Slovakia is and will be a responsible member of NATO and has no interest in changing its international anchorage in NATO or the European Union (EU), Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said today at the Presidential Palace after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is on a one-day official visit to Slovakia. President Pellegrini and Rutte discussed increasing defence spending, which will be an important topic also at this year's NATO summit in The Hague in June.
The Slovak President said that Slovakia is aware of the debt it owes to NATO. "It must be acknowledged that we have built our armed forces for peacetime, that we have built them as if there should never be another war on our continent," He said. We are currently spending and plan to continue to spend 2 % of GDP on defence and we are ready to negotiate an increase in these funds, Pellegrini said.
"But this will also require intensive domestic communication so that we can maintain comprehensive services for the population in the areas of health, education, the social system, but on the other hand, so that we can guarantee one of the most important services, and that is security," he stressed. He noted, however, that in the context of growing resources, a change in the EU's fiscal rules is necessary. For Slovakia, it will also be important at what pace this will happen and what will be included in defence spending.
Pellegrini and Rutte also discussed the conflict in Ukraine, both agreeing that a sustainable solution must be sought and that Europe, as the continent on whose territory this war is taking place, must play an important role. The President said that the EU must come up with its own proposals to contribute to the sustainability of peace and prevent further conflict. "The EU must be at the negotiating table, but not waiting to be invited, but on its own initiative, with its own positions, demanding a seat at the table. If it does not do so, and the Union's leaders are unable to present the European position, then we will see peace being negotiated without us," Pellegrini thinks. He added that a lasting peace in Ukraine will not be possible without EU security guarantees, even with US support. He described the question of sending troops from some EU countries to Ukraine as premature.
The Slovak President believes that Europe should act more confidently and not take steps that divide it. He was referring to two summits held this week in Paris under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron. Sending out signals of disunity, he said, is harmful to everyone. For Slovakia, it is logical that peace in Ukraine should be negotiated by the two powers that have all the powers to do so.
Rutte praised the alliance and cooperation within the Alliance. "Slovakia is more integrated than most EU and NATO countries, you are in the Eurozone in Schengen and you are a valued member of these groups," he said.
president.sk/ gnews.cz - RoZ
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