Foreign policy experts from V4 countries agreed that a common approach on defence is a necessity for the region. The SMART SECURITY conference in Bratislava kicked of a research project that will investigate possibilities for cooperation.
Bratislava, 22nd November 2011 – The V4 countries may be facing a common future in security and defence policy. The scope of future cooperation will be discussed within the DAV4 project, organised by the Slovak Atlantic Commission under the auspices of the Slovak foreign minister Mikuláš Dzurinda. The project, which was unveiled yesterday at the SMART SECURITY international conference in Bratislava, will analyse the possibilities for regional V4 cooperation on matters of defence and security. An integral part of this project is the international expert group, which will give national governments specific recommendations for cooperation.
Fiscal austerity is a fact of life not just in the region, but also in Europe and North America. Budgetary cuts will necessarily affect the defence budgets and may have profound implications for both the defence and security of states.
The possibilities for overcoming these shortfalls were the topic of yesterday’s discussion of experts from the whole of Europe and representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence of the countries of the V4. The Slovak Foreign Minister, Mikuláš Dzurinda, emphasised that “International cooperation is simply a must!” He stressed that it is the “only effective way to produce new and better capabilities in the current situation.” “It is with pleasure, that I took the auspices over the Slovak Atlantic Commission’s research project. I strongly believe that the project can offer an outline of the V4 approach to Smart Defence.”
“To be effective, it is essential that we share capabilities and develop them together” continued Rastislav Káčer, the president of the SAC and member of the DAV4 expert group. “The area with the most perspective is common education and integrated air defence, which is one of the key areas of national sovereignty and security” Mr. Káčer also sees potential in other areas, such as research and development, and intelligence. “First and foremost is our ability to intercept any possible negative trends. This is impossible without very close intelligence and foreign policy cooperation. That is why it is necessary to foster significant integration and cooperation”
