President: Rejecting Pandemic Cooperation Irresponsible

Bratislava, 19 May (TASR) - It is irresponsible to voluntarily limit access to the latest scientific information and prevent active collaboration with developed countries in the event of a future pandemic, stated President Peter Pellegrini in response to Slovakia's stance against supporting the pandemic agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, TASR learnt from the President's Office's communications department on Monday. "Slovakia is voluntarily limiting its access to sharing scientifically verified information with the world's most advanced countries on how to best manage a potential future pandemic," the president stressed, adding that none of the developed countries that people in Slovakia rightly look to for inspiration in health care, such as Switzerland, sees the pandemic agreement as an infringement of their sovereignty. "I'm disappointed that, for the sake of a few domestic political points, we're unnecessarily risking Slovakia's international reputation and closing the path to better health protection for our people," the head of state added. According to the president, the pandemic agreement is a global tool for better managing future pandemic threats, not a means of limiting Slovak sovereignty. Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has announced that the government has decided that the Slovak delegation won't support the pandemic agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva and should request a vote instead of global consensus. Health Minister Kamil Sasko disagrees with the decision, highlighting the treaty's benefits and stating that it doesn't limit any country's sovereignty or its freedom to decide how to respond to a pandemic. The 78th session of the World Health Assembly is taking place in Geneva from 19 to 27 May. The wording of a pandemic agreement aimed at better preparing for and combating pandemics has been under negotiation for several years. lin/df