Blanar Rejects Opposition Claims of Planned Increase in Russian Diplomats

Bratislava, 15 October (TASR) – Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) rejects opposition claims that the number of Russian diplomats in Slovakia is set to increase, dismissing them as nonsense. Blanar responded this way to a statement issued on Thursday by representatives of the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, who said they had information that Blanar was planning to travel to Moscow for talks on lifting the cap on the number of Russian diplomats in Slovakia. "Slovak opposition parties turn everything upside down, having failed in terms of education to master even the basics. They distort everything and present it in reverse simply to attract media attention and criticise our government,” Blanar claimed in a statement provided to TASR by the Foreign Ministry's press department. Blanar said the opposition has been looking for a way to divert attention after Parliament approved next year's budget and the government revitalized the Visegrad Four (V4: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) group, strengthened ties with India and reopened the embassy in Australia, which he said had been closed by the opposition when it was in government. Blanar said SaS had made what he called a sensational claim about the purpose of his trip to Moscow for working talks. According to the party, the trip was not related to the Slovak-Russian joint economic commission but intended to discuss increasing the number of Russian diplomats instead. The foreign minister pointed out that Prime Minister Robert Fico had confirmed to the media on Wednesday, 14 October, that the commission would meet on 25 October. Blanar added that he had announced the meeting in August, following an online discussion with the Russian co-chair of the commission, although the government had approved it as early as May, with the information being public since then. Blanar said he had also openly informed the public and EU foreign ministers about the planned meeting during an informal meeting in Ireland on 1 September. "Just remember how taken aback former SaS minister Ivan Korcok was, saying that I could at least have kept it quiet. Yes, that's how they operated: subserviently, behind the scenes and dishonestly. But that's not this government's foreign policy," Blanar underlined. He added that he had always informed the public whenever he held talks with the Russian foreign minister. "I continue to accentuate the main issue: gas, oil and nuclear fuel — energy supplies under our contract with Russia, the shortage or loss of which our allies in the EU, America and the Middle East are unable to compensate in the current geopolitical situation," he said. Blanar added that Slovakia will continue negotiations with Russia to secure supplies if raw materials could not be obtained through the Strait of Hormuz or from other available sources in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices. "We will keep repeating this until the opposition finally understands and educates itself on the fact that, if raw materials cannot reach us through the Strait of Hormuz or from other available sources in sufficient quantities and at a reasonable price, we will negotiate with Russia and take supplies from it, just as many other European countries do — although they prefer to remain silent about it for strategic reasons or, if you like, behind the scenes," he said. He added that the government's approach will not change, regardless of opposition criticism. He also rejected the claim that he was travelling to Moscow at Russia's request to increase the number of Russian diplomats in Slovakia. Earlier in the day, SaS representatives said that they had information about Blanar's planned trip to Russia and that he was expected to discuss lifting the limits on the number of Russian diplomats in Slovakia. They warned that such a move could strengthen Russian intelligence services and announced their plan to file a criminal complaint on suspicion of treason if the cap were removed. The party described the planned meeting of the intergovernmental commission as a smokescreen. "This is not the real reason for the talks. They're going to negotiate the removal of the cap on the number of Russian diplomats at their embassy in Slovakia. This is a major Russian priority that Moscow is pressing for, and it is so important to Russia that it has requested Blanar's personal attendance in Moscow," SaS representative Ivan Novotny said. Ivan Korcok, vice-chair of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, also criticised the possibility of Blanar travelling to Moscow. "With every such move, you help Russian President Vladimir Putin pretend that he can return to normal relations without ending his aggression. Slovakia belongs to a free Europe. You have no mandate to drag it towards Moscow, and there's nothing left to do but remove you from office," Korcok said. mf