Peter Mihok, Chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Industry and Commerce, presents his standpoint.

The opinion, according to which tasks connected to economic dimension of diplomacy should be entrusted exclusively to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prevails in Slovakia. However, economic dimension of diplomacy means that diplomacy interferes also with other fields of social and economic life. As the economy can receive help from classic diplomacy, it can also be of great help for real diplomacy at present. A greater symbiosis between diplomacy and economy is necessary and I think that it would be useful for the development of Slovakia's international position and for enforcing Slovakia's economic interests in individual countries, not only in France. The Slovak Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SOPK) is absolutely prepared for this commission and, in a way, it also carries it out already.

Working tours abroad should not only attempt to present the Chamber's interests or those of individual representatives of the entrepreneurial sphere, but to present the interests of the entire country. The role we could possibly play in future could be seen in this regard, however, an agreement between the state administration and non-governmental organisations is necessary.

The number of similarly oriented efforts is on increase (some steps were taken by the Fund for Supporting Foreign Trade, by the Economy Ministry and also by the Chamber) however, very often, they do not reach the desired effect.

Slovakia is a small country with numerous structures. Instead of being concentrated either in economy or in policy, various activities are uselessly dispersed. Occasional successes occur, but the whole makes a motley and uncoordinated impression. We should be aware of the lack of financial resources and concentrate them into some fundamental activities. Personal success or success of individual institutions should not be important. We should rather focus on the success of the country as a whole and overlook the typical Slovak tempest-in-a-tea-pot problems. Only then we can be successful.