Blanar at Vatican Highlights Common Values of Peace and Solidarity

Vatican City, 18 June (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Blanar (Smer-SD) held talks at the Vatican on Tuesday (17 June) with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who is de facto the foreign affairs minister of the Holy See, TASR has learnt from the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department. Slovakia and the Holy See confirmed an intensive political dialogue and shared values ​​of peace and solidarity during the meeting. Blanar and Gallagher highlighted important issues on which Slovakia and the Holy See have close views. "The values ​​we promote are primarily those of peace, mutual dialogue, solidarity, respect, but also humanitarian aid and the fight against extremism," said the Slovak minister. According to him, efforts at peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East remain a priority. "Like the late Pope Francis, his successor - Pope Leo XIV - prefers peace and diplomacy to war," said the head of Slovak diplomacy. Slovakia also finds agreement with the Vatican on European issues, especially the need for the integration of the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries into the European Union. Blanar at the meeting praised the exceptionally active bilateral relations between Slovakia and the Vatican. He also recalled the first meeting between Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Slovak Premier Robert Fico with the previous pontiff - Pope Francis. The head of Slovak diplomacy also participated in the National Pilgrimage of Slovaks to Rome and the Vatican on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025 and subsequently in a farewell to Pope Francis. The 25th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See also falls on this year. A high-ranking Vatican representative might visit Slovakia on this occasion, said the ministry. ko/df