Blanar: Panama Supports Slovakia's Bid for UN Security Council Seat

Panama/Bratislava, 21 June (TASR) - Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) met his Panamanian counterpart Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez on Sunday during the first-ever visit by a Slovak foreign minister to Panama, with both ministers signing a memorandum of understanding, TASR learnt from the ministry's communications department on Sunday. Panama also expressed its support for Slovakia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term, stated the ministry. "Panama is a trade gateway to Latin America, with a large share of it passing through the Panama Canal. And the European Union is Panama's second-largest trading partner. As an EU member state, Slovakia wants to seize these opportunities and become part of promising projects, including infrastructure projects for the expansion and modernisation of the Panama Canal, as well as water management projects, where we have extensive expertise," said Blanar after the talks, adding that "the same applies to digitisation, energy, cybersecurity and, of course, the automotive industry, as the backbone of our exports". Trade between Slovakia and Panama remains relatively modest; however, Blanar said cooperation could be intensified through an agreement between the European Union and Central American countries. According to Blanar, the signed memorandum is also expected to broaden bilateral dialogue and facilitate regular political consultations, allowing both countries to share information and positions on issues of common interest, as well as to explore avenues for cooperation in trade and investment. Blanar thanked Panama for supporting Slovakia's candidacy for the UN Security Council seat, noting that Slovakia had supported Panama's candidacy in the past. He also invited Vasquez to visit Slovakia, possibly at the end of this year. During his visit to Panama, Blanar will open a Slovakia-Panama business forum and meet with Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industries Julio Armando Molto Alain. He will then attend and deliver a speech at the 56th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), where Slovakia has held observer status since 2002. On the sidelines of the assembly, Blanar is also scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of partner countries from the region to secure support for Slovakia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. jrg