GOOD RELATIONS ALSO TO JOINTLY LEAD US INTO THE EU AND NATO
President Kucan at the joint press conference with President Schuster
On the occasion of the official visit of the Slovak President to the Republic of Slovenia

Ljubljana, 23 May 2001



MILAN KUCAN
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, today's visit by President Schuster is the first official visit of a President of the Slovak Republic to Slovenia. With all the frequent and intense contacts this is in fact such an unusual event that we found it hard to believe that we haven't actually had an official visit yet. On the other hand, this means that the political dialogue for which there was a need in both countries ran so intensely and so continually that this is in a way just one of the events that prove our common interest in many issues. This dialogue is also needed for an exchange of experience regarding the internal reforms that both countries need to carry through. There is one more thing that both countries have in common and that differentiates them, together with the Czech Republic, from other transition countries. In these processes our countries had to create their own states with all their functions and institutions. Slovenia unfortunately also had to withstand war and resistance to aggression, something which the Czech Republic and Slovakia were spared.

We also have a continued dialogue about the interests of Slovakia and Slovenia in their international life, that being the accession of both states to the European Union and NATO. These joint views could be summarised by the following points: firstly, both countries justifiably expect that the European Union will maintain its credibility, to insist on its positions adopted at the conclusion of the French Presidency as regards the reality of European Union enlargement; secondly, that the candidate countries will be involved in the internal dialogue in the European Union on institutional reform and the enlargement process; thirdly, that candidate countries will enjoy individual treatment, meaning that they will be assessed according to their ability not only to adopt the acquis, but also to meet the other requirements which are absolutely necessary in the European Union, and, as President Schuster said, that the European Union will not raise the bar when expecting us to make it across; fourthly, that bilateral problems which may exist as problems in relations between member states and candidate countries will not be an obstacle to European Union enlargement; and finally, that any internal problems within the European Union member states, which are becoming increasingly topical prior to parliamentary elections in these countries, should not and will not slow down the enlargement process.

We understand a certain level of uncertainty that EU member states exhibit in the face of this enlargement. This is an enlargement that is qualitatively different from all previous enlargements, yet it is important precisely for the reason that it is reaching beyond the borders of the erstwhile block division of Europe and would signify a true return of our countries into the spiritual environment of western European civilisation where we were formed as nations. In my view, the voices of doubt regarding enlargement, the reservations which are already being set and which can be heard here and there, point to three issues which we also discussed with President Schuster: the still not overcome mentality of looking at the European geopolitical map, meaning that there is still a mentality of a block division of this continent; this also points out the remnants of a colonial mentality as well as a certain level of mistrust, while on the other hand it points to egotisms linked to the redistribution of developmental financial resources within the European Union, particularly if the criteria used to measure the level of development today will be changed in the future. As regards NATO, both Slovenia and Slovakia expect an invitation next year in Prague, they are both ready, they know that the decision will be a positive one and they are both aware of the fact that the membership criteria set now are much stricter than the criteria set for Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, particularly concerning a country's ability to contribute to the strengthening of the common defence capabilities of the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

We also discussed the need for Central European co-operation, and in this respect also the Austrian initiative, which is an important one. We believe, of course, that Central Europe will continue to play an important role in the future regional integration also within the European Union. In this respect we need to return to the initial points of departure of Central European co-operation. After all, this is an environment that has many similarities as well as many specifics in relation both to the east and the west of Europe, both in relation to the north, and, of course, the south of Europe and the Mediterranean. In this context the Vishegrad group, recognised by its interests, becomes the backbone of such co-operation.

Finally, we also touched on the situation in the Balkans. Here Slovakia has an important representative in Foreign Minister Kuhan, who is also an envoy worthy of particular trust of the United Nations and a person who is very competent in judging the situation in the Balkans. I believe that this is also a good opportunity for Slovenia's views to face up to his views and assessments.


Question
Do you also see an anxiety in Slovenia about a "hard border", about a renewed division of Europe in two parts if we were not to be admitted into the EU with the other countries in South East Europe?

MILAN KUCAN
EU enlargement is a demanding issue and also a contradictory process. The second thoughts emerging in member states are of course also something that has to be reckoned with, although I believe that this is primarily an issue for the Union itself. The Union accepted its decision for enlargement. Of course, this has direct implications for us, it concerns our future, it concerns our destiny if you will, and we want to be involved in that dialogue. What is important against this background is the moral support offered to us in these expectations by the fact that we have achieved a lot, that this is not simple, that the success of every candidate country should be understood as the success of them all, and that from this perspective one needs to have a very respectful view of what Slovakia achieved in these negotiations. From its start, which was quite delayed, it has today become practically a part of the Luxembourg group. We know from our own experience that this is not possible without great efforts and this deserves respect. Of course, we also expect that the European Union will have the same respectful attitude towards these efforts.

As to the Schengen border which you were asking about, the situation in SE Europe, in this part of the Slovenian republic, one needs to see why this border is necessary. The Schengen border is not Slovenia's decision. It is the decision of the European Union that wishes to protect its security with a hard border, to prevent all that could destabilise today's stable Europe from crossing that border, and of course such an interest has to be understood. This is not a political wall, it is a border that is to keep out modern-type organised crime that is unfortunately proliferating all over the world, unfortunately also in Europe. These are drugs, arms, trafficking in human beings, money laundering, and of course the increasingly intense flux of illegal migrations. Illegal migrations not only from the former countries of the European east, but also from Asia, China, Pakistan, Iraq, through a territory whose borders are unfortunately also defined by Slovakia and Slovenia. It is our objective interest for this border to be as far away as possible from our own borders. For as long as this is a requirement that needs to be met in order to ensure the security of our own border as the future border of the European Union we will also want to implement it in our own interest.