PS Criticises Premier Fico for Avoiding Meeting with NATO Chief

Bratislava, February 20 (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has criticised Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) for leaving for a conference in the USA and not meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte [while visiting Slovakia], PS representatives told a news conference on Thursday. PS representatives believe that the premier should have held talks with the NATO chief, who arrived in Slovakia on Thursday, especially in the context of political changes in the world and changes related to new US President Donald Trump assuming the office. "Any normal leader who cares a little about the fate of his country would be sitting with the NATO Secretary General at this moment," stated MP Tomas Valasek (PS). According to Valasek, the premier should have addressed several questions to Rutte. He should have asked him, for example, whether or not it was possible to use NATO headquarters even if the United States decided not to participate in our defence. PS presidium member Ivan Korcok called Fico's trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference an awkward excuse to avoid talking to Rutte. "Not speaking to the NATO Secretary General in Slovakia today was a wasted opportunity, and I claim that the government is leading Slovakia towards disaster with its foreign policy," he added. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte arrived for an official visit to Slovakia on Thursday. In addition to President Peter Pellegrini, he met Defence Minister Robert Kalinak and Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (both Smer-SD). ko/mcs