we will face in the future, in the aftermath of the pandemic, highlighting the challenge of inflation, which could further deepen social disparities. He stressed that we need to work together to overcome disparities, not deepen them.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA

President Pahor and President Čaputová also touched on the recent EU-Western Balkans summit, agreeing that the summit was successful. "Of course, we would have liked the joint declaration to be clearer about the EU's commitment to integrate the Western Balkans in the EU, not only sooner or later, but as soon as possible, thereby safeguarding peace, security and prosperity, as well as reforms in this part of Europe," said President Pahor, adding that, after talking to some of the leaders of the Western Balkans, he can say that they are more satisfied than they initially expected.

The two presidents also discussed their expectations for the Conference on the Future of Europe and expressed concern about possible future divisions in Europe. "We both believe that we joined the European Union in 2004 so that everyone has the same view on the values of the rule of law, freedom of the media and other values, rather than different views because of our different historical experiences," stressed President Pahor.

With regard to climate change and our attitude towards the environment, President Pahor and President Čaputová assessed that the climate summit in Glasgow could bring some very important answers. Finding the right balance between the economic, environmental and social aspects of the transition to a circular economy will be crucial in all our societies. In this regard, President Pahor announced that he would host a political and expert consultation on the use of nuclear energy in Slovenia before the Glasgow summit.

As part of today's official visit, President Čaputová, together with mayors of Slovak cities who are part of her delegation, will learn about waste management in Ljubljana. She will also visit Triglav National Park to learn how national parks can be managed so that economic activity enriches and does not impoverish the natural environment. President Pahor and President Čaputová will then visit the IEDC – Bled School of Management. On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the IEDC and in lasting memory of the official visit by the Slovak President, they will plant a tree donated by the Naklo Biotechnical Centre.

The official visit will close with a gala dinner hosted by President Pahor at Vila Bled in honour of President Čaputová.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA