Opposition Criticises Blanar for Holding Talks with Russian Minister (2)

Bratislava, 20 August (TASR) - The opposition on Thursday criticised Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) for holding talks with Russian Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov. The ministers discussed the resumption of activities by the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation between Slovakia and Russia. Several parties have pointed out that the meeting took place on a day when a Russian attack on Ukraine left 13 people killed and dozens more injured. At a press conference on Thursday, Progressive Slovakia (PS) Vice-chair Ivan Korcok criticised the minister and the government, stating that Slovak foreign policy and diplomacy are asleep at the wheel. "The Russians bomb a children's hospital in Ukraine, the government doesn't even take notice, and on the very same day, the very same day, they hold talks with the Russian government, that is, with those who are killing people in Ukraine, about cooperation. I don't know on whose behalf they are doing this, but I'm already horrified by this complete loss of touch with reality," said Korcok, adding that they should at least have remained quiet. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) considers Blanar's meeting to be utterly unacceptable. Party leader Branislav Groehling pointed out that the meeting took place just a few days after the security scandal involving Russian components in traffic cameras. "The National Security Bureau has confirmed a security breach, but instead of [Premier Robert] Fico's [Smer-SD] government taking appropriate measures following such an incident, Juraj Blanar is already preparing further cooperation with Russia. What further evidence does this government need to realise that Russia is a security threat today?" asked Groehling. The Christian Democrats (KDH) also take a negative view of the commission itself. According to them, the government is behaving like a Russian accomplice. They are calling for the commission's preparations to be halted, and they consider it to be unacceptable for the government to deepen cooperation with Putin's regime at a time when Russian cyber and intelligence activities targeting Slovakia are being confirmed. "When Russian actors attack our systems, the government remains silent. When technologies containing Russian components find their way into state projects, the government makes excuses. And now Minister Blanar is announcing further economic and technological cooperation with Russia. In other words, with a regime whose security services are attacking our critical infrastructure and spying on our territory," stated MEP Miriam Lexmann (KDH). Russian missile strikes in Ukraine on Thursday night left at least 13 people dead and 40 injured, according to emergency services. Romania and Poland responded to the Russian strikes by raising their alert levels. Blanar reported on Thursday that he'd held a preparatory online video conference with Falkov. The meeting concerned the upcoming Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation between Slovakia and Russia. The leaders of both countries agreed to resume the commission's activities during talks between Prime Minister Robert Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2025. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraph 5. am/df