Czech rescuers will be able to intervene in Slovakia if they get to the accident faster, and vice versa. On Wednesday, the Czech Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek announced this after the government meeting. He noted that the Czech Republic has been trying for this agreement for more than 15 years, reports TASR newsletter in Prague.
“Today we approved this agreement at the government and I have information from the Slovak Minister of Health that the Slovak government will proceed the same way. This will be followed by the signature of us – both ministers – and then the agreement will go to the Chamber of Deputies. I see it as a great success of our government’s diplomacy, ”Válek said. He added that even a longer -lasting discussion with the Polish government is equally positive.
The Czech Republic already has a similar contract signed with Germany and Austria. It works on the principle that if an extraordinary event becomes near the border, which requires the intervention of helicopters or a rapid emergency service, and rather rescuers from the neighboring country will reach the place, they may also intervene in the second state. “Czech diplomacy has tried to sign the contract for more than 15 years. We (the government of Petr Fiala, note TASR) eventually managed – although we have replaced four Slovak health ministers – to agree that contract –”Válek stressed.
According to the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský, the agreement is also beneficial for Czech-Slovak relations. “We are often confronted with questions about Czech-Slovak relationships. We are trying to do real things in those relationships that benefit the citizens of one or the other country, and this is a concrete measure. If something happens to someone, things will work a little better,“Lipavský commented on the agreement.
