Slovakia this afternoon appealed to Irish voters to keep the EU enlargement drive on track in the referendum on the Nice Treaty later this month.
The Irish have a duty not just to the EU's existing 15 nations but to aspirant countries like Slovakia, said Foreign Minister Mr Eduard Kukan.
"We watch the Irish debate with great interest and we hope the Irish people will understand their share of responsibility for the future of Europe and the enlargement process," he said.
"I hope the Irish government will do their utmost not to have a negative result this time," Kukan said.
Slovakia is one of 10 countries hoping to join the EU in 2004.
Kukan said that Slovakia's election last month, which saw a pro-European coalition take power despite the electoral success of hardline nationalists, was a vote for progress.
The polls "were a clear vote of continuity for the policy of Slovakia, also with regard to the admission in the EU and NATO", he said.
AFP