The highest constitutional officials signed a memorandum on foreign policy

Bratislava – President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini, Vice President of the National Council of Slovakia assigned to its management Peter Žiga (Hlas-SD), and Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (Smer-SD) signed a joint declaration on September 1st on a unified approach to foreign policy issues. In the memorandum, they declare Slovakia’s firm anchoring in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO). This was reported by TASR.

By their signature, the signatories emphasized that Slovakia will be a country that will sovereignly enforce its positions in foreign policy without questioning its firm membership in the EU and NATO. They declare to support and promote this anchoring, including opening topics that can improve relationships within the EU and NATO.

“Slovakia wants to continue being a valid member of the EU and NATO, fully aware of its rights, but we want to be a proud member of these communities,” emphasized the President of Slovakia after signing the memorandum. The President reminded that even the Constitution of Slovakia, the creation of which Slovakia commemorates on September 1st, expresses the desire to make the country a valid and sovereign part of international structures that guarantee member states security and the sharing of the same civilizational values. Therefore, he highlights the importance of the act, with which, on Constitution Day, the three highest officials, by their signature on the memorandum on Slovakia’s foreign policy direction, acknowledge the commitment to keep Slovakia in the communities “in which we wanted and still want to be.”

Prime Minister Fico linked the memorandum with the constitution and its article on Slovakia’s sovereignty. “It is important for the three highest constitutional officials to define what sovereignty means in foreign policy. Slovakia is a small country, but it is sovereign and independent, and this must also be reflected in foreign policy,” stressed Fico. According to him, the memorandum clearly states “where we are and in what living space we live.” He therefore strongly rejects the scare tactics suggesting efforts to leave international communities. “None of us question this living space,” warned Fico, who also highlighted the memorandum’s peaceful message.

In the memorandum, the three highest constitutional officials also commit to supporting foreign policy that rejects efforts for different stances toward individual states and will pursue foreign policy in all four cardinal directions. According to the memorandum, Slovakia will vigorously advocate for peaceful conflict resolutions and international solutions and measures that will not harm Slovakia’s interests.

In the memorandum, they equally commit to supporting the principle of collective defense capability as the only guarantee of full security for Slovak citizens. The three constitutional officials additionally commit in the document to protecting the advantages of the Schengen area and equally defending against its misuse in the form of illegal migration. They also pledge to create conditions for open dialogue on the domestic political scene, “so that Slovakia’s representatives speak with a common language on foreign policy issues.” (August 1st)