Blanar Takes Part in Meeting of EU and CELAC Diplomacy Chiefs

New York/Bratislava, 23 September (TASR) - EU foreign ministers met representatives of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, with Slovakia represented by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), TASR learnt from the ministry's press department on the same day. The talks focused on agreeing a joint approach to bolstering security, combating transnational organised crime and defending the rules of the international order. Blanar accentuated Slovakia's interest in deepening relations with countries of the CELAC region. "The EU's partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean is important not only in terms of trade, but increasingly in addressing common security challenges. I am convinced that at a time when the rules governing international relations are being weakened, it is important to strengthen cooperation between regions that share respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter. Slovakia wants to contribute to this effort also as a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council," Blanar declared. According to the ministry, the security agenda was one of the key issues of the meeting. The ministers focused in particular on combating transnational organised crime, including drug and arms trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime and financial crime. Blanar added that the development of trade and investment is also an important part of relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. mf