On Tuesday Slovakia officially opened a liaison office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which was opened by Slovak honorary consul for Palestine (based in Bethlehem) George Jabra – standing in for Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, who had to change his plans due to security reasons.
Lajčák, who has been on a visit to Israel and the West Bank since Monday, had to cancel his attendance at the ceremonial opening due to numerous protests taking place at security checkpoints near Ramallah. Lajčák was also scheduled to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. “I explained my decision that was influenced by the adverse security situation in the area of Ramallah to the prime minister in a telephone conversation”, said the Slovak minister. According to Lajčák, the liaison office will significantly contribute towards the development of Slovak-Palestinian political and economic relations. Slovakia will share part of the premises with the Czech Republic. Lajčák and Hamdallah debated the Middle East peace process and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, to which Slovakia has contributed with €40,000 via the UNRWA agency. “Slovakia supports the building and strengthening of a Palestinian statehood. We believe that the peace talks make sense and can lead to a two-state solution that will be acceptable to both sides”, said Lajčák.
