The Slovak Republic enjoys the highest security guarantees and this level of security provides the best prospects for investments and greater prosperity for society, Defence Minister Martin Glváč said on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of Slovakia's joining NATO. The joining of NATO has also had profound impact on the change of the character of Slovak Armed Forces, he added. Slovakia joined NATO on 29 March, 2004, together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia.
The fact that Slovakia had to put in a great deal of work to achieve NATO membership recalls Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár: "Eleven years ago, Slovakia managed to catch up with its neighbours and convince the West that we can and want to be a trustworthy and responsible ally. I remember the sentiments before 1998, when Slovakia was mentioned as a black hole in central Europe."
According to Chief of General Staff Milan Maxim, the Slovak Armed Forces represents a respected contributor to the joint allied effort in international crisis management. "On the other hand, that doesn't mean that by joining NATO the Slovak Republic doesn't have to allocate required resources for defence. The current security situation close to our borders confirms our belief that spending resources on defence is vital in order to ensure the stability and prosperity of our country and the region," stressed Maxim.
