Premier: We're Preparing Air Connections for Slovaks in Middle East

Bratislava, 2 March (TASR) - As soon as the flight zone opens up, we'll send flights for Slovak citizens in the Middle East who have expressed interest in this, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated on Monday, declaring that Slovakia is gathering resources and preparing aircraft in this regard. "We have a huge number of people abroad who have travelled there on holiday, but also for work in an area that is currently under great pressure from the military conflict. We're gathering resources, preparing aircraft and arranging flight connections. As soon as the flight zone opens, we'll send flights and gradually withdraw those citizens who have expressed interest in this," said the premier. Fico also warned that the situation regarding oil is escalating dangerously. "While supplies from the East have been halted, we're again seeing further problems in the area of a military conflict. All of this is pushing up the price of oil," he said, adding that the current increase in oil prices is between 7-10 percent. On Saturday (28 February), the United States and Israel launched coordinated massive military action against Iran, killing, among others, the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israel and countries in the Persian Gulf. Air traffic in the region has been significantly restricted or even halted. am/df