The czech republic. Petr Pavel elected president-elect. Ukraine, Poland, Visegrad Group and NATO – interview

President-elect Czech In the first interview for PAP and Polish Radio after the election, Petr Pavel said that he had a conversation with the president Andrzej Duda. – He himself expressed interest in meeting as soon as possible, even if informally. He even mentioned the possibility of a tripartite meeting with the president Lithuania. I am of course open to any meeting, formal or informal. My intentions regarding the second official foreign trip, the goal of which would be Poland, are valid – declared Pavel.

He added that this is not due to the problems that would arise in relations between our countries. – I would rather use such a visit to reassure our friends in Poland and the Baltic states that nothing has changed in the perception of allied obligations by the Czech Republic. We consider the principle of solidarity as part of collective defense to be crucial for our security, he said, referring to the speech of his competitor in the election campaign of Andrej Babisz, in which he stated that he would not send Czech soldiers to help attacked Poland or the Baltic states.

The president-elect emphasized that he was proud that Poland and the Czech Republic were among the countries that first decided to help Ukraine and they are still at the forefront in this regard.

The Czech Republic is also connected with Poland by the issue of reducing dependence on Russian raw materials. Pavel also drew attention to the topic of the Visegrad Group and preparations for the summit, common to Poland and the Czech Republic FOR THIS in Vilnius. – It is important that we have a common position – as much as possible. We will talk about all this in the future as well. I would say there are a whole range of themes,” he said.

Answering the question about spending on the army, which Poland wants to have at the level of 4 percent. GDP, which in the Czech Republic did not reach the declared 2 percent, this former high-ranking military officer of the Czech army and NATO declared that allied obligations should be fulfilled. He added that since the NATO summit in Wales in 2014, he had been in favor of adopting a clear plan, according to which the Czech Republic would reach this level.

– I have repeatedly criticized the previous governments that we had during these 10 years, which did not have a specific, clear plan. When I headed the NATO Military Committee, I repeatedly advocated that all member countries that have not yet fulfilled this commitment should prepare concrete plans, inform when and how they will be able to implement them. I am very glad that the current Czech government has presented a draft law that contains a clear commitment to allocate 2 percent of GDP to defense, said the president-elect and declared that if the parliament adopts such a law, he will sign it immediately.

– I think that it is one of the tasks and duties of the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to do everything in his power to ensure the country’s defense capabilities, including the fulfillment of allied obligations – he told Polish media.

Pavel reminded that, being the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army, he practically participated in the implementation of the Visegrad Group format (apart from Poland and the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary belong to it).

– I noticed that we planned some activities only to have a work schedule. The practical benefits weren’t that great, which is a pity. At the same time, it does not mean that I would like to criticize the V4 at all costs. My skeptical opinion does not immediately mean that I would propose the liquidation of the Visegrad Group. When I talked about it, it was the last option that can be reached only after all other ones that do not lead to the goal have been exhausted. It is always easier to eliminate something than to create it, noted the president-elect of the Czech Republic, which on July 1 this year. will take over the presidency of the V4.

He also referred to statements in the election campaign about the enlargement of the Visegrad Group to include the Baltic states, Romania and Bulgaria, or about the possible withdrawal of the Czech Republic from the V4.

– This is a matter of completely open, pragmatic cooperation, which will not be critical at all costs, but will not console itself with the fact that the very existence of the V4 makes sense. This meaning should be specific content, specific benefit, he stated and added that the V4 should not be perceived as a tool of opposition to the rest of Europe.

– Perhaps we should take advantage of the momentum brought by support for Ukraine and a very progressive approach, for example in terms of security on the continent, and become a kind of driving force for change in the European Union within the region. I think so, because in my opinion a lot of positive things come from our part of Europe at the moment – said Pavel.