Inaugural Address of the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič, Bratislava, Reduta, 15. 6. 2004

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I stand before you and all our citizens with a feeling of gratitude for the trust which you have placed in me by electing me as President of the Slovak Republic. I am also aware of my constitutional and human responsibility for the future of our homeland, for the sovereignty and constitutionality of our state, for the protection of civil rights and freedoms, for social and legal certainty, for the security of our citizens in a free and prosperous European society.

Dear outgoing President of the Republic,
Dear Speaker of the Parliament,
Dear Parliament,
Dear Prime Minister of the Government,
Dear Government,
Dear Chairman of the Constitutional Court,
Dear Judges of the Constitutional Court,
Dear Chairman of the Supreme Court,

Dear representatives of other bodies of legal protection, constitutional bodies of state administration and bodies of regional self government,
Esteemed Eminence, Esteemed Cardinal,
Esteemed Excellencies,

Dear Guests,
and most Dear Fellow Citizens!

Clocks can be stopped, but time cannot be stopped.
Recently, I have been searching for my place amongst the broader community of my native Slovakia, I searched for knowledge and understanding and truths about life.
I will never forget these meetings. They were full of open questions and in addition to voiced and unvoiced criticisms and hopes. I had not met with such a degree of sincerity for a long time. One urgent and common question was repeated: When will things be better?

I do not suspect any of our governments from ill will. But is it more responsible to give unrealistic, unfulfillable deadlines and promises then none at all? We should learn from this – to listen more than speak, to learn a greater respect for words and opinions expressed, thus also respect for our obligations to our citizens. For, indeed, they represent the basis of our state, of our current and future existence. They decide what they will continue to bear and what they will no longer continue to bear. Let us not forget that all of us have a certain degree of responsibility towards ourselves, our family and society.
On my journey around Slovakia I often met with a picture which is not worthy of us. By this I mean social and intellectual exclusion. And this despite the fact that we swore an oath that we would, above all, honour the individual, his rights, freedoms, knowledge and work.

Are we honouring our citizens? Are we not avoiding him? Are we not pursuing other interests than the interests of the citizen?
I do not want to trouble anyone’s conscience. Everyone must do this for themselves on their own. This, however, does not mean that our citizens should not trouble the consciences of their politicians. For we have accepted the national calling, which obliges us to act responsibly with regards to the functioning of the state and with regard to the moral condition and direction of society.
Nor is it any different, nor can if be any different from the first of May of this year. We are responsible for Slovakia and above all for it citizens. For myself, I should like to repeat that: I think nationally, and I think socially. This is a credo by which I want to work and live.

Dear Fellow Citizens,
From the spring of this year, we have been members of the largest economic grouping in the world – the European Union. We are also members of the most powerful security alliance – NATO. This is an appreciation of our preparedness to be a fitting and reliable partner, able to take his place, fulfil his obligations, and also, and this I emphasise, to exercise his rights to the full.
We acceded to the European Union with the knowledge that this is not a perfect organisation. The European Union is faced by a number of unanswered questions. Which direction to take? At what speed? With who shall we proceed? How should it be led? In which structures? With what competencies, How can economic and social inequalities be removed?
Despite these questions, the European Union has a promising future. Without doubt it has its problems, internal differences and contradictions. But we should not submit to pessimism. Our viewpoint must be a realistic one. In this sense, I am in favour of a market-oriented economy, but not however of a market society. I identify with those we say that the invisible hand of the market cannot determine the shape and degree of the individual good. This can only be shaped by the European form of morality and responsibility that has developed over the centuries. Incidentally, if we had observed the Ten Commandments the world would be a better and more beautiful place.

From what I have said, it does not follow that Slovakia should not have its own concept for economic and social development and its own solution within our legal systems and also within the European legal system, in addition to our own foreign policy interests and priorities.

To be more specific. State representation is a part of foreign policy. But we have not done all that we might have in this area. And then we see how, for example, our sportsmen journey around the world. They do not always win, but they always give the maximum that they are able. Our culture, which has won admiration on every continent, also offers us such an example. Let us not turn away from it. So long as we care for our literature, dramatic arts, and our language, we shall survive. If we are scornful of ourselves, we shall lose ourselves in the diversity of European unity.
No-one doubts that in a globalising world the European Union will attain ever greater significance. Not only outside the EU, but also within it various groups are making progress. And in this regard the cooperation between the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and the Slovak Republic is no exception. And it is possible to give consideration to its enlargement. There are many reasons for this. The most important are: a common historical experience, deep mutual understanding, cultural ties and tragic past events.
But, of course, our interests are more extensive. And as a consequence, we shall support the increasing cooperation between the European Union and many other countries. Nor shall we neglect bilateral cooperation with the sovereign Slovak Republic.

Dear Guests, Dear Fellow Citizens,
People desire security and peace. And they are aware that both will require specific actions with which risks will be connected. Such risks are faced by our troops in Iraq, who have, unfortunately, suffered casualties. It is difficult for me to speak about them. I honour their memory. The mandate for action in Iraq has an ethical basis and ties us to a far-reaching responsibility. In order to find a solution and answers we must evaluate all the possible consequences which new decisions bring with them. Particularly as there is no unambiguous answer to this question within Slovakia or within the alliance itself.

Slovakia does not stand at the edge of world events. We must, naturally, look after ourselves, but we cannot be indifferent to world problems. More or less understandable interests are behind them, but there is also a lack of understanding. The fight against supranational ideological criminal organisations – terrorism is a test of the readiness of the entire modern world. Will it be equal to the test?
Since we realise the exceptional significance of our media, I should like,

Dear Gala Assembly,
to return to the question I was most often asked by journalists after my election. What obligations do I have to those who supported me? I should like to emphasise that I stood as a civil candidate for the post of President of the Slovak Republic and it was as a civil candidate that I was successful. It is my intention to be the president of every citizen, such is my obligation according to the constitution.
The Constitution of the Slovak Republic is, and shall remain, for me the cornerstone of our state. I have signed the constitution and I shall remain faithful to it as head of state. He who does not observe the constitution, casts doubt on the principles of our state. And the trivialisation of our state, its goal and significance, and the denial of its basic elements and functions is, in my opinion, a breach of the constitution and of Slovak sovereignty.

It will be a priority of mine,
that Slovakia continues to be a united state with a market economy, respecting from a social and ecological viewpoint
our citizens rights and freedoms, so that our citizens will not turn their back on democracy and freedom in the future because they are no longer able to help their children.
I am ready to defend constitutional and broader Slovak national interests. And these are primarily economic, social, cultural, in a word, humanitarian, compassionate.

Dear Fellow Citizens,
I am acutely aware of our problems in the areas of self sufficiency with regard to energy and foodstuffs, agriculture, forest and water protection, with regard to the lack of support for scientific research and development. We must give more attention to the support of our small and medium-sized businesses, which produce more than 60% of GDP and have a similar share with regard to employment. I am concerned by our approach to the observance of the European Social Charter. I am concerned by the insufficient level of care for the sick, the old and for the invalid. I am concerned by the lack of magnanimity, simple humanity and solidarity.

The frightening level of serious criminality, which has extensive economic and social roots, is widely known. We must tackle all its causes and forms. I see two basic tasks in this respect. The first – to meticulously uncover and rapidly, legally punish criminality and to publicly criticise it, but not, however, in a tabloid manner. The second – to meticulously remove the causes of criminality: in this area we should also accept and apply the principle: social prevention is cheaper and more effective than treatment by punishment.
You are not obliged to agree with me. Moreover, I am not above criticism and I do not have a monopoly on the truth. No politician can offer one absolute solution, and thus nor can the President of the Slovak Republic. As a consequence, during my term of office I shall rely on dialogue and on those who have professional expertise, a strong moral code and who are able to think, feel and act compassionately with regard to the building of the state.

Dear Guests, Dear Fellow Citizens.
We have lived through a complex historical development, including many trials and pitfalls. We know the taste of power and also the ills that power can bring. We know who has deceived us, who has bestowed duplicity and dissimulation upon us, who has considered us only as numbers for their own benefit.
The continuing fragmentation of our society is of benefit to those who keep their true interests hidden. I am ready to support every endeavour directed towards an open exchange of opinions and to support dialogue. Let us understand others, let others understand us, so that we may understand each other and let everyone understand themselves. This is the road to truth, tolerance and respect.
Disagreement, hatred, and envy are the program of the unprepared.

Dear Fellow Citizens,
We are hasty, closed, and inattentive. And so I want to emphasise – let us be compassionate! Let us be compassionate people and not cold machines without reason or feelings. Let us not be presumptuous. There are always too many excluded. As this only complicates our relationships, globally and at home.
A Slovak folk saying tells us: “Every stick has two ends”. I should like to add: And the beggar. What will become of him? Let us lower unemployment, let us remove the uncertainty and fear of what will come tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Let us help people live. This is what they expect of us. (This is not a party or ideological slogan).
The Slovak tree of life has deep roots. It draws on the sustenance of European and Slovak history. And this is healthy sustenance. It has helped us survive and become a part of European history. Saint Cyril and Methodus – patron saints of Europe. And later Moyzes, Štúr, Štefánik and Dubček, in addition to Cardinal Tomko and Korec. I only recall the names of those to whom Europeans most often accord a place in European history. Without doubt, many others have made their mark on the world - Slovak inventors, technicians and scientists.
Let us at least not disparage them. Politicians often infect human thought by their interpretations of history. The citizen resists this and reminds us ever louder: “Stop thinking only about your politics. Start thinking about me!” It seemed to him in November ’89 that he could breathe and fly. In the period after November, he also perceived that we did not avoid periods which clipped his wings. Only two from ten tell us that we are meeting their expectations. This is not a result worthy of applause. We must increase the number of those whose expectations of a dignified life are met, of those who see the sense of their life in knowledge and skills, in their application and appreciation, but also in responsibility.

Dear Parliament, Dear Government
We are blessed with a skilful people, an unacknowledged and underappreciated scientific community and work force. Above all, we have a gifted young generation, who are capable of defending a respectable position for Slovakia in a unifying Europe. I am certain we will also agree that talent is precious and requires care. And nor can there be any doubt that the future success of our society will require widespread accessibility to quality education. This is not a statement, but rather the message of the age we live in.

The basis of European civilisation, its attractiveness, elevation and prosperity are educated and cultured people. The refinement and moral improvement of our society also requires such people. Education is a value that does not only belong to individuals.
Let us endeavour to find the funds for quality education even if, figuratively speaking, there is not enough even for salt. Education will be the source of the bread of our European future and of our everyday life in Slovakia.
I shall include meetings with the young generation in my program. I intend to hear their ideas and wishes, assist them in solving their problems. We must persuade our young generation that Slovakia has a future and that it makes sense to live and work here. This will require their contribution.

Dear Fellow Citizens,
I am sure that at this moment you are asking, and justifiably, when will I address other contentious issues. With regard to the possibilities of this gala occasion, I shall do so only succinctly.
If we create strong self-governing regions, municipalities and towns, Slovakia will be a strong European state!
Rational decentralisation of state power and an equilibrium between the state administration and the self-governing regions will strengthen democracy and prosperity.
Delayed justice can scarcely be considered as justice for everyone. The law must serve all in a rapid, unbiased, non-partisan manner. We will also strive for the harmonisation of morality, the law and legal awareness, in the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic.
Many advanced nations observe the principle: Order on the streets, law and order within the state! Let us learn from this.
Let us protect the countryside and the environment, let us be aware of our history and enhance our culture!
Let us help all those who are in need of help using legislation and the practical politics of the government and municipal bodies.
As president, it is my sincere wish that I should have correct working and personal relationships with parliament and the government.

Dear Mr. Rudolf Schuster, Dear Mr. Michal Kovač.
I would like to express my gratitude to you, my predecessors as President, for everything positive that you undertook for the good name of Slovakia. I wish you good health, personal success and family happiness in the future.

New opportunities and a new challenge await Slovakia. We must either seize this opportunity and progress or we shall remain disappointed.
And for this reason, I address, today, every citizen of Slovakia, the young, women and men, without regard to age, education, race, faith, social or other standing. And I address the mass media and members of national minorities and ethnic groups. Let us join forces as regards the shaping of our state. Only if we act together in spiritual unity can we provide a fitting standard of living for all.
I declare my adherence to the universal value of respect to our fellow man, his knowledge and work. And also to democracy, plurality, community, tolerance, freedom, justice, security, and family peace, but above all to peace in Europe and globally. These are values of the highest moral standard, the guiding principles of our predecessors and spiritual giants.
It is my belief that we will not forsake these values and that we will seize our new European opportunity and as a consequence we will find solutions to problems which trouble us. We shall certainly succeed if we do not stop being good people – above all within ourselves.

Time waits for no-one.

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