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Bratislava/Brazil – The visit of the Slovak government delegation to Brazil is historic and brings the first concrete results. This was stated by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico (Smer-SD), after a meeting with Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin in the capital of the largest South American country on Tuesday. The Prime Minister highlighted that a new format of cooperation is being sought between the EU, Brazil, and South American countries, reports TASR.
“I am very pleased that we have an idea of where to strengthen mutual economic cooperation on a bilateral basis,” Fico emphasized. He was originally supposed to be received by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but he is in the hospital after undergoing surgery on Tuesday to stop bleeding into his brain. The country’s Vice President took over Lula’s duties following the hospitalization.
Fico reminded that since the formation of independent Slovakia, no Slovak Prime Minister has been to Brazil. For Slovakia as an EU member country, it is important, in his opinion, that a new form of cooperation is being sought between the EU, Brazil, and associations of countries operating in this region. He highlighted the recent completion of negotiations on the long-delayed agreement to create a free trade zone between the EU and the Mercosur association, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
“The conclusions from Montevideo are welcome to us, we support them and we will persuade everyone within the European Union that this agreement is the best thing that could happen for the entire EU and certainly for the countries in this region,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
He reminded that the Slovak government is trying to conduct a policy in all four cardinal directions, with full respect for membership in the EU and NATO. “You are an example to us of a country that forms independent positions. Positions based on respect for international law and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” Fico assessed.
According to him, Slovakia aligns itself with the Group of Friends of Peace at the UN and also appreciates the peace plan for the war in Ukraine, prepared by Brazil together with China. “We offer all our modest possibilities that we have in Slovakia so that we can support this plan in various ways. I express my conviction that Brazil, together with China, but also with other large countries, will play an extremely important role, and military operations on the territory of Ukraine will cease,” he stated.
According to Fico, Brazil can also play an important role in the reform of the UN. Slovakia shares the same opinion with the South American country that the UN Security Council should be expanded to include both permanent and non-permanent members. “It is for this reason that we are seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2028 and 2029. We have supported your candidacy and will gratefully accept the support that could come from your side,” he added. (December 10)
“The conclusions from Montevideo are welcome to us, we support them and we will persuade everyone within the European Union that this agreement is the best thing that could happen for the entire EU and certainly for the countries in this region.” Robert Fico
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