Slovak President Stresses EU, NATO Ties, Calls For Broader Intl Cooperation

(MENAFN- IANS) Bratilslava, Sep 16 (IANS) Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Wednesday stressed the fundamental importance of the country's membership of the European Union (EU) and NATO, while calling for stronger diplomatic and economic relations.

In his State of the Republic address in Parliament on Wednesday, Pellegrini said that although Slovakia may hold critical views on the functioning of the EU and NATO, there are currently no alternatives that can replace them and guarantee Slovakia's security and economic prosperity.

A changing international environment requires Slovakia to maintain good diplomatic and economic relations with countries around the world, Pellegrini said. He noted the growing importance of countries such as India and China, which provide significant potential for Slovakia's open economy.

Pellegrini pointed to the rapidly changing landscape of international politics, and the decline of transatlantic cooperation, expressing regret that these major shifts in international relations have so far failed to nudge the EU towards greater efficiency or re-evaluating its priorities, Xinhua news agency reported.

Pellegrini said greater attention should be given to strengthening the EU's capacity for action, enhancing internal and external security, promoting cooperation among member states to reduce energy prices, and making greater efforts to advance peace, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Nearly five years of conflict in Ukraine have demonstrated that a solution should be sought through diplomacy rather than on the battlefield, Pelligrini said.

"The EU's vision should therefore be to seek a peaceful, rather than a military solution," he added.

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