Korcok: Juraj Blanar Worst Foreign Affairs Minister in Slovakia's History

Bratislava, 28 October (TASR) – The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party considers the performance of Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) to be among the worst in Slovakia's modern history, arguing that Blanar is weakening the country's position in Europe, failing to protect national interests and showing "fundamental diplomatic passivity", accusations that the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry rejects. "Minister Blanar keeps repeating that he's protecting Slovakia's national interests, but in reality, he's doing the exact opposite," said former foreign minister (2020-22) Ivan Korcok of PS. He pointed to what he described as Blanar's "complete diplomatic passivity", claiming that in two years the foreign affairs minister hasn't expressed a single clear stance on key European issues, relying instead on empty phrases and platitudes. Korcok also criticised the fact that Slovakia has found itself "absent from decision-making tables", calling it one of the most serious threats to the country's interests in recent years. He further accused Blanar for undermining Slovak diplomacy from within and systematically dismantling the professional diplomatic service. He noted that 80,000 people have signed a petition urging the minister to stop damaging relations with Slovakia's allies. In response, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry firmly rejected Korcok's statements, calling them "fabrications and misinterpretations". It referred to its two-year performance report presented last week, which it said contains factual evidence and the results of Slovak diplomacy. The ministry pointed out that Blanar has been on an official working visit to France since Monday (27 October). "This only exposes the shallow nature of Korcok's invented claims. When he lacks substance, he fills the public space with manipulative statements about Slovakia allegedly disappearing from the diplomatic map of the world," said the ministry. The ministry reiterated that over the past two years Slovak diplomacy has consistently pursued a sovereign foreign policy based on four key pillars. It emphasised that, under all circumstances, the national interests of Slovakia and its citizens come first. It also highlighted "active diplomacy for citizens", focused on protecting and assisting Slovaks abroad, alongside the defence of national economic and investment interests. "At the same time, we reaffirm Slovakia's position as a reliable international partner in the humanitarian sphere", added the ministry. mf/df