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| Lajčák met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson |
| Washington, 10.05.2017 |
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| Meeting with the head of US diplomacy Rex Tillerson dominated the agenda of Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák in the US capital, Washington, D.C, today (8 May).This has been first ever bilateral meeting of the Slovak Government member with a high-level US administration representative. An almost hour-long meeting was dominated by terrorism and Slovakia´s contribution to the fight against Daesh, meeting the commitments agreed in the NATO summit in Wales, as well as developments in Ukraine, relations with Russia, developments in the Western Balkans, and last but not least the situation in Syria. Tillerson appreciated the constructive approach of the Slovak foreign policy grounded on foreseeability, stability and strong trans-Atlantic ties. They agreed that Slovak-US mutual ties are long-term and ongoing. In 2018, we will commemorate 25 years since establishing diplomatic ties, as well as 100 years since founding the first joint state of Czechs and Slovaks, greatly assisted by the then-US President Woodrow Wilson.
Nowadays, Slovakia has been a reliable US partner in NATO. In the talks, Lajčák confirmed that the Slovak Republic will meet its commitment agreed at the NATO summit in Wales to increase the defense expenditures to 1.6% GDP in compliance with the modernization plans of the Slovak Armed Forces.
Discussing Russia and Ukraine, the head of Slovak diplomacy stated that time is not playing in our favor. “Developments in east Ukraine threaten to become a new frozen conflict. The political process is stagnating, and we see no substantive progress. Despite this, it would be counter-productive to freeze our communication with Russia. Quite the reverse, we must keep open channels to lead an active dialog,” said Lajčák.
As for mutual cooperation between Slovakia and the USA, the Minister pointed to the fact that we are NATO allies; we realize joint activities in Ukraine and the Western Balkans, the priority regions for our foreign policy, and we share same positions in key areas of interests like energy, security and fighting terrorism.
“Slovakia is ready to intensify cooperation with the US and other NATO allies to defeat Daesh and to strengthen the Iraqi forces. The Slovak Government acknowledges the fight against terrorism belongs among its priorities, which is to be attested to soon by adopting the assistance package for Iraq,” said Lajčák.
The Minister´s program in the US capital city continues on Tuesday and Wednesday – he will participate in MSC Core Group, an expert high-level event focused on regional and international security issues. Lajčák is also to hold more meetings with some other high-level US representatives and foreign think tanks in Washington, D.C.
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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