DATE=1/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244549
TITLE=SLOVAKIA/NATO (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  SLOVAKIA'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER, EDUARD KUKAN, WAS IN 
WASHINGTON FRIDAY WHERE HE MET WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT AND EMPHASIZED HIS GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO GAIN 
ENTRY INTO NATO. V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS.

TEXT:  MRS. ALBRIGHT PRAISED SLOVAKIA'S NEW CENTRIST GOVERNMENT 
FOR BEING ON THE RIGHT TRACK. DURING A 30 MINUTE MEETING, SHE 
TOLD MR. KUKAN THAT SLOVAKIA IS ON ITS WAY TO RECLAIMING ITS 
RIGHTFUL PLACE AS A FULL PARTNER WITH WESTERN NATIONS.  WHILE 
SAYING NO EARLY INVITATION TO JOIN NATO IS LIKELY, SHE SAID IF 
REFORMS CONTINUE SLOVAKIA IS A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR EVENTUAL 
MEMBERSHIP.

MR. KUKAN SPOKE OF THE NEW FACE OF SLOVAKIA SINCE SEPTEMBER 
ELECTIONS BROUGHT A DISPARATE COALITION TO POWER REPLACING THE 
AUTHORITARIAN, PRO-RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT OF VLADIMIR MECIAR. MR. 
KUKAN, WHO WAS SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER IN 1994, SAYS HIS 
GOVERNMENT IS PRO-WESTERN AND HAS AS ITS PRIORITY GAINING 
MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. STRATEGICALLY PLACED 
IN CENTRAL EUROPE, SLOVAKIA WAS PASSED OVER WHEN ITS NEIGHBORS, 
THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND POLAND WERE ASKED TO BE THE FIRST
FORMER SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES TO JOIN NATO. 

IN AN APPEARANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE, MR. 
KUKAN APPEALED FOR WESTERN FOREIGN INVESTMENT. HE SAID SLOVAKIA 
WILL BROADEN ITS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH THE WEST AND BEHAVE AS
IF IT IS A NATO MEMBER. HE SAID THE POPULAR ELECTION OF A NEW 
STATE PRESIDENT IN MAY SHOULD PUT TO REST FEARS THAT SLOVAKIA IS 
NOT YET POLITICALLY STABLE. MR. KUKAN WAS ASKED IF MR. MECIAR 
WILL BE A CANDIDATE. 

                          //KUKAN ACT//

         I THINK HE WILL NOT ENTER THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. I WOULD
         BE GLAD IF HE RUNS BECAUSE I AM SURE HE WOULD LOSE. AND 
         THAT WOULD BE HIS FINAL BLOW. 

                           //END ACT//

MR. KUKAN SAYS THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS INHERITED ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
FAR WORSE THAN EXPECTED. HE SAID FORMER PRIME MINISTER MECIAR 
TREATED RUSSIA VERY FAVORABLY AND THERE ARE SUSPICIONS THAT HE 
SIGNED SECRET MILITARY OR INTELLIGENCE AGREEMENTS WITH MOSCOW. SO
FAR, HE SAYS, NO EVIDENCE OF THAT HAS BEEN FOUND BUT THAT 
INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/PT   

22-Jan-99 8:19 PM EST (0119 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.