President Alar Karis was on an official visit to Slovakia from March 28–29, 2023, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Slovakia. President Karis met in the city of Košice with Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová and Prime Minister Eduard Heger.
The meetings focused on Estonia-Slovakia bilateral relations, intensifying cooperation and sharing experience, in particular in the fields of digitalization, education, and tourism. They also talked about partnership in the European Union and NATO and increasing deterrence and defense spending in view of the NATO Vilnius Summit. They also discussed ways of assisting and contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Košice, the second largest city in Slovakia, has become the country’s center of digital innovation and, since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine last year, has become a major refugee reception center and humanitarian hub.
President Karis visited the Košice Creative City and the Estonian-rooted company Civitta, as well as the Spiš Castle.
Ambassador Merle Pajula and Edit Kubinyi from the Estonian Embassy participated in the visit.
Pictures of the visit and additional information: President Karis: It is in our collective interest that the world operates in accordance with rules and norms.