Slovak President Congratulates the Newly-elected US President

Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič congratulated newly-elected US President Barack Obama on his presidential victory.

Also, he congratulated the US citizens on having decided about the future of their country in a free and democratic election. On this occasion the Slovak President said that the Slovak-US relations were now at their best ever, adding he believed that the good partnership and cooperation would also continue with a new US administration. Ivan Gašparovič pointed out that in order to preserve and further develop our good bilateral relations, a close and strategic cooperation between Slovakia and the US within international institutions was also vital.

Gašparovič described the election of the new US President as marking a new era in the world politics. “Though, on the other hand, the US will not change their approach to the foreign policy, in particular with respect to combating terrorism,” he added.

The problem is extremely complex especially as far as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other Middle East countries are concerned. “Some of these problems, a solution to which has already been suggested by President Bush, the Palestine-Israel issue in particular, will have to be addressed by Barack Obama,” the Slovak President noted. Slovakia is also concerned with these issues and will have to participate in their settlement within a wider political framework.

Slovakia expects that the same approach will also be felt in the US relations towards the European Union and Russia.
“Mr Obama brought forward something that no other US president has managed before. It involves large projects in healthcare and social security systems, which the new US President will have to carry out.”

Ivan Gašparovič further said that the US was now entering a new economic phase which, in his opinion, had also affected the results of the US presidential election and placed the new US President in an extremely challenging situation. “President Obama will face certain problems as he has already mentioned in his speech in Chicago and he will have to seek ways to fulfil his ambitious social programme,” the Slovak President said.

Barack Obama has put forward an extraordinary strong social agenda which appeals to the American people. His presidential victory is overwhelming as the Democrats won absolute dominance both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.

According to the Slovak President, “it is essential for Slovakia that we further continue intensifying good relations with the US in all areas.” Ivan Gašparovič said he wished to see the new US President would find the way to individual NATO members. “Slovakia has a clear vision of good relations with the US and I am extremely pleased that we will have a chance to talk about our future steps with benefits not only for the economy,” Ivan Gašparovič said, adding he was looking forward to continuing mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States. “I am looking forward to cooperation with the new US President Barack Obama and his Cabinet with a similar success as we had in communicating with President Bush. We wish to further reinforce trans-Atlantic partnership within EU-US and NATO.”

“I can see three strong moments in Mr Barack Obama’s triumph: It is a remarkable phenomenon that despite all traditions he will go down in the history books as the first Afro-America President of the United States. As regards the foreign policy, I expect an improved dialogue and partnership between the US and the European Union in addressing global problems in economy and security. But in order for this new partnership to work, Slovakia and Europe must be prepared for the new dialogue,” Ivan Gašparovič stressed.