MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, April 28): BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) will submit messages intended for Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Government Office, with the public invited to contribute, the party leader Branislav Groehling stated at a press conference on Monday. The SaS wants Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to deliver the messages from the public to Putin when he visits Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War II. "Citizens can write messages to Putin over the next week, either on flyers or through our website, sharing their thoughts on him. We'll then collect or print all these messages, and on May 7, deliver them to the Government Office so that Robert Fico, when he goes to Moscow on May 8, can read them and feel the collective shame for what he's about to do," said Groehling. BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) will depart for an informal visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 29, TASR learnt from the Government Office on Monday. The office added that the premier will give a lecture on European and global politics at the student debate association, The Oxford Union Society. "On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, he will pay tribute to the Czechoslovak pilots who fought in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War at the largest military cemetery in Brookwood," the Government Office stated. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Presidential Palace during his official visit to Slovakia on Monday, with their discussions focusing on the development of bilateral relations at the political, economic and cultural levels, TASR learnt from the President's Office communications department on the same day. Pellegrini and Orban confirmed their mutual interest in further developing neighbourly relations. "I see potential for further cooperation with Hungary in the field of energy, as part of our gas supply currently flows through Hungarian territory," said Pellegrini. BRATISLAVA - rime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban signed on Monday a memorandum on cross-border development between Slovakia and Hungary. According to Fico, the official visit confirmed the above-standard friendly relations between the countries, but at the same time also the relations between them personally. The Slovak premier stated that there are currently no outstanding political issues that would disturb the countries. If needed, he said, the prime ministers are ready to sit down and address any disputes. "We exchanged information in the field of nuclear energy, where Slovakia is very far away, because today a substantial part of the electricity we consume in Slovakia is produced in nuclear power plants. I'm glad that there is cooperation between renowned Slovak companies in this field and reputable Hungarian companies in projects of this type, which are being implemented in Hungary," said Fico. BRATISLAVA - The Slovak Republic will never agree to any changes to the fundamental treaties that would lead to the scrapping of the veto of EU member states, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said in response to a journalist's question after the talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Abolishing the veto would be a step towards the scrapping of the EU, according to Fico. "Personally, I also believe that the European Union is a good living space for us, but the development we're currently observing in the European Union is not the most favourable and we'll have to deal with many challenges, such as the issue of scrapping of the veto. I can't imagine that the European Union would function on the principle of decision-making by large powerful states," stated Fico. BRATISLAVA - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) received on Monday representative of the European Commission (EC) in Slovakia Radim Dvorak, with the parliamentary head stressing the firm and stable membership of the Slovak Republic in the European Union (EU), which is the fundamental pillar of the country's foreign and economic policy, TASR was told by the Parliament Office's communications department. "Thanks to its membership in the EU, Slovakia draws significant financial resources, which we invest primarily in the development of the regions. This is how we contribute to balancing regional disparities and improving the quality of life of the people in every part of our country," said Rasi. WARSAW - Slovakia sees the Three Seas Initiative (3SI - 13 states located in the region between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas) as an important opportunity for the development of cooperation between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Jan Kubis, the advisor to President Peter Pellegrini for foreign affairs and international policy issues, stated on Monday in the context of the 3SI summit, which the Slovak head of state is attending on Monday and Tuesday (April 29). On the issue of Ukraine, he said Slovakia, as a member of the EU and NATO, will stick to the positions that have been adopted so far and its positions will be clear and legible. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has requested the postponement of a lecture at a student debating association called the Oxford Union Society, TASR was told by the Government Office's press and information department. The premier had to give priority to Tuesday's (April 29) negotiations with foreign investors ready to support the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region). The Government's Office confirmed that the prime minister will attend the lecture on an alternative date. lin