On September 28, Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák opened a UN workshop on security sector reform in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Slovakia has become an informal leader in this area and we are now concentrating on regional aspects of coordination of international community activities in post-conflict areas in Latin America,” said Lajčák at the start of the seminar, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Stano, who provided information to SITA newswire.
Slovakia promoted the topic of security sector reform in the UN agenda during its non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council in 2006 and 2007. Based on a request of the UN Secretary General, Slovakia continues to be active in this area.
"The goal of the reform is to achieve better cooperation of all parties involved in post-conflict areas. The UN usually operates in stabilizing of such zones, as well as regional organisations, non-governmental organisations, and individual states; however, their programmes often overlap, they are poorly coordinated, and many funds earmarked for stabilization end up elsewhere. The reform should change this," explained Lajčák.
Slovakia participated in the organisation of a similar event for Africa in November 2007 in Cape Town. It is also preparing one for east Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, next year. During his visit to Argentina, Lajčák will also meet his Argentinean counterpart and address that country’s Diplomatic Academy of Argentina on the Slovak experience with integration in times of globalization. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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