Rasi to Visit Prague to Boost Czech-Slovak Parliamentary Ties (2)

Bratislava, 16 December (TASR) - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) will travel to Prague on Wednesday (17 December) and meet his Czech counterpart Tomio Okamura and leaders of youth organisations as part of efforts to strengthen and restart Czech-Slovak relations, TASR was told by Parliament's Office press department on Tuesday. "The main aim of the trip is to reaffirm the above-standard relations between the two nations, hold talks with parliamentary partners, and support dialogue with students and the younger generation," reads the press statement. Rasi's working visit to Prague aims to strengthen Czech-Slovak relations at the parliamentary level and seek overlaps in areas that are strategic for both countries. At the same time, according to the press department, the visit is taking place directly following Okamura's recent first visit to Slovakia. The fulcrum of the bilateral talks between Rasi and Okamura will not be only current political positions, but also further possibilities for closer cooperation in specific sectors such as energy, transport and defence. The parliamentary leaders will also touch on coordination within the Visegrad Four (V4 group: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) and joint initiatives that can strengthen the region's voice in Europe. "I am going to Prague with a clear message. Our nations belong together regardless of political cycles. With Speaker Tomio Okamura I will discuss how to give our relations a new, pragmatic impulse. Parliamentary diplomacy must not be only about polite phrases, but about real cooperation. We want to focus on what unites us and jointly face challenges in the Central European space," Rasi noted. In addition to political talks, the head of parliament will also hold a meeting with youth delegates, including representatives of the Model Parliament of Slovakia and the Czech Secondary School Union. He wants to underline the importance of dialogue with the upcoming generation. "Already during the recent visit of Speaker Okamura to Bratislava, we both agreed on our shared agenda in the area of parliamentary cooperation with youth, aimed at supporting the involvement of young people in public life," Rasi recalled. The working trip will culminate in the participation of House chair Rasi in a ceremonial Czech-Slovak diplomatic evening. The cultural programme of the parliamentary delegation in Prague is slated also to include a tour of an exhibition by Slovak painter Kristina Mesaros. Along with Rasi, MP Paula Puskarova and MP Michal Bartek (both Voice-SD) are going to take part in the trip. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraphs 4-9 mf