MFA: Podhorsky to Chair Board of Directors of Permanent Court of Arbitration

The Hague/Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - Slovak Ambassador to the Netherlands Juraj Podhorsky will be the first Slovak national to preside over the Board of Directors of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague in 2025-2026, TASR has learnt from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. "I am honoured by the trust that member countries have expressed in me by electing me to the helm of the administrative board. I'll put in maximum effort to hold sessions of this body in a fair manner, in the interests of further developing and strengthening the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the oldest international institution established for the purpose of settling disputes peacefully," said Podhorsky. Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) reacted positively to the outcome of the election as well. "By nominating and filling the presidential post with the Slovak ambassador, we are clearly emphasising and confirming Slovakia's position as a sovereign country that, in principle, stands up for the values ​​of international law, peace and diplomatic dialogue," he said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration was set up in 1899, and 124 countries now belong to it. Its board of directors is comprised of representatives of its founding members. Although the formal president of the board of directors is the Dutch foreign affairs minister, the post of acting president has been occupied by a representative of one of the member countries for two-year terms since 2021. ko/df