PS: Premier Fico Not Representing Slovakia in Moscow, His Trip Shameful

Bratislava, May 9 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) isn't representing Slovakia in Moscow; his trip is shameful and a betrayal of Slovakia's interests, even though he says that Slovakia's living space is in the European Union (EU), representatives of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party told a news conference on Friday held in reaction to the premier's trip to Moscow to celebrate the end of WWII there. PS leader and MP Michal Simecka pointed out that Fico was the only leader of a EU country to attend the celebrations. According to Simecka, Thursday's (May 8) public rallies all over Slovakia also attest to the fact that the premier isn't representing Slovakia in Moscow. "This government's foreign policy is pulling us eastwards, outside of Europe, somewhere into the Russian sphere of influence, and we need to formulate a clear political alternative that will defeat this governing coalition and return Slovakia to where it belongs, in Europe," stated Simecka. PS member and ex-minister of foreign affairs Ivan Korcok wondered out loud what EU partners must think about Fico's trip. According to Korcok, Fico has already left the EU in their eyes. "This is a gross violation of Slovakia's interests. This trip is a farce and a theatrical performance for the domestic audience, with Fico ignoring the interests of the Slovak Republic," stated Korcok, adding that the premier is ultimately pulling Slovakia away from the Union. He also criticised Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) for not attending Friday's informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. At the same time, he called on President Peter Pellegrini to comment on the whole situation. ko/df