Cooperation in economy and transport prevailed in talks between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer in Vienna on Tuesday. Both heads of governments informed about their outcome at a subsequent joint news conference.
Chancellor Gusenbauer said that in the question of highway tolls Slovakia supports the Austrian model that favors protection of the environment over interests of transport companies. He confirmed the day for opening of a highway connection between the capitals of both counties on November 19 of this year. Prime Minister Fico spoke about continued talks with the Austrian side about a common project of using the airport in Bratislava. A joint venture could be a feasible possibility. "Nothing is ready yet, work groups are still discussing a form. We must be convinced that potential cooperation with the airport in Vienna would be favorable," he said and reiterated that the Slovak government will not consider privatization of the airport.
Chancellor Gusenbauer confirmed Austrian support of Slovakia's entry into the Schengen system of border controls and offered to share its experience with introduction of the European common currency the euro. Concerning plans of the Slovak government to build two nuclear reactor units at its NPP Mochovce and one in NPP Jaslovske Bohunice, Chancellor Gusenbauer repeated the negative attitude of the Austrian government and its population toward the use of nuclear energy in Austria. In case of new Slovak nuclear capacities, Austria will insist on the maximum level of safety and exchange of information. "That belongs to good neighborhood relations," he said.
The agenda of Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico official visit to Austria also includes talks with the Austrian Speaker of Parliament, Barbara Prammer, and President Heinz Fischer. Agenda of their talks should have covered possibilities of development of regional and cross-border cooperation, cooperation in trade, science, the energy industry, as well as in other areas.
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