Slovak Ambassador Martin Bezák referred to the role of his country in maintaining security, ceasefire and peace on the island, through UNFICYP and the meetings between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties.

Delivering a speech on Tuesday evening during an event to celebrate the Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic, the Ambassador said that the Constitution, among other things, states that Slovakia is a sovereign state and this should be perceived “as a state independent of any other actor in international relations and at the same time independent of any other actor on its territory as regards internal affairs”.

According to Ambassador Bezak, in international relations today, we are often witnessing the enforcement of ‘the only correct and obligatory political view’, which is in stark contrast to democracy, saying that his policy tends to divide the world even more than it already is, and above all, it threatens peace.

He said that Slovakia is a small, but a sovereign country and that must be also reflected in its foreign policy adding that their living space is, without any doubt, the EU and NATO. Bezak went on to say that in every international crisis Slovakia considers, above all, the humanitarian aspect.

“We believe that the solution is not to prolong the violence, destruction and killing that cause immense suffering, especially to civilian population. After all, the tragic events in Cyprus between 1963-64 and in 1974 are still a sad reminder of it even today,” he said.

Referring to Cyprus, he underlined that Slovakia’s contribution to strengthening security, maintaining ceasefire, and reconciling the two communities on the island, which has been divided for more than half a century, is unquestionable.

“It is confirmed by the nearly 4,500 Slovak peacekeepers serving so far in the most sensitive sector of the buffer zone and by nearly 450 bicommunal meetings of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy,” he noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.