MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, June 15, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, June 14): BRATISLAVA/BRUSSELS - The proposal to increase longstanding NATO financial commitments to Ukraine to about €40 billion annually won't change a thing in terms of Slovakia's current contributions, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) hinted after the end of a two-day summit of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Friday, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared on Thursday (June 13) that the allies should accept longstanding financial commitments to Ukraine worth about €40 billion annually for the military aid alone. Kalinak responded that it's necessary to take into account all of Slovakia's contributions, even those that are part of the EU's European Peace Facility. "We expect that at the end of the day this could range between €50-100 million, depending on the contribution from the United States, which is interested in shouldering half of the total sum. And, of course, we would invest these resources via Slovak producers, who would produce material and resources necessary for the aid for Ukraine," claimed the minister. Kalinak detailed that many other costs borne by the Slovak side should be included into these calculations as well. Once summed up, the costs would add up to a rather similar if not the same sum that Slovakia has already been providing to help Ukraine thus far. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur proposed to bolster NATO member states' military spending from 2 to 2.5 percent of GDP over the war in Ukraine. Kalinak responded by saying that for Slovakia the two percent pose both "the minimum and maximum" for the modernisation of the military. "Today, I think that almost half of the member states don't spend even the two percent, while some are calling for three or even four percent. We've already done many decisions that go against the economic interests of the states and there is no reason for us to ruin ourselves economically even worse," said Kalinak. BRATISLAVA/PRAGUE - Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavsky will visit Slovakia on Tuesday, June 18, to meet with his Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) in Bratislava and discuss Czech-Slovak ties and the situation in Ukraine, TASR learnt from the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday. Lipavsky is also slated to meet acting House Chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD), acting head of government, Vice-premier and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) and new President Peter Pellegrini. In response to the Slovak Government's stance on the war in Ukraine, the Czech Republic has suspended Czech-Slovak intergovernmental consultations since March. The Cabinet of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala cited disapproval of some Slovak foreign policy steps as the reason. In early April, Lipavsky claimed that even though the Czech decision has had an impact on the ties between the two countries, relations are still "very good". BRATISLAVA/STRASBOURG - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg found in favour of Slovak judge Denisa Cvikova on Thursday (June 13) and ruled that her rights to personal freedom were violated by the extended duration of her stay in police custody and awarded her €19,500 in respect of non‑pecuniary damage, plus any tax that may be chargeable, TASR learnt from the court's website on Friday. In March 2020, the Specialised Criminal Court decided to remand in custody judge Cvikova and other Bratislava-based judges, who were charged with corruption, obstruction of justice and interference with court independence. In August of the same year, the court decided to free Cvikova from custody, however, the Supreme Court overruled that decision in October. Cvikova filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court, but it was turned down as well. Cvikova subsequently sought a legal redress over her custody with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that her remand in custody was arbitrary and in the breach of her rights. She also sued for damages. According to the Justice Ministry, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the decision to take the applicant into custody was relevant and justified, without any sign of arbitrariness, in the early stage of the criminal prosecution, but not later, once her appeal was turned down by the Supreme Court. Cvikova's tenure as judge has been suspended, since corruption-related charges were pressed against her during the operation Storm in 2020. BRATISLAVA - Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova wishes Slovakia calmer times, prudent leadership and more humaneness as well as more self-confident and proud people who don't lack humility. Delivering her final public speech on Friday at a farewell ceremony held at the Presidential Garden, Caputova stated it has been an honour for her to serve Slovakia in her 5-year term of office. "My beloved Slovakia! We've gone through five difficult years together. I had a chance to see your pain from up close, but also your joy and the potential in wonderful people who live here. I've seen your beauty and shown it to other foreign statespersons, too. You're divided, hurting, but always, in every difficult time, capable of joining together in humaneness," she stated. The outgoing head of state pointed out that the Slovaks will face a great challenge: to bolster mutual trust and understanding among themselves. She underlined the need for solidarity, tolerance, justice and responsibility. "We must replace monologue with dialogue. Replace prejudice with the effort to listen, perceive and understand," she claimed. At the end of her five years in office, Caputova is leaving with the knowledge that Slovakia's potential is bigger than people realise and she's convinced that Slovakia has reasons to believe in itself. In her speech, she also underlined that she had paid close attention to the protection of constitutionality during her tenure and pointed out that the relevance of presidential arguments was confirmed also by the Constitutional Court. She perceives this as an important contribution to the building of standards of the rule of law. The farewell ceremony was attended by representatives of local authorities, civil society, charity, education, culture and minorities as well as holders of top state awards, successful scientists, athletes, artists and teachers. mf