Blanar: Voting for Sanctions against Russia in Line with Government Manifesto

(JOJ 24,'Politika 24', May 25) Voting for the 17th package of sanctions against Russia was in line with the government manifesto, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) said on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday. Blanar stressed that the coalition parties committed in the manifesto to supporting sanctions as long as they don't violate Slovakia's interests. He thinks that coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko, who criticised the minister for supporting the sanctions, must understand this as well. Blanar said that he has communicated the issue with Danko and will continue to do so. "The definition is clear: as long as the sanctions don't harm the interests of Slovakia, meaning its economy or living standards of its citizens, we will vote for them," explained Blanar, adding that all the coalition parties gave him the mandate to back the sanctions by signing the government manifesto. The sanctions are always communicated in advance with the ministries concerned, he said. At the same time, Blanar respects that Danko wanted to express his political stance on the issue. "We are ready to discuss those things," said the minister. Blanar didn't want to comment on SNS's opinion that Slovakia has the right to demand financial compensation from Ukraine, nor on the party's call on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to take action in this matter. "I won't comment on the efforts of the partner, who revealed them sooner than we had a chance to discuss them," stated Blanar, adding that he is interested in addressing the things in a pragmatic manner. At the same time, he announced that another Slovak-Ukrainian government session is being prepared. "We suggested that it could be held in Slovakia," he said. The minister also reacted on this week's criticism by PS member and ex-minister of foreign affairs Ivan Korcok. Among other things, Korcok criticised Blanar for not attending the celebrations of the victory over fascism in Lviv. Blanar said that he wanted to take part in the celebrations at home, in Slovakia and that Slovakia was represented in Lviv by the ministry's state secretary. ko