Sasko: Slovakia Didn't Vote against Pandemic Agreement, It Allows Further Steps

Bratislava, 20 May (TASR) - Slovakia didn't vote against the pandemic agreement, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) stated on Tuesday in connection with the outcome of the vote at the World Health Organisation (WHO), adding that the fact that Slovakia abstained in the vote, along with ten other countries, provides an opportunity for further active steps. "Despite yesterday's vote, the agreement will continue to be discussed at the WHO, including with Slovakia's participation at the negotiating table," stressed the minister, pointing out that the Slovak representative acted in accordance with the stance agreed by the majority of the Slovak government during the vote. According to him, the final version, ready for ratification by member states, should be ready within 12-18 months. "Only then, after proper negotiations at the international level are concluded, will we as a country adopt a clear position on it, and the final stance on the pandemic agreement will ultimately be decided by the duly elected representatives of Slovak citizens, namely the government, parliament and the president, and no one else. Nobody will impose anything on us," emphasised Sasko. The minister declared that in the coming months he'll patiently explain to the coalition partners and the public that the pandemic agreement doesn't threaten the sovereignty of individual countries and doesn't introduce compulsory vaccination, while it even explicitly rejects restricting the free choice of the individual. "I'll therefore explain that the aim of this agreement is to give member states access to the most up-to-date scientific knowledge, tools and processes on how best to defend against a possible future pandemic," stressed Sasko, adding that he also wants to strongly communicate Slovakia's interest in remaining a country that respects facts and scientifically proven procedures to the rest of the world. The WHO formally adopted an international agreement on the prevention and control of pandemics at its annual meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. The approval of the agreement at Tuesday's meeting of the World Health Assembly was preceded on Monday (19 May) evening by a vote in the assembly's committee A on a resolution recommending that the assembly should adopt the pandemic agreement. The resolution was adopted with the votes of 124 states. No country voted against, but 11 abstained, including, for example, Iran, Israel, Russia, Italy, Slovakia and Poland. am/df