Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the US presidential election, saying he believed relations between both countries will further improve.

`Slovakia wants to cooperate with the United States in both NATO and other organisations. It`s very important for us to continue the already good relations,` said Gasparovic, adding Obama`s victory marked the beginning of a new era.

`Prime Minister Robert Fico accepts the results of the presidential election and congratulates the new president on his victory,` Fico`s spokeswoman Silvia Glendova told the TASR agency.

Slovakia`s foreign ministry said Obama`s election will bring new life to transatlantic relations.

`We believe that the new president will, through international cooperation and partnership, help deal with global challenges such as the financial crisis, terrorism, energy safety, global warming, famine and poverty,` the ministry said in a statement.