Příloha č. 17

TATRA Statement from the Meeting of the Presidents of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Poland, Gerlachov in the High Tatras, Slovakia, on December 3, 1999

The President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel, the President of the Republic of Hungary Árpád Goncz, the President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski, and the President of the Slovak Republic Rudolf Schuster, met for a short working meeting on Friday, 3 December 1999 at the invitation of the President of the Slovak Republic Rudolf Schuster at Gerlachov in the High Tatras, Slovakia.

Presidents of the participating countries recognize that the Visegrad co-operation is a political, economic and cultural co-operation of four countries in Central Europe striving for Euro-Atlantic integration. It is a clear demonstration of the Visegrad countries´ ability to live and co-operate in genuine friendship that has not always been the case in their history. Historic traditions and common Central European cultural roots provide for a firm foundation of this co-operation.

The Presidents confirm that the current goals linking up with the results achieved under Visegrad co-operation include: promotion of Euro-Atlantic integration of all Visegrad countries, strengthening the structures of the Central European region, development of its cohesion and internal integration, commitment to strategic partnership, strengthening the Central European identity of the four countries, protection of their common historic and cultural values in a way which would enrich united Europe and provide joint answers to the challenges of the 21st century affecting our region.

Presidents of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland - NATO members-states and countries engaged in accession negotiations with the European Union - take a strong view that Slovakia has made considerable progress in its preparations for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance as well as in the European Union. They furthermore believe that an accession of Slovakia to NATO in its next enlargement and its inclusion in negotiations with the EU - as a result of the expected decision of the European Council in Helsinki - would be of great benefit to the prosperity and stability of Central Europe and Europe as a whole. It would also lie in the most profound interest of all the four countries of the Visegrad Group.

The Presidents of the Visegrad countries have highly appreciated the recent results achieved by their respective Governments in regional co-operation. The document adopted by the Heads of the Governments of all Visegrad countries in Bratislava this May has provided for a framework for developing their co-operation in foreign and security policy, internal security, education, culture, youth and sports, science and technology, protection of the environment, infrastructure and cross-border co-operation. The creation of the Visegrad Fund may become one of the important tools integrating the four countries.

Acknowledging the indivisibility of European security the countries of the Visegrad Group are ready to play an active and a positive role in the stabilisation and reconstruction of South-East Europe. It is their common interest to achieve political and economic stability in this region and to integrate it with European structures. The Presidents welcome the results of recent presidential elections in Ukraine and support its pro-European orientation. They observe with fear and care the situation in Chechenya. They do not want thet the fight against terrorism would outgrow into the fight against unarmed population and it would not lead to the violence of the human rights of the nations and the minorities.

The Presidents are deeply convinced that in the future close co-operation of their countries in all areas can become one of the firm building stones of European stability and one of the guarantees for a successful Europe as a continent built on the principle of unity in diversity.

Zdroj: http://www.visegradgroup.org