PS Calls on Government to Stop Gambling with Country's Defence and Security

Bratislava, 25 June (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has called on the government to stop gambling with Slovakia's defence and security, stressing that Slovakia has no alternative to NATO, PS presidium member and former foreign affairs minister Ivan Korcok told a news conference on Wednesday. "We're calling on the government to actually stop gambling with the most important thing that Slovakia and its citizens expect from it, which is defence and security," said Korčok. Korcok stressed the need to realise at what time and in what global situation the summit in the Hague is taking place. According to him, Slovakia has no alternative to NATO and to collective defence, meaning defence guaranteed by all member states. Any other alternative would be more expensive, weaker and less effective, stated Korcok, calling it a dangerous illusion. He views the increase in defence spending as a manifestation of recognition of reality and a bill that needs to be paid for Russian aggression and the changed security environment. Concerning the Slovak delegation at the summit, he noted that Slovakia has never sat at the NATO table as alone as now, with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini leaving for the negotiations without government's support and at the same time criticised by one of the coalition partners. Korcok stated that Slovakia is perceived as a disoriented country that doesn't know where it belongs, and as a risky member. He also criticised Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statements about neutrality. ko/mcs