The President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič received NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in the Presidential Palace. The trip to Bratislava is part of a series of visits undertaken by the Secretary General before he steps down at the end of his term as the chief official of NATO.

President Gašparovič thanked his guest for his efforts and assistance during Slovakia’s NATO accession, as well as throughout the country’s membership in NATO. Ivan Gašparovič stressed that the stances and initiative of the Secretary General greatly contributed to the success of solutions addressing problems within the Alliance. As a token of gratitude, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer received from the Slovak President the country’s highest decoration - the Order of the White Double Cross, 1st Class.

The Slovak President praised good personal relations with the NATO Secretary General and their mutual cooperation during various meetings ever since both politicians met in person for the first time at the NATO summit in Istanbul. President Gašparovič appreciates the fact that Jaap do Hoop Scheffer was able to respect the problems our country had to overcome.

He also expressed belief that the NATO Secretary General would remain enthusiastic about our country even in his further political career. Both politicians also discussed the current issues concerning today’s NATO and its future, touching upon cooperation with Russia, the situation in the Balkans, and Afghanistan. “I am convinced the Alliance remains an organisation with the greatest responsibility in tackling the issues of global security“, Ivan Gašparovič emphasised after the meeting.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer thanked the Slovak head of state for the country’s highest decoration which, as he said, symbolises a certain relationship and bond which has developed between him and Slovakia ever since 2004.“Since that year, I have seen Slovakia evolve into a respectable member of the Alliance,” he said. He praised the fact that the Slovak Republic was eagerly participating in all political discussions within the Alliance and took a very active approach as regards its participation in NATO operations and missions. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said he visited the Slovak contingent in Afghanistan in person.

After the talks, the NATO Secretary General said the Alliance intended to continue its open door policy in the future, while at the same time it needs more involvement – in the Western Balkans, for instance. The incumbent chief official of NATO thinks the door for new members should remain open – provided that they meet the required membership criteria. “The keywords for the Alliance are: open door and involvement", he emphasised.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer believes Slovakia would continue to take an active part in the pursuit and definition of NATO’s strategic concept, the preparation of which was approved at the NATO summit in Strasbourg, and that “Slovakia will very actively manage to find its added value for an Alliance facing new challenges, such as the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, computer crimes and other threats of the 21st Century.”