Slovakia supports the accession of the Western Balkan states to the European Union, as the EU isn't complete without them, and Slovakia refuses to apply double standards in its approach to candidate countries, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) told a press conference in Skopje also attended by his counterpart from North Macedonia Timco Mucunski.
According to Blanar, the EU often applies double standards in its approach to individual candidate countries. "We reject this," he stressed, expressing Slovakia's disagreement with the idea that Western Balkan states that have been in the accession process for "a very long time" should be overtaken by Eastern Partnership countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, or, possibly, Georgia. He is, however, pleased that greater emphasis is beginning to be placed on the Western Balkans region, as evidenced, for example, by visits undertaken by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to Blanar, Slovakia has proposed speeding up certain processes that have been dragging on for a long time, in a way that wouldn't undermine the rules on enlargement enshrined in EU treaties. "For example, we proposed - and we made this clear to Commissioner Kos as well as to all our colleagues - that certain processes requiring a unanimous vote could be combined, as they are often subject to obstruction by some EU-member states, causing us to waste time unnecessarily," he stated.
In the case of some states, the accession processes are also being hampered by bilateral issues which, according to Blanar, could be resolved much more effectively around a single table in Brussels. However, he respects such views and believes that they can be addressed.
Slovakia's chief diplomat believes that a clear signal must be sent to the Western Balkans that membership is a realistic prospect. "Because if it doesn't happen in the near future, the frustration in these countries will only grow, and we may lose this region, which none of us wants," he added.
While in North Macedonia Blanar also stated that there's a need to maintain a dialogue with Russia, but we must also condemn all its actions that have violated international law.
"We say openly that it's necessary to maintain dialogue with the Russian Federation, while condemning everything that has happened on their part which has constituted a violation of international law and territorial integrity. We say this openly, but we must defend our national interests, and that's why the intergovernmental commission was also about communicating on these issues and discussing matters that aren't subject to sanctions," said Blanar when asked whether he'll brief the Ukrainians on his recent trip to Moscow during the upcoming meeting between the governments of Slovakia and Ukraine.
Slovakia's chief diplomat pointed out that, following his visit to Moscow, the leaders of Norway and Finland have spoken on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to him, they are doing so because they realise that "things simply can't go on like this".
"This ban on negotiating with Moscow has put us in a position in which, as the European Union, we're completely isolated. We aren't at the negotiating table at all, despite the fact that, in essence, it is the European Union and European countries that are bearing the greatest burden of this war," said Blanar.
"On the other hand, we must point out that we also maintain a unique relationship with Ukraine. No other country in the European Union holds joint intergovernmental talks like the Slovak Republic does. On 5 November, we'll hold our fourth intergovernmental meeting in Lviv, where we'll discuss a number of projects via which we're helping Ukraine - whether this is in terms of humanitarian aid, mine clearance or various energy projects," he stated.
According to Blanar, Slovakia didn't cause this war, but it wants to maintain good relations with both sides.
Source: TASR
