President: Slovakia Must Be Partner to EU and NATO And Not in Name Only

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Even 20 years since it joined the EU and NATO, it is important that Slovakia remains a genuine, trustworthy and constructive partner and not just a partner on paper, President Zuzana Caputova stated at a ceremony on Tuesday, during which she awarded medals to 28 laureates who directly contributed to or otherwise supported Slovakia's accession to NATO and the EU. The event was held to mark the 20th anniversary of Slovakia's joining of both organisations. It was the integration into the EU and NATO that the President called one of the most important and successful moments of Slovakia in its modern history. "It was the success of the entire country, of all its people," emphasised the head of state. She pointed out that the benefits of membership have translated into everyday life "via the development of the infrastructure, the creation of jobs but also the building of a more secure Slovakia". Caputova added that it's not possible to decorate every single person who contributed to the integration success, but Slovakia's gratitude belongs to each and every one of them. In her speech, the President also noted that the integration shouldn't be only feted, but it's also necessary to assess the EU and NATO memberships in the context of when Slovakia managed to shape these organisations the most and promote its interests the best. "It's obvious that we were most successful when we were consistent and readable. It was that approach that brought us many advantages and opportunities which we've been capitalising on to date," she accentuated. She added that even though NATO and the EU had gone through changes in the past two decades, both still adhere to rules that were in effect also at the time Slovakia joined. "Every member state must remain a functioning democracy," she warned. The medals were awarded to Miroslav Adamis, Bela Bugar, Martin Butora, Milan Cerovsky, Mikulas Dzurinda, Andrea Matisova Elschekova, Jan Figel, Radovan Geist, Olga Gyarfasova, Pavol Hrusovsky, Peter Javorcik, Radovan Javorcik, Milan Jezovica, Rastislav Kacer, Ivan Korcok, Katarina Kovacova, Katarina Mathernova, Andrej Matisak, Rudolf Schuster, Frantisek Sebej, Maros Sefcovic, Vladimir Sucha, Magdalena Vasaryova, Peter Weiss, Miroslav Wlachovsky and, in memoriam, to Vladimir Jakabcin, Eduard Kukan and Jozef Stank. mf/mcs