Foreign Ministry: Detained Slovak Citizen Returning from Israel to Slovakia

Bratislava, 6 October (TASR) - Peter Svestka, a Slovak national detained in connection with the interception of Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, has been released and is currently returning from Israel to Slovakia, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Monday. Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said that "Slovakia, along with Greece, is the first European country to have arranged repatriation in this case using its own resources". According to him, a Defence Ministry aircraft is currently en route to Bratislava with Svestka and citizens of other countries on board. "Slovakia has made its capacities available for returning nine other detained nationals of the Netherlands, Canada and the United States, once again confirming our position as a respected and reliable partner," added Blanar. After making the necessary arrangements over the the past weekend, the operation was jointly carried out by the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministries. Slovak diplomacy became involved immediately after Svestka was detained last week, and Blanar also praised the prompt and professional actions of the Slovak Embassy in Tel Aviv. "Our ambassador to Israel, Barbara Mestanova, along with her team at the embassy, did everything possible. Slovak diplomacy actively communicated with Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Israeli ambassador to Slovakia and all parties involved in the case," said Blanar. Communication regarding Svestka's return was complicated due to the Yom Kippur holiday and the Sabbath. Nonetheless, Ambassador Mestanova held talks at the detention centre where Svestka was being held, and also met him in person. "He received adequate care during his detention," stated the ministry, adding that its representatives were in contact with Svestka's family throughout the process and provided the necessary consular assistance. Participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla's initiative, which Israel has described as a "media stunt", attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and break Israel's blockade on the Palestinian enclave, which has been in place since 2007. The Israeli Navy have intercepted all of the flotilla's vessels to date, detaining more than 400 activists. In recent days, Israel has subsequently deported over a hundred of them to Turkey. jrg/df