Premier: Neutrality Would Suit Slovakia Most at Present

Bratislava, 17 June (TASR) - Neutrality would suit Slovakia at this time, when arms producers are flourishing and Europe is talking about war, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Tuesday when answering a journalist's question concerning the issue of increasing defence spending. While taking up a restrained stance on the conflict in Gaza and the Israeli-Iranian escalation and emphasising peace and diplomacy, Europe is increasingly provoking the situation in Ukraine into declarations of war and preparations for war, stated Fico. "Where do they want to drag us?", he asked, adding that neutrality would be best for Slovakia in this situation. "However, this decision isn't in my hands," he added. Concerning the round-table debate on increasing defence spending organised by President Peter Pellegrini on Tuesday, the premier once again rejected a sudden increase. If defence spending is to be increased, it needs to be "reasonably spread out over time," stated Fico. At the same time, he advocates the idea of its dual use. President Peter Pellegrini has invited leaders of parliamentary political parties for a meeting on increasing defence spending to 5 percent of GDP on Tuesday afternoon. The proposal should be discussed at the NATO summit in the Hague next week. ko/df