Lisbon – November 2023. His Majesty’s Hon Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga to Portugal, Mr Anthony Bailey, paid a courtesy visit on His Excellency Tibor Králik Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Portuguese Republic.
The meeting took place at the Slovak Ambassador’s residence in Lisbon and discussions were held as to how to further enhance relations between Tonga and Slovakia. Relations between the two countries were first recorded in 1911 with the expedition to Tonga of Slovak politician, diplomat, minister, aviator and astronomer, General Milan Rastislav Stefan. He visited Vava’u in Tonga and observed a total Solar Eclipse which was visible from Tonga on 28 April 1911 achieving one of the best scientific results of the observation of the Solar Eclipse there. Also in 1911, two concrete pillars were installed on this low hill in and one of them with General Štefánik’s name.
In October 2023, HRH Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua-o-kalani Lavaka ‘Ata Tuku’aho received at the Tongan High Commission in Australia, Dr Marek Sobola, Secretary-General of the Slovak non-governmental organisation, Servare et Manere.
During the audience Dr Sobola presented to Her Royal Highness one of the association’s highest awards and thereby becoming the laureate of the Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace in a Special class with rubies. The Medal was awarded to the Princess for her exceptional merits in the field of uniting nations as well as for promoting peace and spreading environmental awareness.
Tongan Consul General Anthony Bailey has a long association with Slovakia since 1989 and last visited Slovakia in November 2023. Mr Bailey has been active in promoting into religious, financial and cultural ties between the Slovak Republic, and a number of EU and former EU member states. In 2016, he was awarded the Medal of The President of the Slovak Republic in recognition of his services.
