President Informed Council of Europe about Slovakia's Stance on Convention (2)

Bratislava, March 5 (TASR) - Following the decision of Parliament, President Zuzana Caputova has sent a letter to the Council of Europe on Thursday, informing it that the Slovak Republic can't become a party to the Istanbul Convention, president's spokesman told TASR, adding that the convention won't be ratified by the president. "Since the necessary condition to ratify the convention is the consent of Parliament, but this hasn't happened, this convention won't be ratified by the president," said Strizinec, adding that Caputova repeatedly stated that if Parliament decides on the convention in a constitutionally prescribed manner, she would respect the will of MPs. The Slovak Parliament in a vote at an extraordinary session in late February rejected the Istanbul Convention. Parliament thus didn't express its approval with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. am/mcs