Sutaj: Both Manifesto and Memorandum Are Clear Slovakia Is EU and NATO Member

Bratislava, 18 June (TASR) - The government manifesto and the memorandum of the three most senior constitutional officials make it clear that Slovakia is a member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is its security space, said Interior Minister and Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok before the government meeting in response to Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), who said on Tuesday (17 June) that neutrality would suit Slovakia. "I perceive this to be the personal opinion of the prime minister, but I guarantee you that as long as Voice-SD is part of this government, nothing will change in our foreign affairs policy oriented in all four cardinal directions with clear anchoring in the EU and NATO," said Sutaj Estok. Meanwile, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) stated that there's nothing wrong with statements about neutrality. Takac thinks that Slovakia would benefit from neutrality and that if other countries can do it, so could Slovakia. He also claimed that 5 percent of GDP on defence is an extreme expenditure. "Few people can imagine those billions of euros. I wonder if it isn't better to put this money into education, health care, roads, communications," said Takac, adding that it remains to be seen how the situation in NATO will develop. am/df