Bratislava/Tirana – Miroslav Lajčák, a seasoned Slovak diplomat and former European Union (EU) Special Representative for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, has been appointed as an advisor to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on matters concerning the Western Balkans. This announcement was made by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini during a press conference following an official visit to Albania on Friday, according to TASR’s special correspondent.
Pellegrini shared this news with Albanian President Bajram Begaj during their discussions in Tirana. “I informed the president that Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, the former EU high representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, will serve as the prime minister’s advisor on security issues within the region,” Pellegrini stated. He noted that this appointment will provide the Albanian government with a direct connection to the Slovak government for ongoing dialogues.
Lajčák has dedicated his entire career to diplomacy, representing not only Slovakia but also organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union. He held the position of the EU’s special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina from April 2020 until January 2025.
In April 2024, he was appointed by then-Head of European Diplomacy, Josep Borrell, to serve as the EU ambassador to Switzerland, although he ultimately did not take on this role. By September 2024, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced that Lajčák would not assume his position due to unforeseen developments in Bern, leading to an extension of the current EU ambassador Petros Mavromichalis’s mandate until August 31, 2025.
Previously, Lajčák held ambassadorial roles for the Slovak Republic in Russia, Japan, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as in Albania and Macedonia. He has also served multiple terms as the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia and chaired the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. (March 28)
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