BRATISLAVA, February 1, (WEBNOVINY) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects 2011 to be a year dedicated to tackling the consequences of the economic crisis and securing global growth. This stems from a draft policy paper on Slovakia’s foreign policy for 2011, which has been submitted for interdepartmental review. The ministry expects that some country with a leading position in security, political and economic area will unseat the USA and also anticipates growing political and economic assertiveness of China. “Slovakia’s responsible response to global changes is further deepening of successful regional cooperation,” reads the material. Slovakia will chair the Visegrad Group in upcoming six months.
Slovakia will continue deepening good relations with neighboring states, particularly above-standard relations with the Czech Republic, special and accommodating relations with Poland and correct relations with Hungary, where the country plans to seek specific solutions beneficial to citizens of Slovakia. However, the character of relations with Hungary can still be influenced by application of the amendment to the Hungarian law on state citizenship, according to the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry. Support to development of economic cooperation and tourism will be among top priorities in relations with Austria and amicable relations will prevail in relations with Ukraine where the ministry will specifically emphasize economic cooperation.
Slovakia will continue supporting EU enlargement. The country will promote completion of accession talks with Croatia and signing an accession agreement by the end of 2011. Slovakia will also back commencement of accession talks with Montenegro and FYR Macedonia as well as granting the formal candidate status and beginning of accession talks with Serbia. Integration of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina and beginning of accession proceedings with Iceland will also be on Slovakia’s agenda. Slovakia will also encourage Turkey’s EU-integration ambitions and keep actively upholding the project of the Eastern Partnership and provide its experience to six countries.
In the security area, Slovakia will support a policy of effective defense capabilities and NATO systems and particular contributions in operations within the EU Common Security Policy will be directed mostly to areas of political interest, i.e., the western Balkans, eastern Europe and Afghanistan. Slovakia will also continue its engagement in a bi-community dialogue on Cyprus and advancing UN security sector reform in connection with conflict prevention and building institutions in central Asia. The country will also try to boost its and EU’s energy security and support the project of Nabucco natural gas pipeline.
The USA will remain Slovakia’s key ally. Slovakia will go on promoting the alliance between Europe and the USA. Germany represents a key European partner for Slovakia. Russia remains a strategic partner of the European Union and NATO and Slovakia will also support more significant penetration of Slovak products on the Russian market. As for relations with Great Britain, Slovakia will work on the common value base and it will also attempt to deepen economic cooperation with France with stress on the nuclear power area. Slovakia’s foreign affairs policy eastwards will focus on boosting the quality of the economic and political dialogue with the most important countries – China, Japan, India, Korea and Indonesia. Slovakia’s most important partners in Latin America include Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
SITA
