Blanar: Anniversary of Defeat of Fascism Deserves Respect Anytime and Anywhere

Bratislava, 2 September (TASR) - The anniversary of the defeat of fascism and Nazism deserves respect anytime and anywhere, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) has said in reaction to the opposition's criticism of Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) visit to China, Foreign Affairs Ministry's communication department informed TASR on Tuesday. If the opposition cannot agree on such a value basis, peace means nothing to it at all, stated Blanar. "As I read in the media on Monday (1 September), Progressive Slovakia (PS) presidium member Ivan Korcok described the trip to China as part of Fico's effort to create the appearance of a balanced foreign policy... Well, Progressive Slovakia should first think about what it really wants, and then check statements by its members, so that it doesn't happen that one day it wants to build relations with China, and later it doesn't," said Blanar, adding that Korcok had approved deepening of relations with China in the past. According to Blanar, the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) has lost respect and humility towards all the victims of WWII. The minister declared that he respects all those who fought against fascism and Nazism. The Slovak premier arrived on Tuesday for a three-day visit to China, where he is scheduled to take part in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and hold several bilateral meetings. Progressive Slovakia on Monday called on the premier to cancel his trip to China. KDH also views the trip negatively, claiming that it won't help Slovakia if Fico meets eastern leaders. ko/mcs