MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, January 9, 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, January 8): BRATISLAVA - MPs will deal with Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) trip to Moscow and other steps taken by representatives of Slovakia stemming from the halt to gas transit via Ukraine at a meeting of the parliamentary European affairs committee on Friday (December 10), TASR has learnt from the invitation to the meeting published on Wednesday. The meeting was initiated by opposition MPs. The premier said on Tuesday (January 7) that he'll attend the meeting. BRATISLAVA - No one is calling for the widespread hunting of wolves, the Environment Ministry's communications department has stated in response to Tuesday's press conference by the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party. "The hysteria led by Progressive Slovakia and some activists in Slovakia regarding the management of wolves and bears isn't based on scientific knowledge, nor does it reflect the stance of other EU-member states," said the ministry, adding that the rules designate areas in which wolves can be hunted and exclude areas of European significance and national parks from quota-based hunting. BRATISLAVA - The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) fully supports Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) activities heading towards acceptance of the new challenges in Slovakia's foreign-political orientation, SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova has told TASR in reaction to the premier's plan to issue a joint stance on Slovakia's foreign-political orientation. "The European Union (EU) must undergo reform, and it's obvious that the political garnitures in its individual countries are changing and are openly talking about changes in the EU and in NATO," stated Skopcova. BRATISLAVA - The activities of Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) and his state secretaries at the ministry have been a disaster for environmental protection, with most of their measures harming nature instead of protecting it, Greenpeace Slovakia spokeswoman Miroslava Abelova has stated. "Their actions, communication and conduct are aimed at undermining the pillars of nature protection and reflect total arrogance of power. The destruction of Slovak nature and its biodiversity has, in our view, become the main ideological focus of the Environment Ministry's work," stated Abelova. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS), Christian Democrats (KDH) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties held a joint news conference on Wednesday to announce that they are initiating a special House session aimed at confirming Slovakia's foreign anchoring in the European Union (EU) and NATO. By backing this resolution, MPs should show that they don't support a shift in the course of foreign policy eastwards, as pursued by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD). BRATISLAVA - The governing coalition wants to build bridges to all four cardinal directions but the opposition is set to be hostile to its own country, Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated in a video on a social network on Wednesday, adding that the opposition leaders have unleashed misplaced hysteria after Slovakia offered itself as a venue for peace talks. "I don't remember if Slovakia has ever had an opposition that could be so hostile to its own country as our current one. The hysteria they have unleashed with the help of the media because of the government's and the president's attempts to offer Slovakia as a venue for peace talks is inappropriate and miserable," said Sutaj Estok. BRATISLAVA - The information system of the Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre Office (UGKK), which is used by cadastre departments of district offices, was hit by a large-scale cyberattack from abroad, Interior Ministry spokesman Matej Neumann reported on Wednesday, adding that the workplaces of the cadastre departments will therefore be temporarily closed as a precautionary measure until the consequences of the cyberattack are eliminated. BRATISLAVA - Parliamentary Vice-Chair entrusted with the powers of the House Chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD) hasn't yet spoken with Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) about the draft declaration on foreign policy, Parliament Office's communications department told TASR on Wednesday, adding that he'll comment on the draft only after he has studied it. The premier stated on Tuesday (January 7) that he intends to propose to the most senior constitutional officials and the leaders of the coalition parties to issue a statement on Slovakia's foreign policy orientation. He stated that it would be a response to the rise of opinions contrary to those promoted by Brussels and the denial of fundamental democratic principles. According to Fico, the statement will also define the principles that Slovakia follows in foreign policy matters. lin