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00:00Thank you very much indeed, dear Mr. Secretary General, dear Mark.
00:11I'm very glad that I was able to receive Mr. Secretary General at the Presidential Palace
00:18during his official visit of Slovak Republic as one of the North Atlantic Alliance member
00:24states.
00:26At the outset, to make sure it's very clear, I'd like to emphasize that during our talks
00:33we've been very clearly saying that Slovakia is and will be a responsible NATO member state
00:44and has no interest in changing its international roots in both NATO and European Union.
00:54I'd like to thank Mr. Secretary General for a very open and frank discussion because the
01:00two of us have known each other for many years.
01:04We've sat together as prime ministers at the European Council's meetings.
01:10That's why our relationship allows us to speak very directly with no diplomatic shenanigans
01:16around.
01:17We do realize that the situation of geopolitics also within the security space has been changing
01:24dynamically, but our response, at least here in Europe, should not be some lamenting or
01:36complaining, what now, but we, NATO member states and the EU member states, here in Europe
01:44we have to act actively, come with own attitudes and proposals how to resolve the situation,
01:52not to complain whether we are or we are not seated at some desk somewhere or not being
01:59able to co-decide about our future and that of our neighbour.
02:04May I open a few topics, then I'm sure later will be more commented by Secretary General.
02:11We have approaching NATO summit in Hague, which will be preceded by talks of the B9
02:21head of states, which increased defence expenditure, I'm sure will be debated, or increased investment
02:29into our defence.
02:32There is an idea, some percentages, which will still be a matter of talks, however we
02:37must admit, and Slovakia does admit this, that our armed forces have been built into
02:45peacetime, they were built in a way that as though there would never be another war in
02:53our continent.
02:56So unfortunately today this is what it looks like, it's the condition and the state of
03:02armed forces of European countries.
03:06And the war has shown us completely in a naked truth that our military forces are not ready
03:12here in Europe to face any threat, no matter where from such threat would come, I'm only
03:17saying in general.
03:18That is why it is a legitimate open question to increase funding sources for armament of
03:27the North Atlantic member state armies, militaries rather.
03:31Here in Slovakia we look at this from a very pragmatic point of view.
03:36We all rely on Article 5, which says that in case of any attack upon a NATO member state
03:44immediately remaining NATO member states come to help.
03:48We from Slovakia's perspective also look at it from Article 3, which first says that member
03:54states are supposed to first be able through own capacities capable of repelling any attack,
04:03and time will come before Article 5 is activated.
04:06And that's important to say to our citizens of our countries that this is for their security,
04:12and it is our obligation, our duty to build such armed forces capable of resisting any
04:19pressure from outside our borders.
04:21This is not only about pressure of some military attack, we're speaking of counterterrorism.
04:29Also major wave of migrants, migration pressures, which must be managed not just police, but
04:37the military as well.
04:39So we are facing a discussion, and there are two moments important for Slovakia, and I've
04:45discussed this with Mr. Secretary General.
04:48It is likely that it will be necessary to change fiscal rules of the European Union,
04:56which has already been announced by Madam President of the Commission, Ursula von der
04:59Leyen in Munich, because today the fiscal rules do not enable us due to deficit and
05:05debt threshold to increase our defense expenditures.
05:09That's the first moment must be preceding discussion about increasing investments into military.
05:16Second thing important for Slovakia will be what pace will be proposed by the alliance.
05:21In how many years we need to achieve the desired increase by one or one and a half additional
05:26percent, and what pressure this will exercise upon our funding resources.
05:30Thirdly, a discussion what will be and will not be included into defense expenditures,
05:38such as we mentioned this already, repairing a bridge.
05:43One cannot bear the weight of a tank, Leopard tank, for instance.
05:47Is it not possible to be included in those investments in the future, and the bridge
05:54logistically will enable our heavy equipment to be moved wherever it's necessary?
06:01Another important question that we have discussed is that we cannot respond to every single
06:10word and sentence of our alliance partners immediately.
06:16One must always wait a little, not always be rushed and going to panic.
06:23We have time to some more direct words of our alliance partners to wait a little how
06:33to respond, because politics are changing on a daily basis.
06:37It's important for Slovakia, however, as we are on a border of a country in war, to
06:47settle this conflict as soon as possible.
06:49And Slovakia is an advocate after the Munich conference, I mentioned this already, looking
06:54for permanently sustainable peace.
06:58It is not in the interest of Slovakia to achieve ceasefire for some limited time for resources
07:05to be regrouped, for countries to recover, and then again we would see a continuation
07:12of military conflict.
07:15In our opinion, it's premature now to speak of some kind of militaries or troops of European
07:23militaries of some countries who expressed interest to be deployed within Ukraine.
07:31We're still not there yet, in my opinion.
07:33We still must see some peace conditions and what the guarantees of sustaining such peace
07:38would look like.
07:40So that's why I must repeat that if Europe, even after the Munich conference, even after
07:46the words of representatives of US administration, has to act in more self-confident, without
07:56any fear, we are a large, major market, strong economy in the world.
08:02So we must not conduct activities that would divide Europe to multiple member state groups,
08:08groups of these countries, because Paris summit, ladies and gentlemen, has even created three
08:14groups of countries, because first of all, some countries could not even agree whether
08:21they're willing to offer their troops for any peace guarantees in Ukraine in the future.
08:27Second group of 19, there was still some member states missing in this group, EU member
08:34states, including those who are neighboring with Ukraine, behind border of which there
08:40is war today.
08:42That's why I consider this type of talks quite unfortunate, so that we've agreed with Mr.
08:48Secretary General in the future for countries to meet, to have similar opinions about placing
08:54troops somewhere, deploying troops, but not to undermine the unity of the EU, and even
09:00I think reducing the respect and also responsiveness of big world politics players, because when
09:08they see our fragmentation and disunity, this is not helping us, as all have been calling
09:14after the Munich conference.
09:16We must just face it straight, all of these issues, not lamenting who is talking with
09:21whom or not.
09:23It's logical for us here in Slovakia that two major superpowers, open talks, who have
09:29the power and diplomatic basic frameworks for future negotiations, have been set up.
09:36Of course, a part of these negotiations and talks always must be Ukraine in being involved
09:40in a conflict, but I'm convinced that through EU acting in a confidence with own proposal
09:46how to make a contribution to sustaining peace, preventing war in the future, with EU must
09:52be a negotiation table as well, but not through waiting whether someone will invite it, but
09:57through its own initiative and own attitudes must demand to be seated at such negotiation
10:04table.
10:05If EU leaders will not be able to present such position of the EU, we will be witnesses
10:12of peace agreeing, be agreed without us.
10:15So I'd like to conclude by saying that I'm convinced that sustainable peace in Ukraine
10:19will not be possible without any security guarantees, for which also EU, European Union
10:26will be responsible, of course, with the support of United States, because without us, countries
10:34living on this continent, any solution could be very brief and unsustainable.
10:39So thank you once again, Mr. Secretary General.
10:42Many areas that we have discussed, there were really many, many more areas, Slovakia would
10:47like to see more Slovaks in the NATO structures of the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
10:56And Slovakia would like to seek the position of having in Slovakia a center of excellence
11:03for artillery fire, because Slovakia really is historically excellent expertise in this
11:09particular field where we can test long-range artillery systems, where after some investments
11:16already we have made, we are producing a large number of ammunition of various types,
11:20where Slovakia is one of the leaders, in fact, in this region, in this regard.
11:25And many, many other topics that we have discussed were very broad-reaching with the participation
11:30of Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
11:34So I'd like to conclude really by saying once again Slovakia does realize its place in security
11:41strategy is to remain a proper, reliable North Atlantic Alliance member, while realizing
11:50here the moral investment debt into equipping, completing the equipment of our armed forces.
11:57But we're still facing a difficult time to agree on to what percent this needs to be
12:02increased for defense expenditures and how rapidly we need to get there.
12:08We still have member states among us.
12:10We have not even got close to 2 percent.
12:14Slovakia has already achieved 2 percent, and in our next three years' budgets it's planning
12:19to retain the minimum of 2 percent.
12:22But we are open to talks to increase these resources that will, however, require an intense
12:28domestic communication to be able to retain for our citizens complex services in healthcare,
12:34education, and social system, on the other hand, to be able to guarantee one of the most
12:38important services, that's the security, that is the obligation of every government
12:42to provide, including the Slovak government.
12:45Thank you once again very much.
12:47Thank you, Mark, for coming.
12:48Thank you for being able to see this morning our excellent military training area, Lešte,
12:54which is one of the unique facilities within the region, not just in Slovakia.
12:59And it's a training facility available to all of our alliance partners' militaries.
13:05And I believe that the know-how we've discussed today will be also shown in our next future
13:12very reliable and good cooperation.
13:14Yes.
13:15Mr. President, dear Petr, it's wonderful to be with you here in Bratislava.
13:26It's good to be back.
13:29Slovakia has been a valued ally now for over 20 years, and you are still that ally.
13:36You are very much involved and committed to NATO.
13:40You host one of NATO's multinational forward land forces.
13:45And indeed, I visited the troops this morning, and it was very impressive.
13:49This presence is a vital part of how we collectively deter aggression and defend our eastern flank.
13:59Slovakia is also the framework nation for the Headquarters Multinational Division Center
14:04in Hungary, which became fully operational last week.
14:08Alongside Hungary and Croatia, you have worked hard to deliver this project, demonstrating
14:15that we are adapting to new challenges and showcasing how working together in NATO bolsters
14:22deterrence and defense for us all.
14:26Over the past week, Europe has seen an extraordinary level of engagement by the new U.S. administration
14:33at NATO Headquarters in Munich and now in Washington, where your Prime Minister Robert
14:39Fitcho is today.
14:41The U.S. has made crystal clear its commitment to a strong NATO.
14:47This should not be in doubt.
14:50And that commitment comes with an expectation that all NATO allies are contributing their
14:56fair share.
14:58Defense spending across the Alliance is on an upward trajectory.
15:02Last year, it increased by 20 percent for Europe and Canada.
15:07Slovakia spends 2 percent of GDP on defense, and this is crucially important.
15:13But growing threats will require greater investment.
15:16This is part of what we discussed today.
15:20We know that the target, the 2014 target of 2 percent, will not keep us safe in the
15:26years ahead.
15:27Allies must invest more.
15:31Today we also discussed the Russian war against Ukraine.
15:34Eleven years ago, Russia invaded Crimea.
15:39Three years ago, Putin began his full-scale invasion.
15:44He thought it would be over in just a few days.
15:48But he underestimated Ukrainian resilience and he underestimated Allied resolve.
15:55Ukraine is not just our partner, it is your neighbor.
15:59We all want to see an end to the terrible aggression against Ukraine.
16:04And it is vital that any deal reached brings an enduring peace, that Russia will never
16:11again try to take one more square kilometer of Ukrainian land.
16:17This will require robust, as you said, security guarantees.
16:22And NATO Allies are actively discussing what that might entail.
16:25While there is much that still needs to be decided, there is no question that Europe
16:32has a vital role to play in securing peace in Ukraine.
16:37We have been in close touch with the U.S. Administration on this at every level.
16:42And we all agree that we need an enduring peace in Ukraine.
16:47As U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hexhead said last week in Brussels, no Minsk Three.
16:54It has to be an enduring and lasting peace deal.
16:59And the White House Special Envoy consulted with Allies in the North Atlantic Council
17:04on Monday.
17:05That was a very successful meeting.
17:06In advance of the meeting with Russian officials this week, and of course he is now himself
17:12traveling to Ukraine and is now in Ukraine discussing with Ukrainian leadership.
17:19At the same time, we should continue to strengthen Ukraine's hand so that they can come to the
17:25negotiating table from a position of strength.
17:29As an Alliance, we are delivering on commitments made at the Washington Summit.
17:34We have surpassed our financial pledge, providing more than 50 billion euros of security assistance
17:40in the past year.
17:41The command in Wiesbaden is also now operational, coordinating the delivery of training and
17:47equipment for Ukraine.
17:50Even so, as the full-scale invasion enters in its fourth year, we must dig deeper.
17:57The world is becoming more dangerous.
18:00But NATO remains ready to deter and defend.
18:03To tackle the range of challenges we face together.
18:07So again, thank you, dear Peter.
18:10Together, NATO is stronger because of Slovakia.
18:13And Slovakia is safer because of NATO.
18:17Thank you so much.
18:18MODERATOR Please, we have room for two questions.
18:24Slovak Radio.
18:25Jana Balkova from Slovak Radio.
18:30You are both – have said a few moments ago that NATO needs strengthening, needs investment,
18:36even though Mr. President of Slovakia has said that the percentages will still be a
18:41matter of discussion.
18:42I still would like to ask, what about countries that somehow have strictly been refusing increased
18:50defense expenditures, if they will refuse once – even once agreed?
18:56What about those countries?
18:57What will happen to them?
18:58And what about countries deciding to increase investments but to distribute it, break it
19:04down into dual use, for instance?
19:07Well, first of all, I'm happy that now 22, 23 countries are spending the agreed 2 percent.
19:14And Slovakia is among them.
19:16But it's also true that there are still a few countries not spending 2 percent.
19:19And I'm engaging with them actively and intensely to make sure that they speed up reaching the
19:262 percent.
19:27And I think they all have to do that by next summer.
19:31And I tell them, if you do not react to my phone calls, you might get phone calls from
19:35a very nice man in Washington who might be less – well, let's say having less of
19:43a time – has more time limit, I guess, on what he wants to achieve.
19:47So if not me, then he – they might get phone calls from somebody else.
19:51We all really have to get to the 2 percent.
19:53That is crucial.
19:54Then, of course, we have to decide on the next target.
19:58And we will do that in the Die Hague NATO Summit, and the president will be there.
20:03But we will not do it like in 2014 by saying, okay, let's get to a number.
20:07We will base it now on a process within NATO, the capability targeting process, which will
20:14deliver the gaps between where we are and where we should be.
20:18And when you look at those gaps now emerging, which we are not there yet – we are still
20:22finalizing all the work – then it is clear that 2 percent is not enough, that it will
20:27be much more.
20:28I think it will be considerably more than 3 percent at least.
20:32We'll see where we get to.
20:35And then, of course, we also need to decide on a time path.
20:38And I think we have to decide on an ambitious time path to get to the new target, so not
20:43like in 2014 we decide on 2 percent and then nothing happened until President Trump was
20:48elected and then all of a sudden the numbers went up.
20:52I think we should now decide on an ambitious time path in Die Hague, which will bring us
21:00to the new number as soon as possible.
21:02Then, of course, there is always the question of what can you count within the spending
21:08numbers and what can you not count within the spending numbers.
21:12I know that particularly with the wishes with Slovakia, which I totally understand, I cannot
21:17answer now exactly what will be the outcome, but we agreed that we will continue the discussion
21:22also at our advisors to see what we can do, what we cannot do, because in the end, of
21:30course, there are rules within NATO, what is part of the spending and what is not.
21:34So I totally understand the requirement from Slovakia, but again, we have to make sure
21:38that it fits in the system and we will continue that discussion.
21:44One brief comment.
21:45It will not only be important the volume, the amount of investment money, but the quality
21:51of these investments, because there is a rule in NATO that a minimum of 20% of resources
21:58must go to modernization of military forces.
22:02I can say with pleasure that in Slovakia we expend 35% for modernization, not only for
22:09existence or upkeep or functioning of the militaries.
22:13That will also be an important argument for us, not only to increase the total volume
22:17of investments, but also to increase the percentage going to modernization and armament.
22:23So in my view, the view upon individual member states will not be just through volume and
22:28percentage, but also how they meet modernization targets or whether they are not just eating
22:33up the money they invest with no investments into modernization.
22:37Slovakia today is achieving 35% annually of all resources into defense going into modernization,
22:44which I consider a good result.
22:45Slovakia is one of the better ones, better NATO member states in this regard.
22:50TV Markiza.
22:51Good afternoon.
22:52My name is Kajtarova.
22:54Mr. President, yesterday you were criticizing President Macron for Slovakia not being invited
22:59to any one of those informal summits held in Paris.
23:06Prime Minister Fico said that we have not even been interested in such invitation.
23:10Prime Minister said that he wouldn't know what he would do there because it was a meeting
23:14of friends of war, what he said.
23:16Those were his words.
23:18So to both of you gentlemen, I'd like to ask Secretary General and the President whether
23:22this is – these words are not in contradiction with what we just said now, what you just
23:26said now here, and whether there is no two-speed Europe as a result now happening.
23:33Slovakia will be EU and NATO member, but due to this opinion will be pushed to the fringes
23:38as a result.
23:40Secretary General, as a guest, so please, if you wish to answer first.
23:43Well, let me first say that Slovakia is more integrated than most countries in EU and NATO.
23:49You are in Schengen, you are in Eurozone, you are in the European Union, you are in
23:52NATO, and you are a valued member in all of these organizations and sub-organizations.
23:58So that has to be absolutely clear.
24:00And you can have differences of opinion.
24:03We are – EU and NATO are both based on democracy and the understanding that you can
24:09have your debates, but in the end we always get together.
24:12I was sitting next to you and next to Robert Fitcho for many years in the European Council,
24:19and I knew that when it really was necessary, we would always get to an agreement.
24:22And this is what you need to have.
24:25You're amongst friends.
24:26So I'm absolutely not worried about Slovakia's role in NATO or in the EU.
24:32When it comes to Paris, exactly as the President said in his introductory remarks, I was a
24:37bit irritated in Munich that the reaction of many Europeans was, when the peace initiative
24:44was announced in the U.S., we are not involved, can we be at the table, et cetera, et cetera.
24:50And I said, organize yourselves, find yourself to a table, whatever that table exactly entails.
24:57That's why it was so important that we had General Kellogg visiting NATO headquarters
25:01and briefing the ambassadors last Monday.
25:05I think the meeting President Macron organized also has to be seen in that light.
25:11And there will be many other meetings.
25:14I was on Monday present, I was not on Wednesday present.
25:17There might be other meetings where the President of Slovakia is there, I am not there, somebody
25:21else is not there.
25:23That is not important.
25:24What is important is that somehow in Europe we are discussing how to organize the security
25:30guarantees into Ukraine post the peace deal.
25:35And that is a step-by-step process.
25:38As always in Europe, it never immediately brings you to a final joint conclusion, which
25:43is not a problem, because we still have some time.
25:45But I'm happy that at least in Europe we stopped whining and started acting, getting our act
25:51together.
25:52And our talks today also very much focused on this, so Paris was not a stand-alone.
25:57It is part of a bigger process.
26:00Maybe Slovakia will organize something, or the Poles, or the Brits, we'll see.
26:04But step-by-step we have to make sure that we dialogue, strategize amongst each other
26:09to make sure that we are positively engaged in what I think is an important initiative
26:15from President Trump, which is to get Ukraine to a lasting peace.
26:20I may provide a bit more precise information.
26:29I did not criticize President Macron for not inviting us.
26:33That's not what I said, for not inviting Slovakia.
26:36I criticized him for strange formats of meetings that he chose.
26:40I was at a Munich conference.
26:42I saw the panic after the U.S. Vice President's speech and the bewilderment on faces of European
26:51politicians and members there.
26:53We must act as a sovereign bloc, Europe, EU.
26:58Here we are, a self-confident EU, nearly 500 million people, a very strong internal economic
27:05market, and we will want to be part of these negotiations, to convene a summit on Monday
27:12with eight countries, on Wednesday with 19 countries, because it's not that we were not
27:18invited.
27:20Eight other countries were not invited.
27:22So when someone looks at this from behind the ocean, from across the ocean, they are
27:27looking, where is this strong united Europe?
27:30With whom are we going to talk?
27:32Whom to invite?
27:33If they invited us to a meeting of countries wishing to send out, are willing to send
27:38out and deploy their troops to Ukraine, as those who will be keeping peace, Slovakia
27:44likely has not such interest.
27:47So we need not such invitation to such meeting, but a summit convened by President Macron
27:52should be a response to U.S. administration saying that if you want to be at the table,
27:57do something.
27:58I don't consider this very fortunate, because it has not shown EU unity.
28:03On the contrary, our fragmentation, so big geopolitical players will be viewing us in
28:09the same way.
28:10That's why that was my criticism.
28:12And a question to Prime Minister Fitz, whether he is not breaking down our unity by his attitudes
28:18and his declarations.
28:20I don't think so.
28:22I'm not breaking unity if I'm criticizing President Macron.
28:26We are a sovereign EU member state.
28:28And even, I have to say this, we must admit this here all in this room, at the end, the
28:37words of Slovak government saying one year before, one year ago, was saying are coming
28:44true.
28:45Likely, this will not be a just peace.
28:47This will likely not be a very easy road of Ukraine to NATO.
28:52And we were criticized very strongly about this one year ago.
28:56Now it's becoming very close to the reality.
29:00Those are words from – and we, on the contrary, have agreed with Secretary General that deeds,
29:06actions are important, not statements.
29:09And the reality, how Slovakia is acting, does not exclude Slovakia to imagine like a second
29:15class NATO or EU member.
29:17Thank you very much for coming.
29:20Have a nice day.