PØÍLOHA
È. 5
Declaration
on Cooperation between the Czech and Slovak Federal
Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Hungary striving
for
Europe (Visegrad Declaration 1991)
The meeting, in Bratislava, of
presidents, prime
ministers, ministers of foreign affairs and members of parliaments of
the Czech
and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Republic of
Hungary
began a process of creating foundations and new forms of political,
economic
and cultural cooperation of these countries in the altered situation in
the
Central Europe.
The similarity of the situation
that has evolved over
the past decades has determined for these three countries convergent
basic
objectives:
The identity of objectives, as
well as similarity of
ways of achieving them in many fields poses identical tasks before the
three
neighboring countries. Coordination of the efforts - with respect for
national
peculiarities - increases the chances of attaining the desired goals
and brings
closer the realization of their objectives.
A favorable basis for intensive
development of
cooperation is ensured by the similar character of the significant
changes
occurring in these countries, their traditional, historically shaped
system of
mutual contacts, cultural and spiritual heritage and common roots of
religious
traditions. The diverse and rich cultures of these nations also embody
the
fundamental values of the achievements of European thought. The mutual
spiritual, cultural and economic influences exerted over a long period
of time,
resulting from the fact of proximity, could support cooperation based
on
natural historical development.
The cooperation of nations and
civil communities of
the three countries is essential for joint creation of conditions that
will contribute
in each of the countries to the development of a democratic social
system based
on respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms, liberty of
economic
undertakings, rule of law, tolerance, spiritual and cultural traditions
and
respect for moral values.
Simultaneously, the signatories
of the Declaration
respect the right of all other nations to express their own identity.
They
emphasize that national, ethnic, religious and language minorities, in
accordance with traditional European values and in harmony with
internationally
recognized documents on human rights, must be able to enjoy all rights
in
political, social, economic and cultural life, not excluding education.
In unified Europe, to which the
three countries wish
to actively contribute, it is possible to maintain culture and national
character while fully realizing the universal system of human values. A
systematic fulfillment of the idea of civil society is the key question
to the
spiritual and material development of Central European region and an
indispensable condition for establishing of a mutually beneficial
cooperation
with developed countries and European institutions. Drawing on
universal human
values as the most important element of the European heritage and own
national
identities should serve as the basis for developing a society of people
cooperating with each other in a harmonious way, tolerant to each
other, to
individual families, local, regional and national communities, free of
hatred,
nationalism, xenophobia, and local strife.
It is the conviction of the
states-signatories that
in the light of the political, economic and social challenges ahead of
them,
and their efforts for renewal based on principles of democracy, their
cooperation is a significant step on the way to general European
integration.
The signatories of the
Declaration shall jointly
undertake the following practical steps:
§
they shall
endeavor to create free contacts
between citizens, institutions, churches and social organizations,
§
they shall
focus on the development of the
infrastructure in communications, with regard both to links between the
three
countries and those with other parts of Europe, mainly in the
north-south
direction, and shall coordinate the development of their power systems
and
telecommunication networks,
The signatories of the
Declaration state that their
cooperation in no way will interfere with or restrict their relations
with
other countries, and that it will not be directed against the interests
of any
other party.
The cooperation of the
signatories will be realized
through meetings and consultations held at various levels and in
various forms.
Done in Visegrad on February
15th,