PS Lambasts Gov't for Not Designating Russia as Threat in Its Security Report

Bratislava, June 2 (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has criticised the 2024 Security Report, pointing out that it lacks a clear designation of Russia as a security threat. "Russia isn't mentioned at all, even though the Russian Federation officially considers Slovakia to be a hostile state," stated PS chair and MP Michal Simecka at a press conference on Monday. "And there is no mention of the conflict or the aggression in Ukraine, which has a huge impact on the security of the entire European continent. I don't understand how the person who wrote this document could overlook the fact that just beyond our borders civilians are dying every day under attacks provoked by the Russian regime." According to Simecka, the Slovak government itself represents a security risk to the country, partly due to the isolation into which government representatives are pushing Slovakia. MP Tomas Valasek (PS) pointed out that President Peter Pellegrini signed a declaration last year stating that Russia is a threat to the allies. According to him, the state's security policy thus appears confusing to its allies. He added that every neighbouring country treats the possibility of military confrontation with Russia as a fact and is therefore preparing for it. "The rest of Europe is diligently investing in national defence. Our Defence Ministry – and I emphasise, Defence – has made everything else its priority: luxury jets, bridges, highways and hospitals," he stated, adding that while highways and hospitals are necessary, it's the relevant ministries that should deal with them. Valasek called the financing of such investments from the defence budget an "accounting scam". PS defence collaborator and former diplomat to NATO Peter Bator pointed out that the report also fails to mention that individuals under criminal prosecution are visiting the Government Office and that government officials themselves are being investigated by law-enforcement authorities. The Security Report of the Slovak Republic for 2024 has been submitted by the Government Office for interdepartmental review. According to the report's conclusions, the security situation in the country last year was stable, albeit influenced by attacks, the war in Ukraine and migration. mf/df