Press Availability following Meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda

Released by U.S. Embassy, Bratislava

(1:30-1:45 p.m., Slovak time)

PRIME MINISTER DZURINDA: (speaking in Slovak through a translator) Ladies and Gentlemen, I was very glad to receive and to discuss some issues with the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Richard Armitage, as well as my Foreign Minister, Mr. Kukan. It was perhaps only a couple of days ago when the President of the United States, Mr. George Bush, made a telephone call to send his best regards to the population and citizens of the Slovak Republic, and he also congratulated us on the commemoration of the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising. And I think this says everything -- this documents the excellent relations between the United States and the Slovak Republic.

These relations are good indeed, but in all the areas of human activity, you can still always improve the situation. The Deputy Secretary of State is aware of our true intention to continue in our anti-terrorist effort, and we will fulfill our pledges. He’s also well informed about the possible positive development of trade between the United States and the Slovak Republic. He also knows about the good positive experience of the investors of the United States in the Slovak Republic. He also knows that the rating of the Slovak economy is very high, and that means that American investors have good opportunities in the Slovak Republic. All these are things that we discussed together.

However, we also talked about the upcoming elections in Ukraine. We know that the presidential elections in the Ukraine are a focus of attention in Slovak policy. And of course I opened the issue of the visa obligation of Slovak citizens traveling to the United States. We very well understand the situation in the United States after September 11, but we think, that the time is coming when we should step forward towards liberalization. There are more reasons for it -- perhaps that we are friends, that we are members of the alliance and the European Union and that in two years we will become part of the Schengen system. So I’m really very glad I could welcome the Deputy Secretary of State in my office today. I sent many regards to the American citizens and I, of course, invited President Bush to visit the Slovak Republic. Hopefully we can welcome him sooner rather than later. Thank you very much.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you very much for your many kindnesses today. If I might make something very, very clear. President Bush has asked me to come to Bratislava to express the gratitude of the American people as well as the Iraqi people, for the courageous efforts of the soldiers of Slovakia, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President wanted me to come here to make a public display that we don’t take the sacrifices of the people of Slovakia, and the military of Slovakia, for granted.

Moreover, the relationship between Slovakia and the United States is not just about Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s about shared values that transcend a lot of areas. I came here today to seek advice, as the Prime Minister has indicated, about Ukraine and about the region. I came here to see how we could cooperate further in many of the areas the Prime Minister mentioned, such as foreign direct investment, such as in political dialogue -- one could even call it a strategic dialogue -- so we can better understand each other’s policies and perhaps both of us adjust a little bit.

The Prime Minister was very eloquent on the question of visas and some of the difficulties that have entered into the visa issuance, particularly post 9-11, and I have told him that I will take this mission and go back to Washington and try to bring some relief to our friends in Slovakia who would like to travel to the United States. Following these discussions, we’ll continue in a few minutes with the distinguished Foreign Minister, and I note that my visit here is only the beginning of several back-and-forth visits. The Defense Minister will be in Washington visiting the Pentagon and Secretary Rumsfeld. The Foreign Minister will be coming to Washington in November to visit with Secretary Powell and others. So, I think we’ve gotten the message we need an even more in-depth dialogue, and so we are here to play.

QUESTION: Sir, we have seen lately that there has been pressure upon Iran which has been getting stronger lately not only from the United States but also from the European Union, and it seems like the situation looks very similar to the situation in Iraq before the attack, so I would like to know whether it’s true or whether you see any difference in these two situations. Thank you.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think the situation in Iran is significantly different, if for no other reason than that there seems to be a lot more unity in the international community about the need for Iran to come clean on their nuclear program. We have stood back and allowed particularly the EU three, the Germans, French, and British, be the major interlocutor with the Iranians to try to bring them into a better position. We’ll have an IAEA board meeting this month and again in November, and it is our hope to either have the Iranians come clean on their program, or then if they don’t, to refer this discussion to the UN Security Council. I think there are many options in the international community for dealing with Iran.

BBC: Good afternoon. BBC. You are mentioning the visa obligation for Slovak citizens. How realistic do you see reconsidering the visa policy in the forthcoming years, and how many years you can reconsider this visa policy?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: In which??

BBC: In how many years, in which period, could the United States reconsider the visa obligation for Slovak citizens?

INTERPRETER: To reassess the current visa obligation….

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I didn’t understand the question. Could you tell me again?

INTERPRETER: In what time period is it possible that you will reassess, re-evaluate, the current visa obligations?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Ah, thank you. I’m going to go back and start looking for ways to improve the situation immediately. I can’t change this around 180 degrees but I was persuaded by the Prime Minister that this is an irritant and something that needs to be fixed, so I would think that we can start making some adjustments immediately. But it’s going to take time.