President: I Want to Visit Kiev with Only Positive Message

(JOJ 24,'Politika 24', 1 June) I want to visit Kiev with a positive message or result, President Peter Pellegrini said on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, adding that if the visit is to be only formal, he isn't interested in such a trip. "I'm ready to travel to Kiev when the content of our trip is prepared in such a way that the result will be an agreement that will benefit not only Ukraine but also Slovakia," noted Pellegrini, adding that he often meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The head of state, as he said, is a proponent of making foreign affairs policy oriented in all four cardinal directions, explaining that the better relations Slovakia has with the big EU countries, the better it will be able to change their decisions. "All that we're fighting for in a sovereign foreign policy can also be done at a high level of friendship and goodwill. It doesn't always have to be a duel," said Pellegrini who is convinced that sovereign foreign policy can be done in a way that Western leaders will also regard Slovakia as a good partner and friend. The head of state also commented on the mission of MEPs to Slovakia, who, according to him, have the right to come here. "It's true that missions to Slovakia have become such a strange tradition, when they come here to observe the situation hypercritically. I'm not sure if they have the same critical eye on other countries where things are also not exactly the most positive," stated the president, noting that he often has reservations about the composition of delegations. He perceives that missions from the EU are sometimes more political than technical. In connection with the decline in the voter support for the Voice-SD party, of which Pellegrini was the chair, he said it was logical and pointed out that it was expected after his election as president. He advised the leadership to monitor whether this trend is continuing or whether it'll stop. "The party must do everything possible to stop the decline," he noted. am