Monitor: Rasi: Slovakia's Approach Towards Czech Republic Won't Change

(Markiza, Na telo, March 10) Speaking on TV Markiza's politics talk show 'Na telo' (Tough Questions) on Sunday, Investment Minister Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) stated Slovakia won't change its approach towards the Czech Republic and will continue with mutual cooperation based on shared programmes, whereas vice-chair of opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) Tomas Valasek, also on the show, pointed out that the Czech Government's decision to discontinue intergovernmental consultations with the Slovak Cabinet is due to the Slovak Government's recent activities. "People might get the impression that this is the Czech Government joining the presidential election campaign in Slovakia in favour of one of the candidates - Ivan Korcok," claimed Rasi, who pointed out to last week's meeting between Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and PS chair Michal Simecka. Valasek responded that the meeting had been planned for a long time and called on Rasi to stop spreading conspiracy theories. The Investment Minister doesn't view as problem the fact that Slovakia hasn't been invited to a teleconference of foreign and defence ministers on the military supplies to Ukraine. According to Valasek, 24 out of 27 EU state have been invited. The opposition lawmaker heaped criticism at Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar's (Smer-SD) decision to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Turkey. "Such meetings with all parties involved will be necessary in order to achieve peace," claimed Rasi in response. mf