Premier Ready to Sign Agreement to Scrap Sunday Debates (2)

Bratislava, May 4 (TASR) - I'm ready to sign an agreement with all political party chairmen to cancel Sunday political talk shows, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Sunday, adding that the quality how presenters are prepared and the content of the debates don't correspond to what people in Slovakia deserve in terms of political discussion. "I believe that Sunday should really be a day of calm. If we could agree on that, political discussions could take place during the week. Why shouldn't a show that is called 'Five Minutes to Twelve' be 'Five Minutes to Eight'? It could be broadcasted on Monday nights on STVR 2. Markiza, JOJ, everyone else, TA3 - you can do TV debates in the evenings. But the state in which society is, in my opinion, doesn't allow us to continue with the aggression we perceive, even on Sundays," said Fico. The prime minister stated that he's interested in continuing to hold Sunday press conferences. "I have my own reasons for this. Because whether or not I'm sitting in a talk show, my name is always mentioned and criticised 100 times," he pointed out. The premier also confirmed at the press conference that he'll travel to Moscow for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rejecting Russian President Vladimir Putin's unilateral decree for a ceasefire during the celebrations. Fico described Zelenskyy's words that Kiev couldn't ensure the safety of politicians attending the celebrations in Moscow as a threat. "I reject such threats on security grounds. I fully respect that the security of those involved is an internal matter of the Russian Federation," he noted. According to him, the Ukrainian president is "mixing" the past with the present. "I understand that there is a war, we were clear about that war, it is a violation of international law, but I won't mix the present time with what happened between 1941-1945," he said. According to him Zelenskyy cares about the continuation of the war, he thinks that by agreeing with the USA on the exploitation of mineral wealth he has "bought the war" which may lead to an escalation of tensions. In response to a journalist's question, Fico also commented on the state of his health. He said that the fact that he had recently cancelled his work schedule was related to his health after the assassination attempt, which sometimes limits him. "There are certain things that are connected with the assassination attempt that at some point prevent me from completing a four-hour journey in a car," said Fico. However, he added that he is physically able to continue doing his job. am