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Slovakia Taking up Visegrad Four Presidency on Thursday
Wednesday 30 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 30 (TASR) - Slovakia is due to preside over the Visegrad Four (V4/the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) for one year as of Thursday.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano informed that Slovakia will take up the presidency from Hungary at the upcoming V4 summit, which should most probably take place in mid-July. Its main slogan will be 'Efficient Visegrad - Continuity, Integrity, Solidarity and Awareness'.
Slovakia wants to build on the experience and success of its predecessors and concentrate on projects and activities, which would bring advantages to the citizens of the V4 and cushion the effects of the global economic crisis.
In addition, Slovakia would like to utilise Hungary next-year's EU Presidency (from January 2011) for strengthening the efficiency and cohesiveness of the V4, as well as promoting the common interests of the group in the discussions concerning the crucial EU policies.
Visegrad Four celebrates its 20th anniversary during Slovakia's presidency, on February 15, 2011. Thus, issuing of memorial coins with a two-euro denomination and a memorial stamp will be initiated.
Several V4 summits are set to take place over the upcoming year, with the V4 presidents scheduled to meet in Karlovy Vary (the Czech Republic) on November 5-6, 2010. In addition, the prime ministers will meet at two summits, one in late November and early December 2010, and the other in Slovakia in June 2011. The foreign affairs ministers are set to meet this October to discuss issues relating to the Western Balkans, while in the spring of 2011 they will focus on the Eastern Partnership.
Following Slovakia, the V4 presidency will pass to the Czech Republic.
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