MFA: Blanar Held Several Bilateral Talks in Turkey, Including One with Lavrov

Antalya/Bratislava, March 2 (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) took part in the third annual diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey, held under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 1 and 2, TASR has learnt from the ministry's communication department. More than 20 top representatives of countries and governments, over 60 foreign affairs ministers and two dozens of representatives of international organisations participated in this platform, whose goal was to seek peace solutions. During the forum, Blanar held talks with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan, Moldovan Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi, his counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konakovic, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvinajonic and President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik. At the request of the Russian side, Blanar also met with Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Without communication, there will never be a diplomatic solution to crises and without a diplomatic solution, no wars will end," Blanar said following the meeting. He familiarised the Russian head of the diplomacy with the Slovak government's position that there's no military solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. ​ "I also informed him about the Slovak government's stance based on respect for the basic principles of international law, such as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member countries, enacted in the UN Charter. I appealed to the as soon as possible resumption of peace negotiations between the parties to the conflict and an end to the fighting," said Blanar. Blanar also emphasised to the Russian minister that "what happened in Ukraine should never have happened". Blanar added that Slovakia is against creating any iron curtain between Russia and the European Union. "Solutions must be sought that will guarantee security and peace," he added. Blanar also assured Lavrov that Slovakia will send no soldier to Ukraine. ko