MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, November 19): BRATISLAVA - The relationship between the Slovak and Czech nations is of such high quality, so sincere and cordial that it cannot be harmed by any temporary misunderstanding between the current governments, President Peter Pellegrini agreed with Czech ex-president Vaclav Klaus while receiving him and his wife in the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Tuesday, TASR has learnt from the President Office's communication department. Pellegrini described Klaus as an inspirational figure, a "well of experience" in the case of Czech-Slovak relations. He recalled that it was Klaus and [then Slovak premier] Vladimir Mečiar who held crucial political talks about the formation of the independent Slovak and Czech Republics. "It will forever be written in world history that this split was carried out in a peaceful, cultivated and no-violent manner," noted Pellegrini. BRATISLAVA - The leader of the coalition Voice-SD party and Interior Minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, warned about the potential involvement of NATO countries in the conflict with Russia due to the use of long-range missiles targeting Russian territory, and described this development as dangerous and a possible obstacle to peace negotiations, TASR learnt from his video on social media on Monday. "I consider [Sunday's] news about the potential use of American, British and French long-range missiles to launch direct attacks on Russian territory to be very dangerous. If a NATO missile hits a Russian city, harsh retaliation from Russia will automatically follow," stated Sutaj Estok. According to him, the Ukrainians would be the first to suffer the consequences. BRATISLAVA - The government aims to start the construction of a new national university hospital in Bratislava during its term of office, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) confirmed on Monday after a meeting with experts at the Slovak Medical University. He reiterated that he's requested additional information regarding the hospital's construction. "I won't reveal the location, it's also subject to additional information," he said, adding that he wants to wait for real and accurate data. Announcing anything before then would be irresponsible, he said. BRATISLAVA - An agreement on the election of a new House chair is in the hands of President Peter Pellegrini, who is the honorary chairman of the Voice-SD party, the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) opined on Tuesday. "Peter Pellegrini repeatedly forgets that he became president thanks to the support of the Smer-SD and SNS parties. The agreement is that we should respect the fact that [House Vice-chair] Peter Ziga (Voice) has been tasked with managing Parliament until there is coalition consensus [on a new House chair]. Everything is in the hands of Pellegrini, the honorary chairman of the Voice-SD party," said SNS. Pellegrini at the weekend called for the election of a new House chair. In his opinion, the vacant post is a bad signal for the public and foreign countries. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has previously stated that the election of the House chair isn't a priority and that Parliament is functional without a chair. BRATISLAVA - The White Crow Awards for civic courage and advocacy for socially beneficial activities were presented for the 17th time on Monday (November 18) evening, featuring four stories united by commitment to defending the highest values and democratic institutions. "The stories of this year's White Crows clearly show the importance of defending democratic pillars for the future of Slovakia, whether in the public or private sphere. They demonstrate various forms of this defence, be they from within institutions, from outside, or via civic or artistic activities," Zuzana Wienk, a member of the White Crow council, told the media. BRATISLAVA - If Ukraine uses long-range missiles against Russia, it will lead to the escalation of tension, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) declared after Tuesday's session of the EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Council in Brussels, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. Kalinak confirmed that the issue of Ukraine was the fulcrum of the talks and reiterated the stance that Slovakia doesn't support the use of long-range missiles against targets in Russia. "We think that this would dramatically escalate tension and, first and foremost, drag EU and NATO countries into conflict. That's why we perceive it as a problem," he explained. BRATISLAVA - The 20th anniversary of the biggest calamity in the history of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) was commemorated at a monument situated in the centre of the town of Vysoke Tatry (Presov region) on Tuesday. Vysoke Tatry mayor Jozef Stefanak and his predecessor Jan Mokos agreed that the death of a car driver who was hit by a falling tree will remain in their memories forever. "The damage, especially to nature, was incalculable. Donors and the state contributed some 95 million then Slovak crowns to us, with the Czech capital of Prague contributing the most - 10 million Czech crowns. However, the fact that that one person perished will remain in our memory forever. It was a needless death, he was returning to pick up his wife from work and he had the bad luck that a tree fall on him," stated Mokos. lin/zel