Blanar: Ties with Czech Republic Strong, No Politicians Can Disrupt Them (2)

Bratislava, 23 December (TASR) – Last week's visit by newly-appointed Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka to Bratislava as his first neighbouring country is a clear signal that relations between the two countries are strong and cannot be disrupted by any political representation, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) told TASR in a year-end interview. Blanar referred this way to the suspension of bilateral talks by the Czech side under the former Czech government. In Blanar's view, Slovakia continued this year to deepen cooperation with all neighbouring countries despite some differing views. Relations with Hungary, according to the minister, have never been at such a good level as under the current governments. "Therefore, all attempts by the opposition to disrupt these relations with Hungary, for example by questioning the Benes Decrees and playing the Hungarian card, are just empty shots, because today nobody is interested in returning to the past in this way," he said, adding that the ambition is to look ahead towards the future. Blanar pointed, for example, to the signing of an agreement aimed at connecting the countries through various projects, such as oil and gas pipelines. "We defend our interests where we have common views, but I must say that we also have different perspectives on many issues than Hungary does, and we clearly present them," Blanar added. The head of Slovak diplomacy also highlighted political cooperation with Poland, which he said is proof that Slovakia is interested in firming up relations. He pointed to Polish-Slovak agreements drafted in the defence industry. As with Hungary, Slovakia wants to expand cross-border cooperation with Poland as well. "We want to be more interconnected than we are now," the minister noted, stressing that Poland is an important regional partner for Slovakia. According to Blanar, it is equally necessary to deepen cooperation with Austria. "It is an important partner from an energy perspective, because we cooperate in many areas, whether in terms of our products or gas, as Austria could become a transit country for us for the import of natural gas, for example from Algeria," he explained. In terms of cross-border cooperation, he pointed to an agreement on cross-border cooperation in emergency medical services and the planned renovation of bridges. In addition, the minister considers it important to strengthen good neighbourly relations with Ukraine. "We are doing everything for this, including through joint meetings of our government with the Ukrainian government, of which there have already been three. No other European Union country has had this so far," he noted. Despite the war, he said it is important for Slovakia that Ukraine is a stable democratic country that addresses all its shortcomings. "This is an absolute priority for us, which is why we are developing projects with it and supporting it on its path to the European Union. Thanks to the path to the EU, after the end of the war it will be able to carry out many very painful reforms to catch up on what it failed to do after gaining independence in the 1990s," the minister added. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final two paragraphs mf/mcs