BRATISLAVA, July 30, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda presented “Ten Commandments” of his foreign policy, which have been included in the foreign policy chapter in the draft program statement of the new government. He said at a news conference on Friday that „the basic task and our ambition is to contribute as much as possible to enhance the reputation of our country.“ This goal should lead to increased interest in Slovakia, and his department will subordinate its behavior and instruments to this goal.
The first point in the foreign policy chapter in the program discusses the essential and value orientation of Slovakia’s foreign policy, which will be based on traditional values, such as the right to life, personal freedom or dignity. „There will be only one foreign policy,“ he said and explained that there will not be a foreign policy in Slovakia and a second one with a different face abroad. The second point of the “Ten Commandments” are good neighborly relations. Under Dzurinda’s leadership, the department wants to strengthen the above-standard character of relations with the Czech Republic and has an ambition to improve relations with Hungary, to make the Visegrad Group more visible and focus on relations with Ukraine. „Cooperation will be guided by the motto Together We Are Stronger,“ said.
Another area is an active European policy; in fourth place is security and transatlantic relations. As Dzurinda pointed out in connection with this point, Slovakia would support missile defense in the Czech Republic. The United States is our strategic partner and its interests is also a development in scientific research area. The fifth area of foreign policy orientation is Russia. The sixth point is the economic policy abroad. This dimension will be very strongly present under his leadership, said Dzurinda. Number seven is development aid, and number eight support services to Slovakia’s citizens abroad and taking care of fellow countrymen. Ninth point is the area of new challenges, such as combating illegal immigration and global changes. The last point is the openness and public control of foreign policy. „We want to communicate with people often, we will be open,“ promises the new chief of the department.
Dzurinda has, among other plans, the ambition to limit contacts with countries that violate human rights, such as Belarus or Cuba. As pointed out, on the one hand, he understands economic interests, but on the other, he cannot go against the basic principles and values.
SITA