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London is One of the Priorities

Interview with the new Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčák

Since January 2009 you have been the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of SR. What are your priorities for the foreign policy of the Slovak Republic?
The priorities of Slovak foreign policy did not change by my entering office. They are determined, and result, from our membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which both define the content and value framework of our foreign policy. Besides for these priorities, we are naturally interested in stability for the Central European area and, therefore, we strive for good relations with our neighbouring countries. We also set out to further develop relations with the United States – we welcome the arrival of the new administration of the President Barack Obama, but we also see enough room for the improvement of our relations. SR is a part of the EU efforts for the stabilisation of the situation in the Western Balkans as well as the development of the EU Eastern Partnership – relations with the post-Soviet area, in turn attempting to define an open relationship with the Russian Federation, which has no taboos and where all things are called by their true names.

However, life brings changes to the emphasis. In connection with my entering my present function, such an emphasis is the world financial and economic crisis, to which the foreign service has to expeditiously react, whereby nowadays it represents a significant part of the activities of our diplomats. We are searching for ways as to how to minimise the impacts of the crisis on the citizens of SR. My permanent effort as minister will be to enforce the foreign service as a SERVICE. All of the people working in their home, or foreign, country must feel and see evidence that the diplomatic missions and consulates are there to help them. It is one of the things that I regard as exceedingly important.

You were the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Did you have an opportunity to meet the Slovak community living in the countries of the former Yugoslavia?
In the last decade, I actually devoted my professional life to the Western Balkans, where I had been working in various offices and positions. However, I enjoyed the compatriot aspect most when I was the Ambassador of SR in Belgrade. During my work in this office, I intensively came into contact with the Slovak community in Vojvodina. This community is unique, rather compact, with approximately 60,000 Slovaks living there, who have preserved their language, culture and traditions in spite of the fact that their ancestors left Slovakia more than 250 years ago! I believe that it is a community that deserves our recognition, admiration and larger support than we were able to provide it up to now. When you live abroad, the Slovak community is also a source of energy for you, especially when you come into contact with a viable and positive Slovak community.

What activities do you plan for the improvement, potential use and engagement of people from the ranks of foreign Slovaks, who represent Slovakia abroad?
For the first time in history, a body at the level of the Government was set up, which is responsible for the uniform presentation of Slovakia abroad, and it is rather exceptional. MFA SR strived hard for the setting up of this body, and I am one of its vice-presidents. The purpose is to use all the forces, knowledge and contacts that we have abroad to be able to present Slovakia conceptually, to give Slovakia some face and symbol, in which we welcome the initiative of anybody who can help.

Since its accession to the EU, Slovakia has been experiencing a new wave of its foreign communities, which are tens of thousands of citizens living abroad. These citizens represent unique sources of contacts and experiences. I can imagine that we will use their experiences on the assumption that they are interested in their respective use. I can promise that this interest will be properly utilised. Slovakia is too small of a country to afford the luxury of not utilising the experiences of those people who have something to offer.

Is the opening of the Slovak Institute in London and Dublin, if appropriate, i.e. in countries where tens of thousands of Slovaks are living, one of the priorities of the Ministry in the near future?
We were forced to prune the budget of MFA SR because of the financial and economic crisis. Therefore, the plans for the extension of the network of our diplomatic missions and Slovak institutes were confronted with a hard reality. On the other hand, SR presently has eight Slovak institutes located in foreign countries. We have them in our neighbouring countries, plus three others in Rome, Berlin and Paris. It is illogical that we have no Slovak Institute located in London. I support the idea of opening an institute in this city – perhaps not overly bombastic with a high budget or many staff members, but within a scope that we can afford. We also envisage the opening of this institute in Dublin. The actual financial situation is evidently more relevant, so I do not want to give any promises that I might not be able to keep.

Do you already have a more exact schedule for London?
A couple of days ago I returned from a visit to London, where we had discussed this subject. Following this visit, I ordered the preparation of an orientation plan, timetable, and some calculations. However, we are at an early stage of this process, because I returned from London only recently.

How do you want to increase the effectiveness and in turn expedite the handling of consular matters at the Embassy in London, as many people complain of long waiting times for documents?
We are planning the reconstruction of the Diplomatic Mission of SR in London, including an improvement in the quality of the premises of the consulate. I visited it just now and I know it well from the past – these premises are unsuitable from the viewpoint of the safety and comfort of the visitors. As regards the number of employees of the consulate, we do our best to strengthen it. We try to handle the requests of the citizens of SR who are living in the United Kingdom as quickly as possible. It is important that the constructive approach is also understood by the other party, which means that people should find out and check before their arrival as to what documents they need and what else is required for the processing of their requests. They must understand that in view of the enormous quantity of consular acts, the Embassy and consulate are only a kind of “postman”, which means that we have the statutory obligation to take over all the documents that are prescribed by law and thensubsequently send them to the relevant institutions in Slovakia. These are competent for making a decision, issue a document and then send it back to us. We endeavour to execute the acts, for which MFA SR is directly competent, within the shortest possible term. This means that several persons are involved in this process. However, it is important that for the last year we have registered no official complaint about the procedures of our consulate in London. I am pleased by that fact.

How would you evaluate the activity of the Slovak Centre in London, which is also the co-publisher of SK Magazine?
I am pleased that a group of people showed interest in the presentation of SR as well as communication with those Slovaks living in the United Kingdom. I am well informed about your activities and appreciate the high quality level of the magazine. I believe that it is rather useful and usable. I would like to congratulate and thank all of the people who are behind its publishing as well as all of the other activities of the Slovak Centre. We regard you as our useful partners and indispensable helpers and wish you all much success. I am greatly looking forward to the implementation of many successful common projects together in the future.