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9. Foreign Policy
The foreign policy of the Government shall proceed consequentially from the State interests of the Slovak Republic, so as to safeguard the necessary international conditions for strengthening of security, economic prosperity of the State and the improvement of the standard of living of Slovak citizens.
The Government shall implement a trustworthy, responsible and balanced foreign policy. It will follow up with everything positive that has been achieved so far in this area.
The Government shall emphasise the strengthening of peace and stability in Europe, as well as in the world, and it shall be a reliable ally and partner respecting its obligations. It will support the deepening of the partnership and strategic cooperation within NATO and EU. It will promote and be part of a peaceful, secure and socially responsible Europe, the development of mutually advantageous international cooperation and the creation of a secure world without conflicts and crises. It shall participate in the struggle against terrorism.
In order to assert these objectives, the Government will make use of its membership in the EU, NATO, UN, OECD, OSCE and the Council of Europe, and it will actively participate in the whole system of international organizations. It shall guarantee and enforce, in harmony with international treaties, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. It refutes categorically all manifestations of racism, intolerance, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, extremism and anti-Semitism.
The Government shall support further deepening of the European process of integration and consolidation of the EU, with the objective to strengthen the democratic, secure, economically dynamic and prosperous, and featuring social stability and solidarity within an educated and cultural Europe. It shall emphasise the further democratisation of the EU and its coming nearer to citizens, so that it can respond in a better way to their problems. The Slovak Republic will participate actively in the shaping of European policies, taking into equal consideration the assertion of State interests, as well as the values of European solidarity.
The Government shall participate in the preparation and implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU and in development of capacities of the European Defence and Security Policy. Slovakia shall specifically focus its attention, within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, on strengthening security and stability in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as on the application of good relations within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The Government will support continuation of the ratification process of the Treaty on the Constitution for Europe. In the interest of reaching an agreement, it will not avoid further discussions concerning simplification of the European legal system, concerning the more clear delimitation of powers between the EU and its Member States and the creation of a more efficient system of decision-making in the enlarged Europe. It shall support decentralization and relocation of the European institutions into Central and Eastern Europe, including the Slovakia.
With the objective to increase the competitiveness of the EU, the Slovak Government, based on the Lisbon Strategy, will concentrate on creating efficient links between the national and the common European instruments of growth, performance and upgrading of the economy. This will be accomplished by applying the knowledge-based economy and by strengthening social cohesion. The Government shall assert the finalisation of the building of the EU common internal market and gradual removal of barriers on the European labour market and in the field of services, as well as energy. It shall intensify efforts concerning the shortening of the transitional periods applicable to free movement of labour and struggle for equal rights for our citizens on the European labour market.
It shall strive to fill the allocated quota of employees in EU institutions, in keeping with the accession documents of the Union.
The Government will support further enlargement of the EU. The accession of the new states must be fully in harmony with the determined criteria of membership.
The Government will draft an analysis of the status of rights and obligations following from Slovakia's membership in the EU, with the objective of the maximum use of its potential
The Government shall exert its maximum efforts to finalize preparations for our accession into the Schengen system, so that the Slovak Republic can become part of the Schengen zone in the shortest time possible.
The Government considers NATO to be the main guarantor of the Euro-Atlantic security. It shall respect and fulfil obligations following from Slovakia's membership in NATO. It shall continue in strengthening the transatlantic links and partnership between the member states of the Alliance, and to develop its relations with the U.S.A.
The Government shall support continuation of the process of transformation of the Alliance, and the NATO open door policy.
The Government, as a member country of the EU and NATO, shall promote the revival and enlargement of the political dialogue and practical co-operation between these groupings at the strategic and operational levels.
The Government shall devote utmost attention to its relations with neighbouring countries. Our objective is the comprehensive development of cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields. We shall support cross-border cooperation, contacts of our towns and municipalities as a part of our good neighbourly relations. The Government is interested in resolving the problems concerning the waterworks of Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros.
The Government ascribes specific significance to the strategic partnership with the Czech Republic and to its implementation in the form of multi-faceted specific cooperation.
The Government shall develop regional cooperation, first of all within the framework of the Visegrad 4 Group. The Government shall strive to follow the objectives of this grouping in order for it to serve as an instrument of assertion of jointly defined interests, including those in the EU. It shall focus on implementation of regional projects in the field of infrastructure, energy, environment and culture.
The Government shall, as a priority, develop its multilateral co-operation with the Member States of the EU and NATO. It shall activate its relations with the Russian Federation - an important factor in the security and prosperity of the EU. It shall assert mutually advantageous relations with other important strategic partners of the EU and of the Slovak Republic. The objective of these initiatives will be the economic development of Slovakia.
The Government declares its interest to further continue contributing to the strengthening of stability and democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the Middle East.
The Government shall promote efficient multilateralism. It will support strengthening of the status of international organisations of universal character, first of all of the UN as an irreplaceable organisation with global responsibility for world peace and security. As an elected member of the UN Security Council for 2006-2007, the Slovak Republic will actively contribute to solving global and regional problems, threats and challenges to security, especially those connected with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It supports the reform of the UN in the interest of increasing its capability to respond in a flexible manner to topical security threats. The Slovak Government will strengthen participation of the Slovak Republic in UN missions.
The Government will be a constructive co-creator of the human and legal policy of the EU. It shall make use also of the half-year Presidency in the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe (November 2007 - May 2008) for the development and assertion of human and legal standards. Slovakia will be on the list of candidates for the corresponding multilateral structures active in this field, and it will actively participate in them. It will devote special attention to international cooperation in issues concerning Roma, Sinti and Kalles.
The support of fellow-countrymen shall be one of the priorities of the foreign policy of the Slovak Republic. Its Government will create conditions for support of compatriot communities, with the objective to preserve the language, cultural and religious identity of the Slovaks living abroad.
The Government shall create the necessary financial, legislative and organizational conditions for efficient provision of development aid, in accordance with the objectives of its foreign policy. Also important will be the gradual increase in volume of targeted assistance to selected countries of the Balkans, to developing and less-developed countries.
The Government shall create the necessary conditions, including the financial coverage, for flexible provision of the humanitarian aid to countries suffering from natural or industrial disasters, as well as those stemming from environmental conditions.
In the interest of the economic prosperity of the State, the Government shall consistently strengthen the economic dimension of diplomacy. By means of a uniform foreign service managed centrally, it shall underline the economic interests of the SR more emphatically than has been the case to date.
The Government will prepare, in accordance with the new Competency Act a comprehensive concept of a uniform presentation of the Slovak Republic abroad, and the purpose-oriented strategy of its application.
The Government perceives the cultural dimension of diplomacy as a significant part of foreign policy.
The Government will take care of the justified needs of the growing number of Slovak citizens who are staying, living and working outside Slovakia's borders, and it shall protect their rights and interests. It will provide consular assistance to Slovak citizens who become destitute abroad. In countries where the Slovak Republic has no representation, it will co-operate closely with local authorities when fulfilling its obligations with respect to the citizens of the Slovak Republic, especially concerning other Member States of the EU.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall continue in its cooperation, in accordance with foreign policy priorities, with the non-governmental sector, and with partners from the scientific and academic communities.
The tasks of the foreign service have increased with the accession of the SR to the EU and NATO, and that also means in the co-ordination of participation abroad in co-operation with other departments, bodies and institutions of the Slovak Republic active abroad. The Government will evaluate its experiences and, from the perspective of developing a uniform foreign representation of the Slovak Republic and the economic efficiency of services, it will draft reforms that will harmonise the objectives, instruments and sources and lead to its more effective functioning.
In the interest of strengthening the unity, co-ordination and efficiency of the foreign policy of the Slovak Republic, the Government will prepare a draft of a foreign service act that will modify the status of such employees. The act will proceed from the principle of the uniform character of the State service and the public service and the specifics of its long-term performance abroad, as well as from the need to strengthen its professional character and enable efficient use of funds.
