BRATISLAVA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced today during a conference in Bratislava the Slovak government's willingness to resume official negotiations with the Czech cabinet. The main topics, he said, would be peaceful solutions to the war in Ukraine, revitalising cooperation between the Visegrad Four (V4) countries and a united position on proposals to change the decision-making process within the European Union.
"Both countries have historical experience, common values and responsibility for stability in the region," Fico said during an event organised by the Czech Svatopluk association. He said it was essential that Slovakia and the Czech Republic actively participate in the search for a peaceful way out of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The prime minister also called for greater openness in negotiations within the V4, whose role he said has been weakening in recent years.
Fico also criticised the efforts of some EU Member States to abolish the principle of unanimous voting on key issues. According to the Slovak prime minister, such a change would upset the balance between larger and smaller states and threaten the sovereignty of member states. "We would consider such a step unacceptable," he said.
The conference in Bratislava, which brought together politicians, diplomats and academics from both countries, focused on the current challenges of Czech-Slovak relations and the future of Central European cooperation. Fico indicated that Bratislava is ready to start practical talks with Prague in the coming weeks.
CTK/ gnews.cz - GH
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