MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 9 a.m.
20. mája 2025 9:00
TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, May 19):
BRATISLAVA - The coalition Smer-SD party strictly rejects the current wording of the pandemic agreement, as its members believe that the agreement doesn't take into account the basic comments of Slovakia, undermines its sovereignty and will create chaos and ambiguity, TASR has learnt from the party's press department.
"Comments based on the protection of fundamental human rights and the sovereignty of Slovakia have been disregarded, making the agreement a threat to our national interests and citizens' freedoms," stated the party. During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures were often enforced under pressure from international organisations and restricted people's fundamental rights and freedoms, opined Smer-SD.
BRATISLAVA - 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.
BRATISLAVA - World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asked Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) by telephone on Monday to take action so that the Slovak government will change its stance and not demand a vote on the pandemic agreement that is set to be held in the evening, TASR has learnt from Fico's post on a social network.
The premier reiterated that the Slovak delegation is bound by the instructions of the Slovak government to demand a vote on the pandemic agreement.
The prime minister expressed his astonishment that attempts have been made to avoid the basic democratic institution of voting. "If the vote takes place, the Slovak delegation is instructed not to support the pandemic agreement because it violates the principle of the sovereignty of member states and disproportionately interferes in the sphere of human rights," stated Fico.
BRATISLAVA - The State Veterinary and Food Administration (SVPS) will relax some of the measures against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease as of Wednesday (May 21).
Among other things, vets will lift the ban on transporting susceptible animals throughout Slovakia and will allow all zoos to open, according to an announcement published by SVPS on its website.
The ban on the import of animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease originating from farms in another zone in Hungary, which was declared restricted by a European Commission Regulation of 27 April 2025, will remain in place until 30 May. Restrictions concerning checks, records and hygiene regarding entry to farms that breed susceptible animals will also remain in force.
BEIJING - During his visit to China on Monday, Parliamentary Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) met with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, TASR has learnt from Xinhua News Agency and the Slovak Parliament Office's communications department on Monday.
The Slovak House chair confirmed at the meeting that Slovakia is committed to the one-China policy and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Beijing in various areas, including economy, trade and culture.
Zhao Leji pointed out that Beijing and Bratislava had agreed to upgrade Chinese-Slovak relations to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) visit to China last year. According to Rasi, the Slovak Parliament is ready to deepen exchanges with the Chinese legislature in this regard and to support the development of the strategic partnership to a higher level.
"I see our meeting as an important step towards deepening the parliamentary dimension of the strategic partnership between our countries. The Slovak Republic is interested in transforming political commitments into specific cooperation in all areas. It is the strategic partnership that aims to open doors for our entrepreneurs and also for political, social and cultural meetings," said Rasi, who invited Zhao Leji to visit Slovakia.
In the economic area, the Slovak parliamentary head emphasised Slovakia's interest in more balanced trade and increased exports of Slovak products to China. He also pointed to Slovakia's interest in additional Chinese investments, especially in the areas of research, development and innovation. "We're interested in welcoming more Chinese investments with high added value, especially in research and development centres, innovation and modern technologies," he said, adding that Volvo/Geely in Kosice and Gotion in Surany are key Chinese investments in Slovakia.
BRATISLAVA - In the widely publicised case of the death of a man in Teplicka nad Vahom (Zilina region) in November last year, it has been found that police officers did not act improperly and did not cause his death through the use of a taser, and an investigator from the Internal Affairs Inspectorate halted the investigation on 5 May, TASR learnt from UIS spokesperson Andrea Dobiasova on Monday.
The spokeswoman added that when halting the criminal prosecution, the UIS investigator primarily referred to the conclusions of expert opinions in the field of health care and pharmacy, which indicated that the death was non-violent and caused by medical conditions. "No criminal offence was committed in connection with the official action taken, and no other violation of the law was found on the part of the police officers. The police officers acted in accordance with the principles of legality and proportionality," explained Dobiasova.
BRATISLAVA - In the case of the death of a Ukrainian national who was found in front of a shopping centre in Bratislava at the end of January, there was no violation of his fundamental rights due to the police intervention, Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky stated on the basis of an investigation that he carried out to determine whether the death was caused by the actions of police officers, TASR was told by the ombudsman's spokesman Branislav Gigac on Monday.
The ombudsman also examined the possible use of coercive measures by police officers and to ascertain whether they were justified and suitable. The Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) was requested by the Ombudsman's Office to provide a written opinion on the matter. According to the ombudsman, this opinion shows that the investigation ruled out any involvement by police officers in the man's death. "The Internal Affairs Inspectorate therefore referred the investigation into the circumstances of the death to the Criminal Police Department of the Regional Police Directorate in Bratislava," said the ombudsman.
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