General Governor of Australia on a working visit in Slovakia

After the meeting the Slovak President expressed his pleasure of visit of the Australian Governor, accompanied by a large business delegation. Good prospects for cooperation between the two countries both heads of states see in several areas. "I am very pleased that our entrepreneurs will negotiate with businessmen of the delegation of Mrs. Governor," said Ivan Gašparovič. Themes of the meeting with the General Governor of Australia were also issues of cooperation within multinational institutions, where the cooperation quality is very good. Both partners also discussed the global topic of Romas and civil rights.

Quentin Bryce expressed her gratitude for the warm welcoming and hospitality with which she and her delegation in Slovakia were welcomed. She recalled that her visit takes place in the year, "which is so important for the Slovak Republic – in the year when Slovakia is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its independence." In this regard, the Governor congratulated the citizens of the Slovak Republic to "a remarkable success with which the Slovak Republic's 20 years of transition to a market economy handled."

Quentin Bryce spoke with appreciation about the Slovak community in Australia, which retains its language, culture and traditions. She recalled the leadership of Ján Jandura – Puček, the first naturalized Australian citizen since 1949. In the Australian Federation capital Canberra one of the local parks was named after him, where also a commemorative plaque to him as the first naturalized citizen of Australia was exposed.

The General Governor of Australia´ husband Michael Bryce is an acclaimed architect and designer, both at home and abroad. During the short visit to Bratislava he alos took a tour of the center of Bratislava, where he appreciated the building of the Arthur Fleischmann Museum. This significant sculptor and pioneer of plexiglas (1896-1990), who was born in Bratislava, worked in six countries on four continents. He is well-known also in Australia.