Bratislava, Slovakia, Feb 25, SPA -- Russian President VladimirPutin held an official visit to Slovakia on Friday, seekingto boost ties with the former Soviet-bloc country a dayafter a meeting here with U.S. President George W. Bush,who celebrated its transition to democracy. Putin, who met briefly with Slovak President IvanGasparovic after Bush's departure late Thursday, startedthe day with a visit to a memorial to Soviet soldiers whodied liberating Slovakia in World War II. About 7,000 areburied at the site. The visit came as Putin prepares to host celebrations inMay marking the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory overNazi Germany. Putin spoke with elderly Slovak veterans whofought in a resistance movement against the Nazis or in theSoviet army. "Thank you ... for what you did for the victory overfascism," Putin told them. "We remember the sacrifices." Putin was to meet later with Prime Minister MikulasDzurinda, as well as with leading lawmakers in Slovakia'sparliament.--SPA1302 Local Time 1002 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/242201