Excelencie, vážené dámy a páni, priatelia, vitajte na dnešnej recepcii Holandského veľvyslanectva na oslavu narodenín jeho veličenstva kráľa.

Tegen alle Nederlanders die hier vandaag zijn, beste vrienden, van harte welkom!

Dear guests, after these welcoming words in my so so Slovak and in my native Dutch language, I will now be as inclusive as possible by continuing in English.

Dear guests, while this evening is a moment of celebration, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we are living in challenging times. People across Europe are increasingly feeling the effects of armed conflicts and economic tensions. Also, disruptions caused by the digital revolution, while creating opportunities for some, are leading to real uncertainties for others. From a human perspective it is not surprising that these uncertainties are sometimes a fertile ground for a rather narrow focus on what is perceived as our self interest.

But at the end of the day, I believe we cannot truly serve our interest by over focusing on ourselves. For open economies, such as the Netherlands and Slovakia, our national interest - simply put - is best served via international cooperation. That is why, as the Netherlands Embassy in Slovakia, we have a strong focus on the EU and NATO, so that we can effectively support a competitive and sustainable economy within the EU and bolster our common defense within the NATO alliance. We are also continuing to express support for the international values that both our countries have signed up to. And finally, we are advocating that as long as Russia shows no interest in peace, we should all help Ukraine in its resistance against Russia’s military aggression.

Dear guests, I would now like to share a few stories of our work as an Embassy over the past year, that also mean a lot to me personally.

To start with, a few months ago, I visited the Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké border crossing to Ukraine and the town of Michalovce. I learned that in the Eastern part of Slovakia there are longstanding people-to-people ties with neighboring Ukraine. I listened to the experiences of local officials and people living close to the border. Many of them told me they are striving to make the best out of the situation – for both Slovaks and Ukrainians. This trip reminded me while at the political level we are sometimes not united enough, at a grassroots level many people show an understanding that Ukrainians are not just defending their own country, but that they are also defending security on the European continent.

I also have strong memories of meetings with representatives of civil society across Slovakia. I have heard in these meetings that, as is the case in my country the Netherlands, also in Slovakia, that more needs to be done to protect women and girls that are victims of violence perpetrated by men. I have also heard genuine concerns from the LGBTIQ+ community that acceptance is declining for people that have a different sexual orientation, compared to the traditional partnership between a man and a woman. I believe it is important to commend the important work that civil society organizations are undertaking in Slovakia.

I am also thinking of a visit not so long ago to the town of Nová Dubnica. There, together with deputy Prime Minister Saková, I had the pleasure to open a state-of-the-art facility of Neways electronics. This facility produces critical technologies serving prominent European companies including ASML, Saab, and Rheinmetall. The investment for this new facility came from the Netherlands and is creating hundreds of jobs. But what is more important, there is plenty of potential for growth in the town of Nová Dubnica as Neways is an essential part of the value chain of the most valuable company in Europe, ASML semiconductors of the Netherlands.

Also, this year I met the third cohort of Slovak students that are part of the Talent Garden Program, a vert impactful initiative led by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia. The Talent Garden offers ambitious students from Slovakia the opportunity to enjoy a rotating internship at Dutch companies in Slovakia.

While I am speaking about the private sector, let me now also extend our appreciation to Heineken, for sponsoring tonight’s drinks. I would also like to thank the entire team of the Netherlands Embassy that have worked very hard to make this Kings Day a memorable and enjoyable one for all you. I should also here, in line with our Embassy’s focus on sustainability, share that today’s catering will be vegetarian.

Dear guests, a lot has happened over the past year. There is one more, albeit sad, highlight that I would like to share with you today. I want to pay tribute to the great Dutch art visionary, Mr. Gerard Meulensteen, who passed away earlier this year. In 1994, Mr. Meulensteen and Mr. Vincent Polakovič of Slovakia established the landmark Danubiana museum, just outside of Bratislava. This beautiful museum has turned into a real success, attracting art enthusiasts from all over the world. I am so grateful that over a quarter of a century ago Dutchman and a Slovak together made their dreams come true. Their vision and the spirt of cooperation between our countries, is a source of inspiration for our Embassy’s cooperation with cultural organizations across Slovakia.

Dear guests, I will shortly ask our esteemed Guest of Honor, H.E. Minister of Health, Mr. Šaško to address us, but before doing so let me explain why we are gratified to have Minister Šaško with us today. One of the most impactful highlights of the bonds between our countries is related to health care for children. For many years, the Princes Maxima children’s hospital of the town of Utrecht in the Netherlands, has been in a close partnership with the children’s hospital in Bratislava, focusing on care for children that are battling cancer. The health professionals in Slovakia and in the Netherlands are looking forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come. Minister Šaško is closely involved so the best possible care can be provided to young children battling cancer in Slovakia. It is, therefore, my great honor to have you with us today and to give you the floor for your address, minister Šaško.