Nad Calls on MPs to Approve Accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO ASAP

Bratislava, September 14 (TASR) - Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) has called on Parliament to discuss and approve the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO as soon as possible. "Slovakia is among the last five countries that haven't ratified it. It's beginning to look very bad," stressed the minister. Nad claimed that he's been contacted recently by the Swedish and Finnish embassies in Slovakia as well as the respective defence ministers of the two countries. "It is extremely important that we don't bring shame upon our country, that we initiate a parliamentary session and vote on this matter and the participation of Slovak soldiers in the NATO unit that is operating in Slovakia," said Nad. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Rastislav Kacer noted that this isn't creating a positive image of Slovakia abroad. He stressed that ratification by Slovakia is necessary for the two Nordic countries to progress in the NATO accession process. "We are unnecessarily causing delays for them and stalling," said Kacer. zel/df