A biography for Miroslav Lajcakhasn’t been written yet.
“The U.N. was created for people.”
“The E.U. should pay more attention to the plight of African nations hosting large numbers of refugees themselves - at times for decades.”
“Everyone who has ever asked for asylum in Slovakia was granted asylum if that person met the conditions. There was never any discrimination based on religion.”
“Better governance helps realize the full potential of the many young Africans who are currently giving their families' savings to criminal networks and risking their lives in the vast expanses of the Sahara or Mediterranean instead of starting their own businesses and using their lives to benefit their families and communities.”
“The U.K. should be treated with respect because it deserves respect.”
“People are saying that the next war will be about water. Let's make sure there will be no next war, and let's make sure that we treat water the way it deserves.”
“Mediation is one of the most effective tools of non-violence. It can turn parties away from conflict, towards compromise.”
“Membership of the E.U. is not about cherry picking. It brings a lot of advantages and, of course, it requires a lot of responsibilities.”
“We need to address issues our people think about and talk about. Because there is a feeling that Europe elites are addressing different issues. Not the ones that people care about.”
“My own country, Slovakia, has been there for South Sudan and its people. We made South Sudan a priority country of our official development assistance and humanitarian aid.”
“I do believe we can do more to bring the U.N. closer to the world's citizen and make a real difference in their lives.”
“South Sudan has faced numerous challenges, which include professionalising the security sector, establishing ministries and parliamentary structures with the appropriate capacity for policy making and oversight, as well as improving community safety and access to justice.”
“It's the right and also the responsibility of member states to express their views. And my role as the present of the General Assembly is not to comment on this. I'm here to protect and respect the rules.”
“I have absolutely no doubts that the best for the U.K. is to stay in the European Union.”
“The General Assembly is a unique organ. It's the most representative organ of the United Nations, where all 193 Member States are present. Each has one vote regardless of its size, power, or wealth. That gives the body a huge authority.”
“U.N. employees, including senior leadership, should be selected based on merit and competence while continuing endeavors to achieve gender parity and geographical balance.”
“Human rights represent absolute and universal values. They should be protected by all means we have at our disposal.”
“If there is one thing we need to avoid, it is competition between E.U. institutions.”
“The negotiations on the future of the U.K. and the E.U. must be led... in the interest of our citizens.”
“As our world gets more interconnected, no one country or region can meet development challenges on its own.”