Transatlantic Expert Previews Obama Foreign Policy During SAC 15th Anniversary Events

Fifteenth Anniversary of SAC / Wilson Plaque Events

Vincent Obsitnik
December 18, 2008

Mr. Minister.
Excellencies.
Ladies and Gentlemen.

In 1993 – soon after the fall of Communism, in the very first days of the Slovak Republic – only a prophet and visionary could see Slovakia as a NATO member and in close alliance with the US.  Fortunately, Slovakia possessed those visionary and practical people in the 1990s. Some of them are here today: Martin Butora, an advisor to President Havel and former Ambassador to Washington. Robert Kalinak, former Chairman of the Committee for Defense and Security of the Slovak National Council. And Rastoslav Kacer, former Ambassador to Washington who helped create the Slovak Atlantic Commission.

SAC has played a key role for 15 years in convincing Slovak politicians and ordinary citizens that this country belonged in NATO.

In 1993 I doubt that anyone could see that Slovakia in 2008 would commit 180 of its soldiers to a NATO operation in Afghanistan. That number will increase significantly next year.  Just yesterday, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Zakheim met with Slovak officials and MPs to express U.S. appreciation for Slovakia’s growing commitment and to propose even closer defense cooperation between the U.S. and Slovakia to ensure that Slovak forces are well-trained and equipped for the Afghan mission.

Yet Slovakia – like other NATO members, large and small – has recognized that establishing a stable, democratic society in Afghanistan and halting terrorists’ activities is a shared responsibility of the international community.  Afghanistan may be very far from Slovakia. But I have found the Slovak government and its citizens are strongly committed to helping the Afghan people.

In 1993, who could see Slovakia voting at the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest last spring to welcome Ukraine’s and Georgia’s aspirations to become NATO members?  But from a country only beginning on its road to democracy, Slovakia in the 1990s emerged as a country that exports democracy – to Serbia, Kazakhstan, Belarus. And there is wide support among Slovaks for democratic reforms in Ukraine and for the Georgians’ quest for peace with their neighbors.

Slovakia, in the NATO summit in Bucharest – and earlier this month at the NATO ministerial in Brussels -- also voted with its allies to protect Europe from the threat of long-range ballistic missiles with a missile defense system.

This is a country that takes its regional and international obligations seriously. The Slovak Atlantic Commission deserves much credit for this rapid evolution in the nation’s thinking and its foreign policy.

And now a word about another anniversary date, 1918.

In 1918 as World War One ended, a man with a vision – President Woodrow Wilson – supported the creation of Czechoslovakia as a nation. Tonight we will dedicate a plaque to his memory.

We all know that great events of history are not possible without partners.  President Wilson and thousands of American soldiers of Czech and Slovak heritage in the Czechoslovak Legions bravely stood up for the independence of a new nation.

Today, our partners – the Slovak Atlantic Commission, the Slovak government and the Slovak people – stand with us for democracy not only in this region, but in the world.

Thank you.