Speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on March 25

Speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on March 25, 2002:

Vladimir Meciar
Former Prime Minister of Slovakia
Chairman, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia

Slovakia as an Integrated Part of Europe

It is a great honor for me to have this privilege to address all of you in your prestigious organization. I feel exceptionally honored by having this opportunity to deliver my speech in California, in the state that has contributed and given so much to the United States of America, as well as to the whole world. California has also given me a lot personally, as my two grandsons were born here, and both of them are the citizens of the United States.

One million eight hundred Slovaks are fulfilling their dreams about freedom, democracy, justice and equal opportunities on the territory of the United States. Thus, for many of them the relations to the United States are family-like relations, and not just political, economic or security ties. That is the reason why many expect from the United States also assistance in fulfilling their dreams about the fair and just and dynamic society.

In November 1989 we set on our road leading back to initial human values and interrupted traditions. We are completing transition from the totalitarian regime to democracy, from the planned economy to the free market, from the state paternalism to personal responsibility and to changes of value orientation of citizens. It is a road of great expectations, of creative search, as well as mistakes that accompany each and every change of such dimensions.

As we have returned back to values of human and civic rights and freedoms, the questions of national freedom, as well as of state freedom, reoccurred. Although the issues of the right of self-determination were presented in the message of the President of the United States right at the beginning of the 20^th century, the implementation of this right became feasible for Europe under our specific conditions only at the end of the 20^th century.

The Slovak Republic was established on January 1, 1993, by a peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into two states. Peaceful division, cooperation and mutual respect give us the possibility to state today that relations between the Czechs and the Slovaks are better than ever before. We have often been asked the question: Why do you divide when the whole world integrates itself? One of the reasons was the effort to integrate ourselves in our own name, and to acquire rights and undertake obligations in the international arena in our own name, including relevant responsibility. We have not established ourselves to isolate ourselves, but to integrate ourselves more fully.

The changed geopolitical situation, the integration and globalization processes are the reasons why we face new challenges and opportunities. Disintegration of the bipolar world and diminishing of the immediate military confrontation of the two great powers offer us the possibility to build a new and more secure world. The United States has taken over the world leadership in this struggle. We wish to stand on its side and belong to those countries that are integrated in NATO, the military and political organization.

We are looking forward with hopes to the NATO summit which is to be held in November 2002 in Prague, and to the invitation to Slovakia to become a NATO member state. We share the same values.

I wish to assure you that concerns connected with the exercising of human rights and freedoms and principles of rule of law in Slovakia are not justified. We are very much aware of the fact that the struggle for a more secure and peaceful world shall be successful only in case it becomes a matter of all nations. We are aware of the fact that granting the right for collective defense is connected also with the obligation to adapt oneself to this defense. We accept with understanding also the discussion concerning the extent of respective contributions at the time when the main burden is being borne primarily by the United States.

Developments in Europe in recent years have confirmed that Europe needs the United States, including the most recent negotiations between NATO and Russia. The new security risks, mainly those connected with organized crime, and with its most brutal component – terrorism -- have indicated that. The brutality and aggressiveness of the terrorists' attack of September 11, 2001 were shocking. We were with you and on your side then, and we are with you also today when the United States implements is right to protection. Terrorism shall be defeated.

Slovakia is an associated member of the European Union and a candidate for the full-fledged membership in the Union. Negotiations within the accession process continue successfully. The European Union and we together with the Union are looking for answers to two questions: How to deepen and how to extend this process even further?

In the case of deepening, one looks for an answer to the question of whether it should continue developing itself as an intergovernmental organization or whether the European superstate should be established. Enlargement is being prepared, and we hope that in 2004 it will be enlarged with countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Slovakia. The joint building up of the European House is ahead of us, as well as outweighing and removing of differences in comparison with the more developed parts of Western Europe. This compounding shall not mean necessarily the repeating of all stages of development of Western democracies. It can be shorter in case we shall be capable of applying the most recent knowledge and values of Western democracies that are at the same time also the values of our civilization.

Slovakia is a member of the U.N, the OECD, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, and other organizations that guarantee observation of international standards.

We are right in the heart of Europe. Our culture is approximately 1,600 years old. Although we are not territorially large as a country, we have on our territory a number of unique historical monuments and natural beauties, and still we are not very well known in the world.

Let me thus take the liberty of introducing to you several aspects of life in Slovakia in more detail. Our location right in the middle of Europe enables good communication routes and connections with the whole of Central Europe. Our market represents 5.3 million people, but the establishment of the free trade zone of Central European countries, that we are the founding member of, creates an additional possibility. It gives access to markets with nearly 100 million citizens. Our status as associate member and future full-fledged member of the European Union makes this market even larger.

The currency of the Slovak Republic is freely convertible, and there is guaranteed free movement of the capital. The rate of exchange of the Slovak crown and the U.S. dollar is a floating one, and it ranges from 48 to 50 crowns to one dollar. An absolute majority of banks and financial institutions have been privatized. The corporate taxation represents approximately 28 percent, and its further decrease is anticipated. Foreign investments are being strongly supported. Depending on the volume of investments it is possible to enjoy tax holidays, and to receive a contribution for training in human resource. Protection of investments and prevention of double taxation are guaranteed by the system of international treaties and agreements. More than 81 percent of foreign trade is implemented on markets with freely convertible currencies.

Slovakia has a highly qualified and productive labor force. The [previous] experience of foreign investors and businessmen confirms positive experiences from coping with work requirements and high performance of our employees. In spite of the high quality of our labor, the average salary represents approximately $220 per month in Slovakia. Due to over employment in the past, and recent transformation processes in our society, the recorded unemployment rate represents 20 percent. That has also resulted in social pressure on new investments.

Extensive changes to transport and communication networks are underway. This includes construction of new highways, which are to be further developed, combining public and private sources of funding. The energy sector is built on nuclear and hydro power. The most important transit gas pipeline runs across Slovakia transporting gas from Russia to Western Europe. We also depend on Russia with respect to our oil supplies.

Highly dynamic changes are taking place in the telecommunication network, with increasing introduction of electronics into different activities.

In the totalitarian regime the stress was laid on the metallurgical complex – the black metallurgy, aluminum, copper, ferro-alloys. Here today we have in Slovakia as the largest and most successful producer a U.S. company: U.S. Steel. We used to have a rather highly developed military production when from the overall capacity of former Czechoslovakia two thirds were located in Slovakia. Engineering is even today the most predominant industrial branch, with the car manufacturing industry playing the most important role. Consumer industries are highly developed – leather, rubber, textile, glass. The chemical industry also achieves good level of quality of production. The civil engineering sector disposes of considerably large capacities. Services are being developed.

A great window of opportunities is opening up in the field of tourism, from natural beauties of the smallest giant mountains in the world -- up to unique caves of world renown. [We have] a number of cultural and historical monuments, very unique architecture, as well as unique folk culture and heritage and arts. We have excellent opportunities for spa treatment as our country abounds in the most varied mineral and thermal springs.

Slovakia offers opportunities. She provides possibilities and certainties. Slovakia is looking for partners and cooperation. As that is where we see one of the guarantee of future development. We are looking for advantages and willing to offer advantages. We are finding many Slovaks as well as many friends in the United States. And we would just as much enjoy more America and presence of the Americans in Slovakia.

Thank you very much for your attention. God bless you and God bless the United States of America