The North Atlantic Council Brussels, 17 Oct. 1996

Address By H.E. Michal Kovac President Of The Slovak Republic

18 Kb Distinguished Secretary General, Your Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honor for me to address this important forum, to express my views on such significant questions as European and trans-Atlantic security, and to present to you the fundamental position of the Slovak Republic with respect to the North Atlantic alliance. Permit me at the outset to draw a connection to the symbolic significance of my first visit to NATo headquarters in Brussels in November 1993. That visit began a new era of concrete practical cooperation between the Slovak Republic and NATO. The talks which took place on that occasion opened a space for the development of qualitatively new relations between the alliance and the then newly-formed Slovak Republic. 11 Kb Today's visit may also be regarded as symbolic. The on-going discussions about the NATO enlargement irreversibly aims at its logistical culmination - a decision on the first group of new member of the alliance. This discussion is of extraordinarily important significance for the Slovak Republic. Although between the both visits passed the relatively short period of three years, this time was filled up by dynamic changes and development, which prepared the ground for the creation of a new European security system. Nevertheless, there remains something, as a part of this ground, that has not changed: and that is the system of values on which the transatlantic society is built. I would like to emphasize that the Slovak Republic shares the same values that are recognized by developed democratic states - the member countries of the Alliance. 18 Kb At present there exists a historic chance, that the region of central Europe after long decades of stagnation will become a region of long-term development and stability. At the present time, most of the main political parties in Slovakia, from the governing coalition to the opposition, sincerely and unambiguously declare their support for the NATO membership of the Slovak Republic. In addition, a majority of the Slovak people also supports the effort of the Slovak Republic, to gain membership in NATO, as is shown by public opinion polls. Therefore the primary effort of the Slovak Republic is the striving to join the transatlantic community of democratic, stable, and prosperous countries. We cannot regard our transformation and integration effort as full and complete, as long as the Slovak Republic does not become a full member of NATO. The Slovak Republic has taken - and I believe it will continue to take - all necessary steps leading to the gaining of our full membership in the alliance in the first wave of its enlargement. 16 Kb We are convinced, that the international political and geopolitical position of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, and the results reached in the transformation process in those countries are in essence identical and comparable with the position of Slovakia. We have signed the Association Agreement with EU, we are members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; we have the status of partners of the Western European Union; we cooperate within the Central European Free Trade Agreement, as well as within the Central European Initiative; and we are active participants in the Partnership for Peace, which we correspondingly regard as a part of the preparation for admission to NATO. The transforming states of teh Visegard Four form one geopolitical unit of cultural proximity, common historical experience, economic and political transformation, and especially of the effort to be integrated into Western European and trans-Atlantic political, economic and security structures. The region of central Europe forms one common military-strategic area. The artificial division of this region first of all would create various levels of security, about which Central Europe is especially sensitive. 22 Kb I would like to emphasize that the Slovak Republic plays a significant stabilizing role in the region of central and eastern Europe. As examples I would mention the Basic Treaty on Good Neighborly Relations and Friendly Cooperation between the Slovak and Hungarian Republics, the activity of Slovakia in CEFTA, our assistance toward the solution of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia by means of our engineering battalion, the expansion of the Central European Initiative, and many others. The Slovak Republic has stabilized its relations with all of its neighbors. We solve any potential disputes by peaceful means, good neighborly cooperation, and bilateral and multilateral consultations. From the establishment of our independent republic we have realized the importance of good neighborly relations for the attainment of maximum stability and security in the region of central Europe. 25 Kb The Slovak Republic is not threatened and is not a threat to anyone. We are building our army on the basis of the same democratic principles that apply in all other democratic states, with the intention of democratic control of its activities. We regard the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe as the cornerstone of the European security system. We recognize its historic uniqueness and breakthrough role in securing the peaceful coexistance of the European nations. The Slovak Republic identifies itself with the opinions of the member countries of NATO, that the treaty continues fulfulling its goals, and that the basic conception and provisions of the treaty preserved their value. We think that due to the ongoing development of the political and security environment it is important to continue in the process of conventional armaments and to strengthen further the viability and effectiveness of this treaty. 25 Kb Slovakia, does not want to be merely passive consumers of security; we already actively contribute toward the strengthening of security in the region. The Slovak Republic depends on a balanced policy toward Central Europe and its individual states, because in many respects stability in this part of the continent depends on such a policy. The Slovak Republic opposes teh creation of new dividing lines in Europe and fundamentally refuses the idea of neutrality or the granting of cross-guaranties as a complementary element of the European security system. At the same time, we would welcome a dialog between NATO and the Russian Federation, which would make possible the appeasement of Russia's fears of the process of expansion of the alliance, and the finding of adequate space for Russia in a new, forming European security system. We therefore fully support the proposals for a creation of a permanent mechanism of cooperation and consultations between NATO and Russia. The Slovak Republic supports the strengthening of the OSCE as a forum for a political dialogue, the decision of which will have a politically binding character and will be adopted by consensus. With respect to this we are looking forward to the Lisbon summit. Ladies and Gentlemen, Permit me to briefly mention several steps and arrangements concerning the preparation of the Slovak Republic for membership in NATO. As was already mentioned, our unambiguous goal is full-fledged membership in the collective security alliance, NATO, which has cooperative relations with other security structures in Europe. 20 Kb Joining the Partnership for Peace program had great significance for the integration of the Slovak Republic to NATO, as had the multilateral cooperation within the framework of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. The launching of the Partnership for Peace program by the Alliance in 1994 and its establishment as an indivisible part of the emerging European security system, represents for the Slovak Republic a good opportunity for close cooperation with the Alliance, with the goal of creating necessary conditions for our future membership in NATO. We understand the Partnership for Peace program as an important mechanism from the perspective of the selection of candidates for future membership in NATO. We were one of the first countries to join this program. Within the Partnership for Peace program, we concentrate above all on the attainment of the necessary degree of interoperability of the army of the Slovak Republic with those of the member countries of NATO. The Slovak Republic actively participates in the PfP Planning and Review Process and thus takes the further step on the way toward increasing its compatibility with the planning process in NATO. With respect to the preparation of the Slovak Republic for membership in NATO I cannot neglect to mention an additional significant step: ratification of the Agreement on the Status of Armed Forces within the Partnership for Peace program by the National Council of the Slovak Republic in September of the last year. The Slovak Republic was the first of the countries of the Partnership for Peace program to ratify this agreement. By further enhancement of multilateral cooperation within NACC/PfP we are preparing for a wider involvement in international humanitarian, search and rescue, and peace operations. 22 Kb The Slovak Republic eagerly welcomed the Study on NATO Enlargement. By the passing of its Individual Discussion Paper on March 16, 1996, the Slovak Republic, as the first partner country of NATO, commenced the phase of intensified individual dialogue with the Alliance. This dialogue lifted the mutual relations of the Slovak Republic and NATO to a qualitatively new level, while also making it possible to discuss sensitive issues of mutual interest. Its realization in the period of preparation of the decision on the admission of new members to NATO is thus conveniently timed. We know about several of our problems which will call forth certain doubts about our further direction. These questions are the subject of discussion, polemics, and hard criticism. We regard them as a temporary phenomenon. They are solvable in a constitutional and democratic way. From the moment of invitation of the countries to negotiations about NATO admission in the first half of 1997, to the moment when the process of admission to NATO will actually begin sometime in 1999, there exists sufficient time for the taking of such measures and the execution of such changes that will remove any doubts about the preparedness of our country for admission to NATO. I would like to emphasize that we are carefully following the internal developments and transformation of NATO. We are conscious of the rights and above all the obligations which will result from membership in the Alliance, and we prepare ourselves for their fulfillment, so that at the time of our invitation we would be able to become a full-fledged member of NATO. The invitation of Slovakia to the negotiations in the first group would make it possible to intensify dialogue with the alliance and help to create such a political and social climate that would contribute to strengthening the democratic processes and overcoming of existing problems. In this regard we would welcome the cooperation and help of the member states of NATO. Ladies and Gentlemen, Permit me in conclusion to express my high appreciation for the effort and concrete results of the North Atlantic Alliance at its adaptation to new security conditions, and to wish you much success in this exacting process. I am happy I can again underline the significance the Slovak Republic attributes to the basic values and principles on which the existence of the Alliance is built, and to their fulfillment by our side. We are aware that much work remains in front of us, as well as in front of NATO. I firmly believe, however, in the success of our common effort with the goal of securing stability, security, and prosperity in Europe, whose culmination for the Slovak Republic would be its full-fledged membership in NATO. Thank-you for your attention.