Miroslav Lajčák
Miroslav Lajčák (born in 1963) served as the foreign and European affairs minister under three terms of the Smer government: first between January 2009 and July 2010, replacing Ján Kubiš, who left the cabinet of Robert Fico for a UN job, and then in the 2012-2016 cabinet of Robert Fico, followed by the 2016-2020 cabinet (PM Robert Fico was replaced by PM Peter Pellegrini in 2018).
Lajčák graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He speaks English, Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian and German.
His professional career started in 1988 in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the former Czechoslovakia. He was an assistant to the ambassador at the Moscow Embassy. He returned to Slovakia in 1993 after the Slovak Republic was established and started working at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. One year later, in 1994, he became the Slovak ambassador to Japan.
Lajčák’s primary diplomatic focus has been in the Balkans. He served as the assistant to the UN Secretary General Special Envoy for the Balkans (1999-2001). After that, he was named the Slovak Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Albania and Macedonia with a seat in Belgrade, serving from 2001 to 2005.
In 2005, back at the ministry, he prepared a summit of presidents of the US and Russia that took place in Bratislava in February 2005.
He was the personal representative of the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to facilitate the referendum on the independence of Montenegro (2006).
He held the post of the High Representative and the EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2007 – 2009).
Afterwards, Lajčák worked at the Brussels-based European External Action Service as its managing director for Europe and Central Asia (2010-2012).
Lajčák has never become a member of the ruling party Smer, but his name has been associated with the party ever since he took up the ministerial post, and particularly after he ran on Smer’s slate in the 2016 elections. One of his main tasks in 2016 was to prepare Slovakia for the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
During the last term of the cabinet, where he was the minister, he became Slovakia’s first ever President of the United Nations General Assembly.
In 2019, Smer tried to persuade Lajčák for several months to run in the presidential election as the party’s candidate, but refused the bid in the end.
Who is Miroslav Lajčák?
Lajčák’s primary diplomatic focus has been in the Balkans.
Former minister Lajčák set to return to the Balkans
The former foreign affairs minister is one of Slovakia's top diplomats.
Lajčák: Slovakia's EU interests more vital than V4 group
The EU negatively perceives the central European V4 cooperation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lajčák rumoured to leave for NATO
His ministry refuses to comment on the reports.
Lajčák: If we can manage Brexit, we can manage other things too
Highlights from Day 2 of the GLOBSEC 2019 Bratislava Forum.
Lajčák: Brexit agreement is good, there is no reason to re-open it
EU ministers are waiting on the UK.
Slovakia now officially chairing the OSCE
Situation in Ukraine will be one of the focuses of the chairmanship.
Lajčák: Hard Brexit is the worst scenario
Foreign Affairs Minister claims Slovakia is prepared for it, though.
Lajčák decided to stay
Pellegrini convinced him.
Slovakia won't send anyone to Marrakesh
Miroslav Lajčák remains in the ministerial post for another few days; Kiska postponed final decision again.
President will not decide on Lajčák’s resignation for now
He wants to wait until the December 5 government session.
PM hopes to talk Lajčák out of resignation
Pellegrini insists Slovakia will stay on the euro-atlantic track.
Lajčák’s resignation raises concerns about Slovakia’s future political orientation
Many politicians were surprised by the announcement that Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák will step down. However, some ask why he did not leave earlier.
Diplomat Lajčák was respected abroad and among the opposition
The ruling Smer party used to utilise the good reputation of its foreign affairs minister in election campaigns.
On the borders of schizophrenia
The debate over migration has reached an absurd new level.
What does Lajčák really believe in?
The time to speak up was in 2015 and 2016. Lajčák didn’t, because it wasn’t career-friendly.
Lajčák leads presidential polls, but he refuses to run
The ruling Smer still does not have its candidate. They want the foreign affairs minister, but do not have his backing on the migration pact.
UPDATED: Lajčák considers resignation if the migration compact is rejected
The foreign affairs minister also admitted to some disputes with PM Robert Fico.
Migration compact: Will Slovakia stay out?
The ruling coalition is divided over the UN document on migration. The Foreign Minister clashed with the SNS, who want to follow the example of Austria and Hungary.
I’ve given two years to the EU presidency scandal. I’m leaving.
Whistleblower Hlávková to Foreign Minister Lajčák: You can still tell the truth.
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