Parliamentary Assembly

Madam President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, ladies and gentlemen, 30 June will mark the third anniversary of the Slovak Republic’s accession to the Council of Europe. We have arrived as free among the free, equal among the equal, in the name of humanity, the best values of mankind, in the interest of the rights of man, a nation, a state. We confirm our interest in participating in the building of a new Europe with shared values of democracy, human rights and freedom, while respecting the right for an individual path towards the achievement of these values. The Council of Europe is seen by us as a symbol and guarantor of the development of these values, and has rightly been dubbed the conscience of Europe.

Our ancestors developed a powerful state from the sixth to the ninth century. The first diocese in central and eastern Europe was situated in our territory. It was here that patron saints of Europe, St Cyril and St Methodius were engaged in their proselytising activities, and Christianity spread further to the east as a result. Our forefathers’ language was recognised as the fourth liturgical language. I do not want to lecture on history, but rather to suggest that if Europe is now developing for the second millennium under Christian influence, then we have always been an integral part of that process.

The Slovak Republic is developing as a democratic state of citizens with equal rights, duties and opportunities. The democratic evolution is irreversible. Shortcomings are faults which can be attributed to the evolution, rather than to the substance, of democracy. The economy is evolving into a socially- orientated market economy, with a dynamic growth of the gross domestic product exceeding 7,3% for the second consecutive year; inflation is now under 1% and a stable currency with external convertibility of the current account has been achieved since 1995. Foreign currency reserves have increased, and unemployment has fallen by 4% in the previous eighteen months. The search for the social acceptability of the transition process has led to a situation in which, up to the present day, no instances of unrest or strikes whatsoever have been noted in our country. The values system of the people is in the process of changing. The many years of struggle between ideas of collectivism and individualism return us to the original values of Christianity and humanism. In practice, we have succeeded in defending our way, the Slovak way, of transformation of society.

The changes under way in our country are being undertaken both with regard to civilising trends in a post-industrial society and in view of the European integration processes. Our endeavours towards approximation and equalling with the most advanced countries speed up the efforts of our evolution.

Respect for human and civil rights is guaranteed in Slovakia through the legal system, the activities of public institutions, an independent judiciary and by international guarantees. Particular protection is provided in the area of minority rights. Ethnic minorities make up 13,8% of the population. We have adopted the international standard for minority rights. The Slovak Republic has also ratified the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. We regret that the convention is not yet in force owing to the failure of a sufficient number of countries to ratify it. We understand that the conflict in the Balkans, when viewed simply as an ethnic one, has focused attention on national minority policies. Restricting minority problems to only ethnic ones would not be correct. The protection of the rights of people belonging to national minorities should not be confused with the nurturing of nationalism on the part of minorities, or efforts towards irredentism, language ghettoisation and separation. Two different standards should not be applied for the assessment of the protection of human and civil rights.

After the friendly separation from the Czech Republic, Slovakia has rearranged the relations with all its neighbours, and has also this year ratified the Basic Treaty with the Republic of Hungary. The prerequisites for the stability and co-operation between regions are beginning to materialise. New possibilities are envisaged by us in the extension of economic co-operation within CEFTA.

The Slovak Republic has clearly declared its commitment to, and is taking practical steps towards, the integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, thus seeking guarantees of its security. Many noble words and toasts for eternal peace and co-operation have been said, although the number of conflicts and failures still remains high. It is, therefore, justifiable to ask the following question: “Are we ready to seize the opportunity given to Europe after the collapse of the opposing blocs? Shall we manage to convert the balance of fear and power into a balance of interests?” Europe will be secure when everybody in it is secure. Security for everyone, not against someone. We, therefore, consider the future development as a summary of different co-operation activities between the countries integrated in Nato, and their co-operating partners, too. We are interested in membership of Nato. Issues concerning security and guarantees are of crucial importance to central Europe. Security in central Europe cannot be conceived of only as a space between Nato and the Commonwealth of Independent States, but rather as an integral part of the global security architecture.

A more rapid and better organised co-ordination in combating international crime is another area which we consider to be of great importance for the security of citizens. While national bureaucracies are trying to find ways for co-operation, crime has become internationalised since the fall of the iron curtain.

The Slovak Republic is a country associated with the European Union and has submitted its application for membership. We welcome development aimed at setting objective criteria as well as the attempts to start talks with all the applicant countries simultaneously, and we realise that these talks may not necessarily be completed at the same time with all the countries concerned. The associated countries thus face a duty to accommodate the future situation in the European Union and prepare also for the conditions of monetary union.

Assessments of chances for integration through the use of various popularity polls, yet without any objective criteria, have a rather counter-productive and demotivating effect.

The preparation for integration is taking place in the area of legislation, compatibility of economic conditions for co-operation, technical linking of infrastructures, and also through increasing the output of our economy. The major problem is not investment, it is rather the training of people.

We greatly appreciate the Council of Europe’s assistance in the strengthening of democracy, the protection of human rights, the development of legislation and in the democratic building of the public administration. Your experience has helped our republic to arrive within a few years at a point for the achievement of which you needed decades. Democracy is a way of life and a way of thinking rather than just law and institutions. There are no alternatives to it. We apply the experience of advanced democracies to our condition and to historical evolution. What matters at present is the instruments for the development of democracy rather than the fundamental character of democracy itself.

Development of democracy is a never-ending process of getting acquainted with social evolution and relations. And that is also one of the continuous missions of the Council of Europe. It is necessary to analyse the mechanisms leading to the formation of European institutions, large and small states, the roles of direct and representative democracies, relations concerning the citizen, the state, self-government; the position of political parties, of the family, and of human relations; issues concerning the sovereignty of states and integration, regional relations and similar questions. Answers are to be given to questions regarding cultural development as well as the whole comprehensive set of social rights of man, not only in terms of the protective function of these rights, but, first of all, the motivating function.

Quite often, I am asked what is the most difficult task I have had to solve in my life. Life has taught me the lesson that it is only the tasks that we have not yet dealt with which can be much more difficult than the ones we have already resolved.

The Slovak Republic greatly appreciates its membership of the Council of Europe. It is not free from minor mistakes, although it is and will remain a reliable partner for everyone to co-operate with. We stand at the threshold of a new millennium, at the threshold of a new, post-industrial co-operation. We stand at the threshold of a new Europe of shared fundamental values and opportunities.

Let us prove that we are worthy of our time and that we have not wasted our chance.

Ladies and gentlemen, it will be an honour for me to answer your questions.