SaS: Slovakia Needs to Expand Energy Resources, Not Deepen Dependence on Russia

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has proven with his open letter to representatives of the European Union in connection with supplies of strategic raw materials that instead of addressing problems, he is looking for culprits and damaging the good name of Slovakia, the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has said in response to the premier's move, stressing the need for Slovakia to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on Russia in this area. "The European Union has been working on energy diversification for years precisely because Russia uses raw materials as a weapon. Fico, by glossing over these connections, is directly undermining European efforts to oppose Russian aggression. Moreover, Fico's cabinet has done absolutely nothing in a year to ensure that we can get gas from other sources. Fico advocates continued dependence on Russian gas as if it were the only possible way, but in reality this approach risks making our country and the whole of Europe strategically vulnerable," said SaS chairman Branislav Groehling. According to the SaS leader, the premier is deliberately ignoring the fact that Ukraine is facing devastating Russian aggression, and his letter addressed to EU representatives contains features of Russian propaganda. The SaS party criticises this move and calls on the government to focus on constructive solutions in the energy sector. am/df