Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Grassalkovich Palace, her official residence in Bratislava, on Monday.
“The Jewish people have deep roots in Slovakia. This land saw Jewish culture flourish, yet it also saw terrible atrocities and the destruction of many Jewish communities [during the Holocaust],” wrote Herzog on X, formerly Twitter.
He thanked Čaputová for the “warm welcome,” calling her “a true friend of the State of Israel.”
“The partnership between our countries holds great potential, and I am hopeful that my visit will open the door to more collaborations in many fields,” added Herzog.
Čaputová hailed the countries’ “long-running and excellent” ties, adding that her meeting with Herzog would “deepen them further” including in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
The Israeli president will hold a working meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor and other senior officials.
He will also meet with representatives of the local Jewish community and visit the grave of Rabbi Moses Schreiber (1762–1839), known as the Chatam Sofer, one of the greatest spiritual leaders of European Jewry.
The Israeli head of state is on a two-day official trip that will also take him to Austria, where he will meet with President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Hofburg Palace.
Later, Herzog will hold a working meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and then meet with other senior officials and heads of the Jewish community.
Herzog will participate in an unveiling ceremony at the home of the founder of modern political Zionism, Theodor (Binyamin Ze’ev) Herzl (1860-1904), with the participation of Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig.
The visits take place “against the background of the ongoing close diplomatic relations and cooperation between the countries in the fight against terrorism and antisemitism, and with an emphasis on the strategic relationship and desire to develop and promote relations in a range of other areas,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.
