On Wednesday, President Andrej Kiska met with the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen who arrived for his first official visit to Slovakia.

“I highly appreciate that my country is the third, right after Germany and Switzerland, which the President has visited. It is an expression of trust and interest in good relations between our countries, between our citizens and, of course, between us – the presidents,” Andrej Kiska said.

 President Kiska added, he was observing Alexander van Bellen´s run for presidency from the very beginning: “He was promoting attitudes of principle with regard to the importance of European cooperation. He was preaching values which are very dear to me. The values of tolerance, humanism and solidarity. The values which stand in the very opposition of those threatening the European Union these days – populism, extremism, xenophobia and nationalism.”

“I also want to say that I am incredibly intrigued by Mr. President´s optimism,” Andrej Kiska stated, “because we need to bring optimism back to the European Union, to our countries. We need to re-discover the trust in our ability to eliminate any negativity."

Both presidents agreed that the European Union was not a problem but a solution: “There is no problem in the European Union we would not be able to address as long as the European Union remains united,” Andrej Kiska said. In that respect, he underlined the need for communication and empathy.

As for bilateral relations, both presidents expressed their satisfaction. The bilateral trade turnover has been growing and there are over two thousand Austrian companies in Slovakia which created over forty thousand jobs. “However, Mr. President reminded me, and I must admit with regret, that Slovakia remains undiscovered to many Austrians. That is the thing we may work harder on. Either in tourism or in culture, so that our two nations know one another better.

The development of mutual cooperation will be the topic of the Slovak-Austrian Economic Forum which both Presidents will attend. Their joint agenda includes laying of a wreath to the Gate of Freedom Memorial.