„Our countries have an excellent mutual relationship. As the President said, we really would not find a topic where we have different opinions. 

In Slovakia, there are more than two thousand investors from Austria, creating more than 44,000 jobs. And according to a survey, more than 90 percent are satisfied with their investments and are planning further investments.

And this is the reason why I am glad that these relationships are growing. I received a very kind reception for which I am grateful. And I am glad that a few days ago, I also received a nice reception in the Austrian Olympic Home. And it was very pleasant to have wiener schnitzel with potato salad in Korea. 

We have the same level in case of some results - at least in the number of silver medals. With those gold ones, we were a bit overtaken. But we know that our Austrian neighbors have always been good at skiing and we keep our fingers crossed for them.

As for our discussions, we touched on our region. We discussed the position of the Visegrad Four, the way the Visegrad Four is perceived.

Personally, I am very sad when some Visegrad Four politicians abuse it to promote their own internal political opinions. 

Slovakia, through the mouth of the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, clearly declared its pro-European and pro-Atlantic outlook. We have clearly declared that we want to be part of the European Union, at its center, and we will not allow anybody to question such an amazing project like the European Union project. 

Slovakia is a member of the European Union, Slovakia is a country that is clearly pro-European oriented and I am very proud of it. From the European Union project’s point of view itself, as the President said, the European Union is not a problem. The European Union is resolvable. There is no big challenge ahead of us  – whether it is migration, climate change or economic development  – that any Union country could successfully solve itself. And this is what I consider to be very important to keep in mind.

  This year we are reminded of many anniversaries. The 100th anniversary of the formation of the Republic of Austria, the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia. I was very glad that I could come by train today. Personally, this journey was very symbolic to me.
The reason is that the first time I visited the so-called Western Europe, it was just by train. It was exactly a train on which I arrived to the Western world from Bratislava to Vienna for the first time. Probably there are no two capital cities in the world that could be so close to each other. And I am very glad that we are making this connection to people closer and closer. 

Every meeting with the President is a great enrichment for me.“