Pellegrini Plans to Invite Parties to Discuss State of Alert Proposal

Bratislava, 18 March (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini plans to invite defence and security experts from individual political parties along with the command of the Slovak armed forces to the Presidential Palace in the near future, so that the army leadership can present the new concept of a state of alert, which Pellegrini believes should be introduced in Slovakia. The president, who announced this at a press conference on Wednesday, also wants the meeting to refute interpretations by some politicians that the move is an attempt by the government to restrict citizens' rights. "I firmly believe that the part of the opposition that cares about the interests of Slovakia and doesn't want to misuse every topic for the sake of political conflict can be convinced of its merits by the armed forces and myself," said Pellegrini. Pellegrini added that he'll try to return the discussion on this issue to a professional and cultivated political level, claiming that the request to introduce the institution of a state of alert came directly from the general staff of the Slovak armed forces. "The chief-of-general-staff has clearly stated that it would concern only professional soldiers, equipment and the ability to deploy our defence systems in a threatened area in order to be ready to intercept flying drones or defend the eastern border in the event of a deteriorating security situation, without Slovakia being in a state of war or under attack," explained Pellegrini. At the same time, he criticised the former government for its inactivity after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, when it knew that the Slovak armed forces were unable in an unclear situation between war and peace to respond to possible overflights of missiles or drones over Slovakia. "The security situation in the world and in Europe is changing. Slovakia and its citizens deserve to have the reassurance that, regardless of what government is in power, the Slovak armed forces can be deployed to defend and protect our homeland even when Slovakia is not yet in a state of war," said the president. Last week, the president, the defence minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko agreed that Slovakia needs to introduce legislation setting up the institution of a state of alert, which would allow the government to use the capacities of the armed forces even in peacetime if the country were threatened. The president noted that such a change would require an amendment to the Slovak Constitution, meaning agreement across the political spectrum. mf/df