The cardinal interest of Slovak foreign policy is the protection of Slovakia's sovereignty, the cultivation of democracy and the rule of law as a basic prerequisite for economic prosperity, the chief of Slovak diplomacy Ivan Korcok stated in his address to Parliament on Thursday. Korcok unveiled the Slovak Foreign and European Policy 2020, in which he outlined the foreign affairs priorities to the legislators in a broader context.
The effort to face the global coronavirus pandemic, climate change, mass migration, demographic changes, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns as well as the activities of non-state actors cast the sovereignty of each state under a new light, regardless of its size.
"No isolated national responses are possible today and, therefore, it's useless applying the narrative of state sovereignty to suit domestic political needs. It must be perceived in the context of the contemporary complex world and actively promoted via its sharing wherever necessary. Let me reiterate this so as to avoid misunderstanding: sharing doesn't mean the unilateral surrender of sovereignty," stated Korcok, adding that sharing means promoting interests more efficiently.
Korcok pointed out that Slovakia ranks 127th in terms of land size, 117th in terms of population size and 60th in terms of economic size, with a 0.11-percent share of global GDP. "Since 2004, however, we've been part of the EU, which is the 7th largest, 3rd most populous and second biggest global economy. Therefore, anyone capable of perceiving these facts must concede that EU membership has significantly if disproportionately uplifted our weight category, our options and influence wielded in international ties. Without our EU and NATO memberships, few would ask for our opinion and neither would we have any vehicle to effectively promote it," he said.
Korcok rejected voices calling for Slovakia to play the role of a bridge between West and East as an ill-conceived experiment. "I fail to grasp the call to belong somewhere in the middle because in this case it would mean to belong nowhere. And that is not a good alternative in today's unstable world," he warned.
The minister also does not like the fact that political discourse about the EU in Slovakia revolves mostly around European Funds, motorways and waste water treatment plants. "They're all important, but, unfortunately, if these are the only salient points of the discussion then we're helping to paint the picture that the EU is only about money."
Korcok pointed out that the integration process is the response to two epochal failures of Europe in the 20th century, when the might-makes-right approach in international affairs led to the two destructive world wars. Hence, the EU today serves also as a fail-safe against nationalism, national egotism and a good solution for smaller states in particular.
Slovakia's NATO membership is not about serving American interests, as the narrative purposefully fed to Slovaks by some politicians and disinformation campaigns suggests, but it is exclusively about serving the interests of Slovakia, chief of Slovak diplomacy Ivan Korcok (an SaS nominee) emphasised during his address to Parliament on Thursday.
In his address, Korcok touched also on ties with the USA. "Let me give you a quote: "The USA was instrumental in helping Slovaks in 1918 shake off their yoke of oppression" [in leaving the Austro-Hungarian Empire and forming Czechoslovakia-ed.note]. You might think this quote could be attributed to me, the person some of you say is taking his marching orders from Washington. No. This was said by the man whose bust you pass by each day when you enter Parliament: Andrej Hlinka," he declared.
Korcok pointed out that any public debate on the United States has shifted into a strange context in Slovakia. "Even the so-called mainstream politicians are afraid to talk about the USA as our strategic partner and ally. That's no longer fashionable," he claimed.
However, the root of the problem does not lie in the factual criticism of the USA and its foreign policy. "That's heard everywhere in Europe and anyone who listens to what I have to say knows that I don't approve of some steps taken by the US administration in the context of foreign affairs. But the problem lies elsewhere. Unfortunately, even in Slovak politics, not to mention the disinformation scene, antipathy against the USA is purposefully fuelled," said Korcok, adding that the United States guarantees Slovak defence. "This calls into question why this is happening against a country, with which Slovaks never had any negative historical experience - unlike their experiences with some other states, towards which positive emotions are nurtured, even though those are nothing but romantic delusions."
As for ties with Russia, Korcok claimed that he will do his utmost to develop relations with Moscow in a way that benefits Slovak interests. "Unfortunately, ties with Russia have shifted into an emotional dimension in Slovakia lately... Therefore, we need to recalibrate the perception of ties with Russia into a more factual light, be aware of our interests but also problems and differences in stances. We understand that Russia pursues its own interests, but what we cannot overlook is the way that Russia realises them. If we have objections, we are forced to and will respond, even though, let me repeat, our primary aim is to develop good mutual bilateral ties," Korcok told the House.
Source: TASR
