The official visit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Slovak Republic concludes today in Bratislava. Following yesterday’s meeting between Grand Master Fra’ John T. Dunlap and President Peter Pellegrini, today was dedicated to exploring cooperation initiatives through a series of high-level institutional talks.

The Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, was received by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanár. The talks focused on consolidating diplomatic relations established in 1993 and on shared concerns regarding major international crises, with particular reference to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The willingness to intensify cooperation in the humanitarian sphere was reaffirmed, considering the implementation of joint projects in third countries, such as Lebanon, where Slovakia has expressed its intention to support the Order’s activities.

At the same time, the Grand Hospitaller, Josef D. Blotz, met with the Slovak Minister of Health, Kamil Šaško. The meeting was an opportunity to review the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, aimed at strengthening healthcare and social support in the country. During the meeting, the impact of the programmes run by Malteser Aid Slovakia was analysed; these programmes provide thousands of meals to the elderly each year and deliver healthcare assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the population, including Ukrainian refugees and Roma communities.

The Ministers expressed their appreciation for the Order’s activities, emphasising how the widespread nature of its interventions across Slovakia represents a vital support for social services in crucial sectors.