THE WESTERN Balkans, countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Middle East were the key topics of a meeting between Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák and representatives of the US State Department in Washington during Lajčák’s official visit to Washington DC, the TASR newswire reported.
“We’re convinced that if they meet all the requirements, the countries of the Western Balkans in particular should be given the chance to become EU and NATO members,” stated Lajčák, as quoted by TASR.
US State Department representatives at the meeting acknowledged Slovakia’s role in these countries as well as in Tunisia and Moldova.
Lajčák also met John Mica and Joe Wilson, members of the US Congress with close ties to Slovakia – Mica is a descendant of Slovak immigrants and Wilson is co-chair of the Slovak Congressional Committee.
The minister had a discussion with James Miller, the Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, about cooperation between the two countries within NATO, in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and cooperation between the Slovak Armed Forces and the National Guard of the State of Indiana. They agreed on the need to have an open door for accepting further countries into NATO.
Lajčák also met with Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, to discuss several international issues. Both expressed an interest in deepening relations between the countries, TASR wrote.
