Blanar: Slovak Diplomacy Day Celebrates Sovereignty and Professional Service

Bratislava, 28 August (TASR) - The establishment of an independent Foreign Affairs Ministry should also be seen as a natural expression of the desire for sovereignty, which later led to independent statehood, said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) on the occasion of Slovak Diplomacy Day on Thursday. "Our homeland, despite all the so-called 'teething problems' that Slovakia has gone through, is now a respected state worldwide. Thanks to our diplomats, it has also played a significant role in multilateralism at the highest level of the United Nations," said the minister. Blanar thanked all diplomats, experts, administrative and technical-economic staff who have represented Slovakia for 35 years and continue to represent and work for Slovakia every day with professionalism, dedication, and pride. "Regardless of their political views, they all deserve our gratitude for their professionalism and their strong belief that, just as we wished when the Slovak Republic was founded, we'll continue to defend, above all, the national and state interests of Slovakia. We'll also consistently contribute to a return to the fundamental pillars of diplomacy," stressed the minister. Blanar further stated that he'd like Slovak diplomacy to actively create partnerships and build friendly and respectful relationships with countries that are interested in doing so. At the same time, he expressed a desire for Slovak diplomacy to remain active within a system of multilateralism, defending national interests and, consequently, the interests of all Slovak citizens. lin/df