Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Mikuláš Dzurinda at the Young Leaders and the Future of NATO Young Atlanticist Summit
Lisbon, Portugal, 20 November 2010
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear young friends,
It is my great pleasure to address you at the 2010 Young Leaders & Young Atlanticist Summit here in Lisbon. This is a very opportune moment for such a gathering. As of today we have a new compass to navigate the Alliance and its Allies in the coming years - the New Strategic Concept of the Alliance.
• We, the older generations, very well remember the times when freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights were only a dream. That is why we do not take security, prosperity and democracy for granted. We need to stay active in preserving the fundamental values of the transatlantic space – of our home.
• Sitting here and looking at the audience, a well-known quote by writer, professor and business thinker Peter Drucker has crossed my mind: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” We want to share our experience with you because you are the ones holding the future in your hands. But we also need to listen to you, because you are the future elites of your countries, open-minded and not burdened with painful totalitarian and undemocratic experience.
• The integration story of Slovakia confirms that we cannot fool ourselves and enjoy some sort of a “free ticket” to the family of free, democratic nations. There is no better way to reach prosperity, respect and dignity but to stick to the proven values of freedom and democracy.
• If you woke me up in the middle of the night and asked me what NATO membership means for Slovakia, the answer would be always clear. NATO is the core of our national security and a precondition to our prosperity.
• Our entry to NATO and the EU changed the position of Slovakia in the European and global context. We gained more security, more prosperity, and more stability. But we also undertook more commitments and more responsibility. Our position changed from a consumer of security to a security provider. As a result, we are proud to participate in seeking solutions to global security challenges, for example through deploying our soldiers to Afghanistan, to the Western Balkans or to Cyprus.
In order to fulfil this role properly, we always base our activities on the fundamental values:
- 1. Responsibility – We fully stand behind our commitments. We participate in NATO operations, including in the most important one - ISAF. Despite the economic crisis and budget cuts, the Government of Slovakia is currently increasing its military presence in ISAF by 10 per cent. In addition, we have decided to adapt the mandate of our Armed Forces: make it more flexible and fully supportive to the main goal of the operation – training of the Afghani Security Forces and the eventual hand-over of security from international to local hands.
- 2. Transparency – We attach great importance to the principle of transparent consultations among allies on all security issues. The drafting of the New Strategic Concept has been a good example of this approach. I dare to say, a successful one. We will always support the
- principle of consensus that guarantees two things: 1. No Ally remains unheard; 2. Every Ally is a winner as far as our security is concerned.
- 3. Openness - NATO is not and should not be an organisation closed to the outside world. We therefore support the Open Door Policy of the Alliance, and when we speak about it, let’s not forget about Ukraine and Georgia. We support all Western Balkans countries in their aspirations to join NATO as soon as possible. I am strongly convinced we need to have them in. I have recently visited Montenegro, where I have launched a so-called speaking tour aimed at increasing public support to the country’s membership in NATO. It is Slovakia’s tangible contribution to supporting Montenegro’s path to the transatlantic family of nations. It has been a very successful event with positive effects, especially among young people. I was really impressed by the quality of the discussions and proud of this meaningful work.
- 4. Solidarity - The strongest asset of the transatlantic link lies in its unity. Despite fundamental changes in the security environment since its establishment, the key purpose of the Alliance remains the same. For Slovakia, the collective security based on Article 5 of the Washington Treaty embodies NATO and its mission. It is up to us, the Allies, to leave no doubt that the Alliance sticks to this principle stronger than ever.
- 5. Cooperation – Every country and international organisation which shares the same perception of security threats and understands our values can be our partner in the joint effort of addressing global challenges. The cooperation between NATO and the EU has been a challenge to us and we need to finally address it effectively! We need to talk less and act more! Also, we want to speak with Russia more openly and engage it actively on all issues of common interest.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that it is us, the member states, who own the key to the future of the Alliance. We must fully use this opportunity in order to leave you – the young generation - a legacy of cooperation. On the other hand, we must remember that democracy cannot be taken for granted and therefore we must not drift away from the values and principles on which the Alliance stands and is built on.
Thank you for your attention.
