Madrid, Spain 4 June 2003

"Democratic transformation and its contribution to stability in the Euro-Atlantic Area" Speech by H. E. Eduard Kukan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Dear Secretary General, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, The recent integration processes and strengthened partnership in the euro-atlantic area could hardly be successful if the countries ”free and at peace” would not broaden the concept of stability, would not “export” stability and democracy, first of all in their own region, but also far away from their own borders. As solid western democracies did in the past for us, so we, the new democracies are contributing to stability in euro-atlantic area and beyond, by exporting our own experience, lessons learned and practices. This goal is now our common responsibility, common commitment. The EAPC forum is indeed the right framework for discussing this topic. We are facing the same security threats, most of all terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also trafficking of drugs, illegal immigration. So it is also our common responsibility to address those threats. Terrorists use every weakness of our democracy, they use every shadow produced by any instability in our region. Terrorism is a threat to internal security and can endanger peaceful relations between States and the development and functioning of democratic institutions. Therefore it is of utmost importance to support at home and abroad the democratic transformation, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. We have to face the threat of terrorism by a barrier made of strong democracies that share the values and principles of democracy. And our effort should not be limited only to euro-atlantic area, we should seriously think of future partnership with the Middle East and North African countries. For the Slovak political leadership pursuing their reform agenda the lessons learned from the meanders on our road to a strong civil society could be summed up as: “Try harder, never take things for granted, be serious in what you are doing.” This may explain why Slovakia has progressed reasonably well in the reform of its democratic institutions, economy but also in security and defence sectors. Slovakia can therefore be an important producer, and an exporter of stability. It is in Slovakia´s vital interest to engage in the democratic transformation, i.e. the consolidation and stabilisation of the nations to the east and to the further south of my country (i. e. especially the Balkans). The status of a full member of NATO shall further enhance our outreach. We have already put large part of this transferable expertise on offer for further use. Let me mention at least one success story. The processes in Belgrade that brought about the much needed political change in Serbia, and indeed in the Western Balkans, were preceded by a so-called Bratislava Process put in motion when in 1999 the leaders of anti-Milosevic political and civil movement met in Bratislava with the Slovak politicians and non-governmental organizations still fresh from their experience in stimulating the political changes in my country. In May 2001 Bratislava hosted the international conference Europe´s New Democracies: Leadership and Responsibility where Václav Havel and Zbigniew Brzezinski outlined a vision of new NATO enlargement. I am pleased to inform you today that there will be a follow-up to this event – we may call it Bratislava Spring 2004. This follow-up conference to be held on the eve of the next NATO Summit in May 2004 will offer the venue for a fruitful dialogue on contribution of new democracies to stability in the euro-atlantic area, on the future of the Alliance, perhaps on another round of NATO enlargement and of course transatlantic relations. Ladies and Gentlemen, Not only the Democratic Peace Theory, but also a real-life experience tells us that democracies do not fight each other; they resolve their differences in a discussion. The evident example of this theory is today´s Western Balkans, region much different as it was in a past. Therefore, a spread of democracy, spread of our experiences throughout the euro-atlantic area and beyond, which we have seen after the fall of the Berlin Wall is encouraging and should further continue. I am confident that young democracies as well as those more mature will further foster their democratic institutions and culture.