The visit of the Slovak government delegation to Brazil is historic and brings the first concrete results. This was stated by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, after Tuesday’s meeting with the Vice President of Brazil, Gerald Alckmin, in the capital of the largest South American country. On this occasion, a number of bilateral agreements and memoranda were signed between the members of the Slovak and Brazilian governments, reports the TASR special reporter from Brazil.
“I am very pleased that we have an idea where to strengthen mutual economic cooperation on a bilateral basis,” emphasized Fico. It was originally supposed to be received by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but he is in hospital after an operation on Tuesday to stop bleeding in the brain. Lula’s work duties were taken over by the country’s vice president after his hospitalization. In this context, the Slovak Prime Minister wished the Brazilian President a speedy recovery, saying that he would like to welcome him on an official visit to Slovakia.
Fico reminded that there has been no Slovak prime minister in Brazil since the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic. According to him, it is important for Slovakia, as a member country of the European Union, that a new format of cooperation between the EU, Brazil and associations of countries operating in this region is being sought.
He highlighted the recent completion of negotiations on the long-delayed agreement on the creation of a free trade zone between the EU and Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. “The conclusions from Montevideo are welcome for us, we support them and we will convince everyone within the European Union that this agreement is the best thing that could have happened for the entire EU and certainly for the countries of this region as well,” emphasized the prime minister.
He reminded that the Slovak government is trying to make policy towards all four sides of the world, while fully respecting membership in the EU and NATO. “For us, you are an example of a country that forms independent attitudes. Attitudes that are based on respect for international law and that are based on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” reviewed Fico.
According to him, Slovakia joins the Friends of Peace group at the UN and also appreciates the peace plan for the war in Ukraine, which was prepared by Brazil together with China. “We are offering all our modest possibilities that we have in Slovakia so that we can support this plan in various forms. I express my conviction that Brazil, together with China, but also other large countries, will play an extremely important role and military operations on the territory of Ukraine will be stopped.” he stated.
According to Fico, Brazil can also play an important role in the reform of the UN. Slovakia shares the same opinion as the South American country that the UN Security Council should be expanded to include permanent and non-permanent members. “This is also why we are applying for the membership of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2028 and 2029. We have supported your candidacy, and we will gratefully accept any support that might come from you.” he added.
The Brazilian Vice President praised the first ever visit of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic. “Your foreign policy, which you enforce on all four sides of the world, is very similar to our foreign policy. Dividing the world into two antagonistic blocs is a very dangerous trap, which we must avoid. That’s why I want to emphasize the importance of cooperation, this cooperation can be a cure for instability and the fragmentation of the world order,” said Alckmin.
According to him, the conclusions of the talks between the EU and Mercosur, which had the support of Slovakia, represent more than just an economic trade agreement. “At the same time, it symbolizes that two important regions in the world are coming together and want to cooperate. It strengthens the commitment of both partners towards a multilateral approach to trade as well as environmental protection,” he added.
He also praised Slovakia’s support for the peace plan of Brazil and China to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and Slovakia’s interest in being part of the Friends of Peace in the United Nations. “It is important that the partnership between Brazil and Slovakia is deepening. The agreements we have just signed will bring new opportunities for development,” added Alckmin.
The Slovak delegation also includes Minister of Defense Robert Kaliňák, Minister of Economy Denisa Saková and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár. With their Brazilian partners on Tuesday they signed, for example, an intergovernmental agreement on defense cooperation, on the exchange of classified information, a protocol to the treaty on the avoidance of double taxation or a memorandum of understanding in the field of police cooperation.
