Czech President Milos Zeman

ČTK

World Leaders Congratulate President Zeman for his Re-election

Prague, Feb 2 (CTK) – The presidents of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia congratulated Milos Zeman on his re-election as president one week after the Czech runoff vote today, all mentioning good relations between Prague and their respective countries in their letters that the Presidential Office posted on its web today.

 

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen mentioned his visit to Prague in 2017 and expressed his wish to continue, together with Zeman, deepening the relationship between the Czech Republic and Austria.

 

Before Van der Bellen’s trip to Prague, his relations with Zeman were lukewarm, since Zeman openly supported Van der Bellen’s rival in the Austrian presidential elections, Norbert Hofer from the rightist populist Austrian Freedom Party (FPO).

 

Slovenian President Borut Pahor, in his letter, wrote that also thanks to Zeman’s effort, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have maintained close relations in the past two decades.

 

Pahor wrote he believes that this trend will continue.

 

Zeman bestowed the highest Czech state award, the Order of the White Lion, on Pahor for his outstanding contribution to the Czech Republic last year.

 

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, in her letter of congratulations, praised Czech-Croatian relations and also Zeman’s visit to Croatia last year, and added that she is looking forward to meeting the Czech president again.