Blanar Heading to Panama to Attend 56th OAS General Assembly

Bratislava, 20 June (TASR) - Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) will pay a working visit to Panama from Saturday to Thursday (25 June) on the occasion of the 56th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), TASR has learnt from the ministry's communications department. The first-ever visit by a Slovak foreign minister to Panama confirms Slovakia's interest, as outlined in the government's manifesto, in actively developing relations with the Latin American and Caribbean countries and in deepening political dialogue with the Global South partners, thereby strengthening economic cooperation. Furthermore, the visit is also aimed at securing support for Slovak candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. "Panama is an important partner for Slovakia in Latin America and a significant actor in international organisations. We appreciate its current mandate on the UN Security Council and we're interested in exchanging experience in connection with our candidacy for the 2028-29 term," said Blanar. "At the same time, we want to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations and create new opportunities for Slovak companies," he added. As part of his programme, Blanar is set to hold talks with his Panamanian counterpart Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez and sign a memorandum on political consultations between both countries' foreign ministries to lay the groundwork for a regular dialogue and step up bilateral cooperation. The working visit will also include a Slovakia-Panama business forum, during which Blanar is due to meet Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industries Julio Armando Molto Alain. While in Panama, Blanar will also attend the 56th General Assembly of the OAS and hold several bilateral talks with representatives of partner countries from the region. "Slovak diplomacy is actively preparing our candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and we're seeking further support especially from countries that are geographically more distant from Slovakia, as their votes are very important to us," he said, adding that Slovakia's candidacy has so far received preliminary backing from more than a hundred UN member states. The OAS is the oldest and most important regional organisation in the Western Hemisphere. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it was founded in Bogota in 1948 and today brings together 34 countries from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, stated the ministry, adding that the 56th General Assembly will take place in Panama from 22 to 24 June. jrg