After several years of stagnation Central European cooperation has been given a new impetus within the Visegrad Group of Four (V4). Czech President Vaclav Havel initiated the revival of relations between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. He suggested to the Slovak side that the next summit of the V4 heads of states is held in Bratislava in Spring 1999. Slovak Foreign Secretary Eduard Kukan talks about the positions of Slovakia on the V4.

After his first foreign visit to Poland, the Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda declared that that he visited Warsaw to, inter alia, revive the spirit of the Visegrad cooperation. He is the second politician after Vaclav Havel publicly calling for closer cooperation within the organisation. Why such revival just now?

The revival has occurred a few weeks ago. I believe it's connected with the new political situation in the Czech Republic and the new Czech Government. In the past we noted significant degree of prudence of the Czech Republic in connection with the organisation. The Cabinet of Vaclav Klaus believed that it would be better to integrate in the EU as a solo runner and considered the co-operation within the V4 as a barrier.

The new Czech Prime minister Milos Zeman has a different view on the organisation. Poland and Hungary have always supported the cooperation that would have a positive impact on out common path to the EU. Slovakia welcomed such signals and has a clear interest to enter the process and be an active player.

Is the revival of the V4 connected with the integration crisis of the EU associated members? The horizon of specific EU enlargement keeps on being postponed. Central Europe has increasing economic concerns about the years 2000 and 2001, when the trade between the EU and the Central Europe will be fully liberalised and will have the nature of free trade.

The driving idea behind the original V3 and then the V4 was co-operation following the disintegration of the previous regime, split from the Soviet block and, particularly, assistance to preparation for inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic structures. The current revival of the V4 after the period of stagnation is actually a return top the original idea of the "Visegrad cooperation". Once the four Central European countries most prepared for integration in the region harmonise their steps and prove their ability to cooperate, they will send a clear signal tot he EU. The effort to achieve readiness for the European integration is not linked to the internal problems within the Union, although they may have repercussions on the timing of its enlargement.

What will be the basis of the Visegrad co-operation at the break of centuries?

Currently the aim is to renew the original idea of harmonisation of the integration steps, yet in a new and more intense dimension of cooperation. It should be a major part of the frameworks of stability and common economic prosperity in our geopolitical space. The implementation of cooperation instead of competition should become a given of the foreign policy in the V4 relations. The space for co-operation at the break of centuries is broad. It ranges from support to regional and cross-border co-operation, joint fight against crime and organised crime, to regular political partner dialogue aimed at exchange of information, know how, consulting and possibly coordination of positions and procedures concerning development in the region.

Slovakia has always been an outsider in the V4, unable to advocate its interests on Central Europe and generate activities acceptable by the other members. Slvoakia has been seen like a problem new state with no significant political figures. What will be the priorities of the Slovak foreign policy on the V4 during your Ministerial tenure?

Even though in the past Slovakia expressed interest in such cooperation, it has not always proceeded adequately and tactically. Whenever one comes up with an initiative, it has to be first discussed and consulted. Unfortunately, the previous Slovak government made sometimes steps in foreign policy, such producing initiatives, that were unprepared and eventually failed. It's true that Slovakia has been seen as a young state growing up internally and the V4 initially ceased functioning. The priorities of the Slovak foreign policy on the V4 will be clear. We will have to settle relations based on rational without whatsoever emotions. There is a number of those in relations with the Czech Republic as well as Hungary. We intend to act as pragmatically as possible. The relations are equally important to our partners, not just to Slovakia. The ability to retain correct neighbourly relations means regional stability. The Slovak foreign policy will be aware of this and it should serve as the base for the talks. We are an equal partner and don't want to harm our negotiation position with any useless words or gestures. We want to be utmost rational.

Will Slovakia support revival of relations within the organisation? What do we want to contribute with? Until recently there has been a problem of absent foreign policy in Slovakia and a vision of a bridge missing a clear concept of national interest.

The "bridge theory" is no good and I do not consider it correct. There are bridges, but as problems emerge, there is always somebody who blows them up. It's better to be a part of something than to be a bridge. That's the key change that Slovakia follows. We want to be a part of the region and then of the entire Europe. We don't want to connect anyone with anything. We simply want to join and be an active partner of the V4. That's our aim.

Do you think that the V4 will be dominated by the Czecho-Slovak or by the Slovak-Polish relations? In case of Slovakia's integration in the EU, the Polish President and the Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek repeatedly declared that Poland wanted to be Slovakia's advocate in its integration in the Union and NATO. Will Slovakia use the offer?

Slovakia will use the offer as well as the good conditions for bilateral cooperation. Our countries never had any political problems. We could always agreed and reach a number of agreements. Yet the problem was that there were no specific clear-cut results. Our recent visit to Poland shows that the Slovak government will be much more active as until recently. Poland is a large country with impact on international relations. Even the key countries of Europe attribute to Poland specific significance. It is a major player on international scene and the Slovak government will want to use the offer by Poland. That will certainly not be to the detriment of the relations with the other V4 member states.

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