Blanar: Slovakia Needs Evidence to Slam Arms Transfers between Russia & N. Korea

Bratislava, January 10 (TASR) - Slovakia is ready to condemn transfers of weapons between Russia and North Korea if relevant evidence for this is presented, Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) has said in light of a joint declaration condemning the aforementioned act that has been signed by almost 50 countries, including all EU countries save Slovakia and Hungary. "We have consistently been on the side of compliance with international law and UN Security Council sanctions, but we're not going to do it just because somebody approaches us and says that they think so but aren't going to give us evidence to prove it," said Blanar. At the same time, the minister stated that the text of the declaration couldn't be commented on. "We refuse to be handed a text that we cannot comment on, and at the same time to subscribe to something when we have no relevant evidence," he added. Blanar stated that Slovakia is ready to join the declaration once evidence is presented. "I assure you that as soon as we have [evidence] at our disposal and it convinces us, including the international community at the level of the Security Council, we'll join it," declared the minister. The USA and its partners on Tuesday condemned arms transfers between North Korea and Russia, including the fact that North Korean missiles were used against Ukraine at the turn of the year. The declaration was signed by nearly 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and all European Union countries except Slovakia and Hungary. zel/df