Political, military and economic cooperation - these, in a nutshell, are the main topics of talks between Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchcinski and the President, Chairman of the National Council and Prime Minister of Slovakia. The two-day visit was full of important declarations and decisions strengthening bilateral cooperation between Warsaw and Bratislava. - The revival of Polish-Slovak cooperation is very evident, especially in recent years. It involves not only parliaments, but also local governments and infrastructure. The best example is Via Carpatia, one of the key investments in both countries," Marek Kuchcinski said at a press conference after meetings with Slovak politicians.

Joint road investment is one of the key issues for both countries. So are tourism, energy and defense. At his meeting with President Andrei Danko, the Speaker of the Seimas appealed for support for the Carpathian Strategy, a plan for the development of the region, which would be implemented as part of a broad agreement among the countries of this part of the continent. - The Alps have such a program, we are lagging behind in this regard. Such a strategy is badly needed," Marek Kuchcinski stressed. Chairman Danko noted Slovakia's readiness to strengthen cooperation with Poland in many aspects, including, first of all, parliamentary cooperation, but also in the forum of the European Union. Andrej Danko also stressed the importance of solidarity in EU affairs of all V4 members. - Poland and Slovakia have, together with the entire Visegrad Group, an increasingly important voice in the European Union, he said. The Slovak politician also referred with interest to the defense industry cooperation proposed by the Speaker of the Sejm. - A Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian battalion exists and is well regarded. Why shouldn't there be a Polish-Slovak one? Or a Polish-Slovak-Hungarian one? - suggested Marshal Kuchcinski. The politicians also discussed the joint organization of the Winter Olympics.

After his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the Speaker of the Sejm - asked by journalists about the Hungarian parliament's resolution supporting Poland in its dispute with Brussels - replied that similar assurances had come from the Slovakian side. - The basic principle of cooperation in the Visegrad Group, that is, one supports the other, should also be maintained at the level of our relations with the EU. There is a good will for us to seek such forms of cooperation at the level of parliaments so that the V4 strengthens itself, and therefore also supports itself in terms of its attitude towards the EU," said Marek Kuchcinski. The final item on the visit to Slovakia was a meeting with President Andrej Kiska.

During his visit to Bratislava, Sejm Speaker Marek Kuchcinski also held talks with representatives of the Friendship Group with the Republic of Poland in the National Council of the Slovak Republic. Together with Chairman Danko, Marshal Kuchcinski also laid wreaths at the symbolic Gate of Freedom commemorating those who lost their lives under communism while trying to get through the "Iron Curtain" to the "free world." The Sejm Speaker was accompanied during the visit by Jerzy Polaczek, chairman of the Polish-Slovak Parliamentary Group.

text: CIR

Photo: R. Zambrzycki, M. Olejnik

Exhibition on Auschwitz - works of Marian Kolodziej at the Slovak National Council