Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Brussels 8 December 1998

Statement by H.E. Mr. Eduard Kukan Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, We live in the world where direct military threat to our countries was replaced by new threats, risks and challenges posed by regional conflicts, organized crime, terrorism, drugs trafficking, illegal arms trade, proliferation of nuclear weapons and, last but not least, "export" of political and economic instability.Therefore, we have been seeking proper responses to these threats and challenges. I am convinced that we have already achieved certain results in our common efforts. It seems to be more and more obvious that in the future a single country will be more threatened and weaker with regard to the new security challenges. The EAPC security cooperation led by an effective collective defense organization aimed at those security challenges proved to be one of the fundamental security tools for the countries in the Euro-Atlantic area. Updated EAPC Action Plan 1998 - 2000 and Comprehensive Progress Report on PfP Enhancement and Implementation of the EAPC Basic Document, which we endorse today, are not only impressive lists of activities but first of all confirmation of a good will to use this tools for a general profit. Slovakia pays its highest attention to cooperation with NATO and Partners. We are particularly interested in development of political-military framework for NATO-led PfP operations, cooperation in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management and practical regional security cooperation. The Slovak republic would like to widen and strenghten its contribution to the Euro-Atlantic area, by cooperation, as well as by NATO membership. We consider the presence of international community - united in SFOR - of vital importance for continuation of the Bosnia and Hercegovina peace process. Slovak Government intends soon to reinforce its current contribution to SFOR by providing an engineering unit. In the area of crisis management Slovakia actively participated in CMX98, we concentrated on civil emergency planning. We are looking forward to the success of CMX99 where we would like to continue in the productive civil emergency planning participation and contribute to the CJTF part of the exercise. Dear Colleagues, Security cooperation with all our neighbors is the priority of our foreign policy. Slovakia is and will be an active and coherent element of regional cooperation in Central Europe. It is in our highest interest to revive cooperation of the Visegrad Group as soon as possible. We are interested in continuing development of good relations with Ukraine. Slovakia welcomed the Austrian initiative and became one of the founding countries of the CENCOOP. Slovak troops already participate in the UN peace forces at the Golan Heights within an Austrian unit. To strengthen the regional cooperation and share experiences from the accession processes next January we will organize, in cooperation with NATO, the EAPC seminar entitled "Security and Stability in Central Europe - Regional Aspects". Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, To conclude my remarks, allow me to quote from the Program of the new Slovak Government, which was approved by our Parliament last week: "In the area of foreign and security policy, attaining of NATO membership for the Slovak Republic in the shortest time possible is our strategic priority. The Government of the Slovak Republic shall take all necessary measures regarding its internal and foreign policy, with the aim of incorporating the Slovak Republic into the NATO collective defense system. We shall use all opportunities in approaching NATO offered by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace Program and other forms of cooperation with NATO member countries." Thank you for your attention.