"Albania knows what is required and which steps are necessary to be done by the country to successfully make progress on its way as candidate country to the EU. Having this on our mind Slovakia is very actively supporting Albania within the integration process in many spheres and willingly sharing its own practical experiences," the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Albania, Milan Ciganik has said.
In an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News commemorating the National Day of his country, Mr. Ciganik dwelt at length on the historical event of the establishment of the Slovak Republic and the legal formation of the statehood.
"It was not an easy work... The process of dissolutions of the common state after more than 70 years and separation of two very close nations was not simple and also from the point of view of human and social relations it was painful," the Ambassador said, insisting that what is substantial and significantly important is the reality that Czechs and Slovaks managed all those processes and inevitable decisions in peaceful and cooperative way.
Read the following interview:

- Would you be so kind to brief ADN's readers on the history of the Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic? Which is the significance of this historic event for your country and people?
- After the fall of the communist regime (1989) a complicated and challenging period of the further development of the common state started. In general, it was related not only to the framework of the economic and political direction in the future, to foreign policy matters, but also to the question of further legal formation of our statehood. During this newly born historical epoch, the years between 1989 and 1992 could be characterized as a period of looking for a new form of the state organization between Czechs and Slovaks. It was not an easy work. After the election in 1992, both political representations, meaning Czech and Slovak Governments, after long lasting consultations and negotiations came to common understanding to solve the existing crises in the same way as the Czechoslovak Republic had been established (1918), e.g. by adopting of constitutional law on the dissolution of the common state.
The significance of this historical event lies in the fact, that we, Slovaks, have our state, a sovereign country, which has been recognized by the world. We have very good partners and really extraordinary good relations with our Czech neighbors. Both our countries understand each other, cooperate together and support each other in many areas and various matters of global development in the surrounding world.

-Your Excellency, the disbandment of Czechoslovakia, an event dubbed as the 'Velvet Divorce', established officially the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. It was an amicable separation and both countries remain close partners. Which is the message that such an historical development carries at international level?
- The message is clear and strong. The process of dissolutions of the common state after more than 70 years and separation of two very close nations was not simple and also from the point of view of human and social relations it was painful. Both our nations step up into the unknown route in 1992 and 1993. What is substantial and significantly important, is the reality that Czechs and Slovaks managed all those processes and inevitable decisions in peaceful and cooperative way, with a respect to each other and with an interest to contribute to the positive understanding of the reasons of our common sovereign decision.
Internationally and historically our case can be seen as a very positive example how two neighboring peoples or nations can come together (Czechoslovakia - 1918) to live together and also they can separate from each other (Czech and Slovak Republics -1993), based on their own will with respect, dignity and with foreseeing good and friendly cooperation in the future.

- How has the National Day been celebrated in your country and which have been some of the attractions of the commemoration of this Day?
- We are very lucky, because every year the whole country can celebrate and commemorate this historical event (1 January 1993) during the same date when we celebrate New Year�s Day, which always means starting of the New Year and a new chapter in the history of Slovakia.

- Mr. Ambassador, how would you describe the relations between Albania and Slovakia? Which are some of the fields being more efficient for further fostering the bilateral cooperation?
- Slovakia and Albania have established very good bilateral cooperation in the course of the last 25 years. We did not start from the scratch due to the fact that it was possible to take same experiences, especially in the field of trade and economic partnership from the period of existence of the former Czechoslovakia. Currently we both work on the improvement of existing relations with the aim to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various segments, intensify the political dialog and share our Slovak experiences regarding the EU integration process. Slovakia has gathered and explored many valuable experiences on its way and development. We stand ready to share all what is useful and practical for our partners. Exchange of visits and practical consultations between our countries is considered as very effective way how to share first-hand experience and required knowledge sharing in both-way direction between our countries.
- Slovakia has been supportive to Albania in its drive to join the European Union. This support has taken greater dimensions in the frame of the Visegrad Group part of which your country is. Can you please provide some information in what way Slovakia is supporting Albania to get along with the procedures of the EU integration?
- Slovakia, like other European countries which joined the EU recently, has very unique experience of being part of integration process and at the same time implementing inevitable social and economic transformation. In the case of Slovakia, in addition, we have been building our new statehood. All of this helped us and gave us excellent practical know-how, very accurate for countries in similar situation.
Integration into the EU is a very well designed process and all involved are aware of their roles and needed activities or processes. For sure, Albania knows what is required and which steps are necessary to be done by the country to successfully make a progress on its way as candidate country to the EU.
Having this on our mind Slovakia is very actively supporting Albania within the integration process in many spheres and willingly sharing its own practical experiences. Just to mention few of them, there are very useful exchanges of experts between Slovakia and Albania in the field of economy, trade, agriculture, SME, Start-up agenda. Many projects have been focused towards orientation and preparation for accession negotiations, once they will be open. Very practical cooperation between Slovak and Albanian parliament institutions has been developed to enhance their effectiveness and capacity.

- Mr. Ambassador, how can you evaluate the situation in the Western Balkans and do you think that the 'Berlin Process' would contribute to the strengthening of stability and peace as well as the overall cooperation among the regional countries?
- The Western Balkans is European region and as such is under the spot lights of the European Union. Stability of the region is a must. It is without any doubt, that significant progress and great portion of stability have been achieved in the course of previous period. These developments need to be supported and secured to become sustainable. We have observed during last couple of years that the region, under some circumstances, could have tendencies to boil up.
You mentioned the 'Berlin Process', which during successive summits since 2014 is maintaining a focus on the region and bringing all the leaders of the Western Balkan countries around the same table. Discussions have given priority to economic cooperation within the region, which by effective adoption and implementation could have positive and multiple effect on stability, cooperation and peace in the region.