President to Leave for Portugal along with Business Delegation

Bratislava, November 24 (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini is scheduled to travel to Portugal on Tuesday (25 November) at the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President's Office's communications department told TASR on Monday. This will be the first state visit by a Slovak head of state to Portugal in 20 years, and it represents a continuation of the intensive dialogue between the two countries, which includes cooperation within the EU and NATO, as well as economic and innovation partnerships. The president will be accompanied in Lisbon by Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) and a delegation of 17 Slovak business organisations. On Wednesday (26 November) morning, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will be the first to welcome the Slovak head of state and his delegation to the negotiations. After an official welcoming ceremony in front of the Jeronimos Monastery, the two presidents will exchange state decorations at the Belem Palace, symbolically confirming the exceptionally good relations and long-term friendship and partnership between Slovakia and Portugal. Following bilateral talks at the presidential palace, Pellegrini will continue his working programme with meetings with Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, who will present the Slovak president with an Honorary Key to the City of Lisbon. The visit will also include a Slovak-Portuguese business forum on Thursday (27 November) attended by both heads of state. am/df