Slovak president to visit Karabakh: Bratislava intends to participate in region's reconstruction
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini will travel to Azerbaijan on Monday (July 13) for an official visit at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev.
The trip follows the historically first visit by the head of the Azerbaijani state to Slovakia, which took place last December, the office of the Slovak president said.
"Along with the president, the deputy prime minister and defense minister, the deputy prime minister and economy minister, the interior minister and the governor of the National Bank will also travel to Azerbaijan," the presidential palace said.
According to the president's office, the key part of the visit will be the talks between the heads of state scheduled for Tuesday in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The main topics of discussion will be deepening energy cooperation, support for Slovak exports, development of industrial and technological ties, and improvement of transport links between the countries. The leaders will also discuss opportunities to involve Slovak partners in projects to restore and develop territories affected by the conflict. In addition, Pellegrini will visit the Agdam district, where he will familiarize himself with the Smart Village project in Bash Garavend village and lay the first stone for a new school that will bear the name of General Milan Rastislav Stefanik.
On Wednesday (July 15), the president will hold talks with Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova in Baku. In the capital, he will also meet his compatriot Vladimir Fekete, who serves there as apostolic prefect. In addition, he will visit the Alley of Martyrs, where he will lay a wreath, and pay tribute to Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev by visiting his grave.
Parallel to the Slovak president's program in Baku, a Slovak-Azerbaijani business forum will be held with the participation of Slovak entrepreneurs. The forum will provide a platform for expanding trade cooperation, establishing new partnerships and supporting Slovak companies entering the Azerbaijani market. "The continuation of the political dialogue at the highest level between Bratislava and Baku confirms the interest of both countries in developing mutual relations in areas of strategic importance for future development — from energy security and economic cooperation to innovation, transport and technological partnership," the president's office summarized.
