President Peter Pellegrini held a traditional New Year's lunch with former heads of state Rudolf Schuster, Ivan Gašparovič, Andrej Kiska and Zuzana Čaputová at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
Pellegrini highlighted the fact that all of them managed to discuss various issues in a cultivated and open manner despite differing political opinions. "Although each of the presidents may come from a different background, each served in a completely different era and experienced different things, today's lunch was held in a very friendly, open and positive atmosphere. We were able to talk about everything happening around us without any problems," stated Pellegrini, noting that the issues included global politics, the domestic political arena and the lives and interests of the ex-presidents.
The President described the meeting and discussion as a model for other politicians in Slovakia. "It's a demonstration that, despite often differing political views, we are able to sit together at one table and discuss matters as befits intelligent and cultivated people," said Pellegrini, who believes that this way of communicating might serve as a very good example for the current political representation as well. "So that in the case of issues that are crucial for Slovakia, they will be able to sit together at one table and have a reasonable conversation, just as we were able to do today with the lady and gentlemen presidents," he added.
Source: TASR
