Diplomat Linda Kapustova Helbichova to Become New IVF Executive Director

Bratislava, August 1 (TASR) - Slovak diplomat Linda Kapustova Helbichova has become new executive director of the International Visegrad Fund (IVF) as of Thursday, replacing Petr Mares of the Czech Republic, TASR learnt from the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry on the same day. "The Visegrad Four (V4) is a unique project bringing together Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland on subjects of joint interest, a process to which the International Visegrad Fund contributes considerably. It supports practical programmes in the spheres of education, science, research, culture and cross-border cooperation. I trust that under the management of the new director, our international Visegrad cooperation will continue, even beyond the borders of the V4," stated chief of Slovak diplomacy Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), who wished Kapustova Helbichova many successes in her new tenure. Incoming IVF executive director Kapustova Helbichova used to work for the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry in the area of economic diplomacy and held the post of the Slovak Deputy Ambassador in Switzerland as well as the post of IVF deputy director in the past. mf/mcs