Events

VITEBSK, 19 September (BelTA) – The Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic opened in Vitebsk on 19 September, BelTA has learned.

“Despite the efficient work of the Embassy of Slovakia in Belarus, the Slovakian authorities have seen a potential in the north-eastern region of Belarus (within the scope of the Honorary Consulate are Vitebsk and Mogilev Oblasts) for the development of economic, cultural, education and other cooperation,” Honorary Consul Alexei Sychev stressed.

The activity of the honorary consulate will be aimed at establishing closer contacts between economic entities, figures of culture, universities and other potential partners. There are plans to organize a business forum ahead of or during the Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk festival. The business forum will sign agreements on cooperation between the universities of Belarus’ northern region and Slovakia and an agreement on twin-town relations between Vitebsk and a city of Slovakia (Kosice and Presov are under consideration).

Alexei Sychev’s first step as Honorary Consul was an exhibition, Belarus Is Greeting, to strengthen cultural relations between Vitebsk Oblast and Slovakia. The expo opened in the library of the Vitebsk State Medical University on 19 September. It is a photo and music project of the four member states of the Visegrad Group to mark the 10^th anniversary of the EU entry for Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.

Attending the Honorary Consulate opening ceremony were Vitebsk Oblast Vice Governor Oleg Matskevich, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Slovakia to Belarus Miroslav Mojzita, Dagmar Repcekova, Director General for Foreign Economic Activities of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Belarus Vilmos Sziklavari, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Belarus Milan Ekert.

Slovakia operates a total of about 170 Honorary Consulates and 70 embassies worldwide.