State Repatriation Flights Bring over 100 Citizens Back to Slovakia on Tuesday

Bratislava, 3 March (TASR) - Two state repatriation flights have brought more than 100 Slovak citizens and three Czech nationals back to Slovakia from the Middle East, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD), Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) and Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marek Estok told a press conference after the planes landed on Tuesday. Both the Spartan military aircraft and the government Airbus transported people from Jordan. Sutaj Estok announced that the Interior and Defence Ministries are preparing further flights for this week. "A total of ten repatriation flights have been approved to date. Six of these are being handled by the Interior Ministry's air fleet. The other four are being provided by the Defence Ministry," said Sutaj Estok, adding that the ministry is prepared to increase the number. According to him, the pressure on the Foreign Affairs Ministry is great and it is not possible to evacuate every Slovak national back to the country via a government repatriation flight. "I want to guarantee that we'll do our utmost to help as many people as possible until the no-fly zone currently in place over the affected area is lifted and Slovaks are able to return to the Slovak Republic on standard commercial flights," he said. The defence minister pointed out that the state is currently facing problems in obtaining overflight permits. Due to security risks in these countries, air traffic is restricted. The ministry has moved its military aircraft to Cyprus, from where they can respond more flexibly. "For all those who are in the Emirates, the basic rule applies that unless the airspace is open, it isn't possible to enter it, while the United Arab Emirates itself takes care of tourists and ensures their safety," added Kalinak. State Secretary Estok confirmed that repatriation flights to Oman are also planned. Women, children under 12, and sick people will be given priority. 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