Monitor: Michelko: Europe Has No Clear Plan to Resolve Russia-Ukraine Conflict

(TA3,'V politike', 20 September) Europe has no clear political plan for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) MP Roman Michelko said on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday. Also on the show, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Beata Jurik believes that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has once again attacked Slovakia's allies with his remarks on the war in Ukraine. According to her, NATO's Article 5 is the best security guarantee for Slovakia. Junior coalition Voice-SD party MP Peter Kalivoda believes that Fico was merely warning against escalation and calling for peace initiatives. Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Alojz Hlina said that those who want to reap the benefits of NATO's Article 5 must also be prepared to pay the price. Regarding this week's vote in Parliament that approved the deployment of up to 101 troops of the Slovak Armed Forces to support the protection of allies' airspace on NATO's eastern flank as part of the Eastern Sentry activity, Michelko called this vote an empty gesture. In this context, Hlina asked whether SNS is terminating the coalition agreement over the vote to send troops to the Baltic States, while Jurik believes that it's necessary for Slovakia to strengthen its position in defending NATO's eastern flank in this way as well. The discussion also touched on Environment Minister Tomas Taraba's (an SNS nominee) return to Parliament. Kalivoda does not believe that Voice-SD MP Peter Slysko would join Taraba, admitting that his party did not ask Slysko about it. Likewise, he has no information suggesting that Taraba is "hunting" for Voice-SD MPs, but he considers Taraba to be a good minister. Michelko believes that Taraba will remain isolated in Parliament, with Hlina stating that Taraba doesn't have many options there. Hlina also said that Taraba was finished and that there's no point in negotiating with him. In Jurik's opinion, the opposition will not negotiate with Taraba. She added that President Peter Pellegrini will appoint current Deputy Environment Minister Filip Kuffa to the post if Fico tells him to do so. The politicians also commented on the indictment faced by the mother of PS chair Michal Simecka. Jurik believes that the case has nothing to do with PS or its chairman and that it is being politically exploited. Michelko rejects this view; however, he wouldn't describe it as a case directly linked to PS, but as a case backed by the facts. According to Hlina, it will be of no benefit to either PS or the opposition, but the party will still have to deal with it. jrg