MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 21 February 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 20 February): BRATISLAVA/WASHINGTON - The Board of Peace is currently the only relevant initiative capable of establishing a peaceful settlement in the Gaza Strip and the entire Middle East, said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), who attended its inaugural session in Washington on Thursday (19 February) as an observer, TASR has learnt from the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communication department. Blanar reiterated that the Slovakia hasn't accepted membership in the Board of Peace, whose establishment was initiated by US President Donald Trump. However, an observer status gives Slovakia the opportunity to monitor all important activities related to the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution of last November, while also contributing to them, as action is necessary in order to achieve peace, stated the minister. "The Slovak Government has been supporting this peace initiative from the outset and, in our opinion, the only correct and final solution to the Israeli–Palestinian issue is a two-state solution," stated Blanar. On the sidelines of the session in Washington, Blanar held several bilateral meetings with leaders and ministers from around the world, which he also used to discuss support for Slovakia's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. NEW DELHI - Slovak President Peter Pellegrini was received by Indian Premier Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. This was the first time in history that a Slovak head of state has been received at the residence of the Indian premier. "I'm pleased that we've used this moment to strengthen our relations and inject new energy into delivering concrete results," the Slovak president has posted on a social network, adding that trade relations between Slovakia and India are growing very dynamically. Pellegrini and Modi concurred that this growth should continue and that they want to support new investments, business ties and projects with higher-added value so that the cooperation will be translated into jobs and technological development. They also spoke about Slovakia's potential to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. "We stand on stable low-carbon energy and are developing our own computing capacities. We also agreed to strengthen exchanges of experiences, experts and students in order to connect people, universities and companies," noted Pellegrini. According to him, it's been confirmed that India is a strategic partner of Slovakia. WASHINGTON - Slovakia and the United States have strong interpersonal ties, which both nations can build on even today, stated Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), who visited the final resting places of Slovak diplomat and politician Stefan Osusky and US soldier of Slovak origin Michal Strenk during his US trip, TASR learnt from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday. "It's important that we should recall significant figures of our nation, such as Stefan Osusky, to whom we owe a debt for negotiating the terms of the Trianon Peace Treaty at the time when the first Czechoslovak Republic was set up. We're therefore grateful for everything he did for us," said Blanar at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington. The minister also pointed out that many Slovaks worked in Slovak and then Czechoslovak diplomacy, and their legacy should be constantly recalled. At Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, Blanar honoured the memory of Michal Strenk, a native of the Slovak village of Jarabina. He served in the Marine Corps and, along with his comrades, raised the victory flag on the top of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The photograph of this historic moment later became the subject of a US Marine Corps memorial and the template for the creation of an official postage stamp. "It's an iconic photograph that symbolises the fight against Nazism and fascism to this day. These are also the roots of Slovakia, recalling the historical anti-fascist connection between Slovakia and the United States, which we can build on today," stressed Blanar. BRATISLAVA - Junior governing Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko has urged Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to set up an analytical team in Slovakia to review files related to the case of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "I'm disappointed that I have had to repeatedly call on the Interior Ministry and its head Sutaj Estok to carry out checks via an analytical team, like has been the case in Poland and Germany, on all information related to Slovakia," said Danko in a video posted on a social network. He pointed out that Slovakia is mentioned more than 700 times in the files and claimed that money flowed into Slovakia from Epstein. Danko defended his public call by stating that he hasn't received any understanding from Sutaj Estok or Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) concerning this matter. "I think that the Slovak police should find out who is mentioned in the files, what was happening here, whether underage children were also being sent from Slovakia, who was receiving money and for what, and on what grounds a girl from Belarus, who inherited money from Epstein, has Slovak citizenship," he stated. He called on the public to help to apply pressure in favour of setting up an analytical team. ORNSKOLDSVIK - British-Swedish arms producer BAE Systems Hagglunds presented a new version of the CV9035 MkIV combat vehicle manufactured for the Slovak armed forces in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden on Friday, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent. Slovakia expects to receive 152 vehicles, and the army might receive the first of them as early as this year. The presentation of the new tracked vehicle was also attended by Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD). He highlighted that Slovakia managed to negotiate better terms for the contract, noting that Slovak companies are involved in the production process as well. He gave the example of a company called Koval Systems, the manufacturer of the turret with its 35-millimeter cannon. "Thanks to this, it's already taken part in other contracts that Hagglund is concluding with other countries," he said. Kalinak stated that Slovakia now needs to procure tanks as well. "The question is whether we'll build them on classic main battle tank chassis, a heavy 70-tonne one, or choose a lighter version for our mountainous country. First of all, it will be half as cheap and, of course, much more mobile," explained the minister. BRATISLAVA - According to European and US sanctions, the Slovnaft refinery and its Hungarian parent MOL Group may import Russian oil by sea if the Druzhba pipeline isn't operational, Slovnaft spokesperson Anton Molnar stated on Friday in response to statements by Croatian economy minister Ante Susnjar, adding that the same rule also applies to Croatia. MOL, in cooperation with Slovnaft, is currently working towards obtaining oil from the widest possible range of sources, said Molnar. "We've ordered supplies from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kazakhstan and Libya. The first tankers will arrive in Omisalj [the Croatian terminal] at the beginning of March," said Molnar, adding that the refinery is also using strategic reserves. "Thanks to diversified sources, we're able to maintain security of supply in the region even in this situation, but at the same time we're asking our Croatian partners for support by allowing the transit of all supplies," stated Molnar. jrg