Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič Pays a State Visit to the Kingdom of Spain

The President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič and his wife paid a state visit to the Kingdom of Spain from 22 – 24 October 2007 upon the invitation of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofia.

In the toast – his only appearance for the media – Juan Carlos I said: “Slovakia and Spain share a common wish to continue with the construction of a Europe that fully meets the needs of the citizens. Therefore the selection of the Slovak Republic as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two year term in 2006-07 offers us an opportunity to praise the significance of your country’s contribution to international peace and security, in particular as regards the Balkans.”

Further into his toast, the King of Spain declared that Slovakia and Spain shared common views regarding significant challenges and opportunities, including those which require reinforced cooperation at the international level. “Mr President, your visit provides an opportunity to generally underscore the qualitative leap registered in the relations between the Slovak Republic and the Kingdom of Spain ever since we became allies and partners within the project of European integration.”

At the Madrid City Hall, the Slovak President was received by Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. As a sign of respect, the Mayor handed over a symbolical key to Madrid to the President of the Slovak Republic. Ivan Gašparovič praised the fact that one Madrid street bears the name of the Slovak Republic and that Madrid University campus houses a statue of Alexander Dubček, a Slovak politician to whom both Madrid and Spain showed respect in this manner.

The Slovak President also visited the Senate in Madrid. In an address delivered to the MPs and presidents of both houses of Spain’s parliament, Gašparovič presented Slovakia as a country with very dynamic economic growth, heading for the Schengen area and, as of 2009, for the Eurozone. Javier Rojo, the Speaker of the Spanish Senate, praised the Slovak President’s visit as an example of the good understanding which characterises our mutual relations and which will unquestionably strengthen the bonds between our countries. President Gašparovič also spoke to an economic forum for Slovak and Spanish businesspeople held in Madrid.

He held talks with the Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero who was particularly interested in the development of the car-making industry in Slovakia. During his visit to Barcelona, Ivan Gašparovič met with Mayor Jordi Hereu at the City Hall. They discussed the new challenges brought about by both countries’ membership in the European Union. Gašparovič expressed the hope that his visit to Spain would provide an impetus for the development of regional contacts between Catalonia and Slovakia.

While in Barcelona, President Ivan Gašparovič met José Montilla, the President of the autonomous Government of Catalonia, at the end of his three-day state visit to Spain. Montilla said Slovakia was the best among all the new EU members in adapting to the processes of economic and political integration. Slovakia’s economy, he said, is registering high indexes of growth and is turning into one of the most dynamic Central European countries.