Blanar: Talks with Trump and Rubio Were Open and Direct

Bratislava/Washington/Palm Beach, 18 January (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) described his Saturday's (17 January) talks with US President Donald Trump and his American counterpart Marco Rubio in Palm Beach, Florida, which he attended together with Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), as very open and direct, Foreign Affairs Ministry's communication department has informed TASR. "The issues we discussed jointly concerned our bilateral relations and diplomacy in foreign policy," said Blanar, adding that diplomacy is needed in every situation. "When it fails, bad solutions often follow, along with the destruction of international rules. Slovak diplomacy supports a policy oriented towards all cardinal directions, and that's also why our steps led to the United States, which is an important partner of Slovakia," stated the minister. As part of Premier Robert Fico’s working trip, the head of Slovak diplomacy took part in the signing of the Slovak-US inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy in Washington on Friday (16 January), along with Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) and Foreign Affairs Ministry's State Secretary Marek Estok. "Slovak diplomacy, together with the Economy Ministry, refined and successfully finalised an agreement between Slovakia and the USA on cooperation in the civil use of nuclear energy, which will lead to mutual cooperation in the construction of a nuclear power unit at Jaslovske Bohunice," stated Blanar. According to Blanar, this is an extremely strategic decision for Slovakia's energy security and an important step for the future. It's a task for every future responsible government elected by the citizens. "This construction will last for several electoral terms, and it must begin already now. Slovakia has all the prerequisites for the success of this demanding strategic project. However, when I read statements by representatives of the opposition, I have doubts about what they would do if they came to power," stated Blanar. Commenting on Donald Trump's threat to impose import tariffs against some European countries in the dispute over Greenland, Blanar said: "Just as some EU member states individually continue to support the prolongation of the military conflict in Ukraine rather than seeking a common peace position at the EU level, just as some leaders want to send their troops to Ukraine, or as countries unprecedentedly recognised the secession of Kosovo from Serbia, this is exactly how it will turn out in terms of the attitude towards Greenland and international law as such". Blanar stressed that Slovakia consistently and in principle advocates compliance with international law, the fundamental principle of which is respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another state. "Based on the application of the same rules and principles of international law, Slovakia considers Greenland to be part of Denmark, Crimea to be part of Ukraine, and Kosovo to be part of Serbia," he said. ko