President: If Surrounded by Experts, Huliak Can Be Beneficial for Ministry

Bratislava, March 5 (TASR) - Rudolf Huliak (a Smer-SD nominee) is assuming the post of Tourism and Sport Minister after long negotiations and based on a political agreement within the governing coalition, President Peter Pellegrini stressed in his speech after appointing Huliak on Wednesday. Thanks to his appointment, the government should again have a sufficient number of MPs in Parliament, with Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) assuring the head of state of this. The premier also took over political responsibility for this ministry. "You are becoming a minister not because you were long engaged in the area of sports or tourism. However, that doesn't mean you can't be a good minister. If you surround yourself with experts in this field and show sufficient managerial skills, you can be beneficial to the new ministry, and I as the president of the Slovak Republic sincerely hope you will be, as every well-managed ministry is also beneficial to Slovak citizens," stated Pellegrini. Pellegrini reminded the new minister of their talks and his expectation that the political party led by Huliak won't promote any goals that would conflict with Slovakia's foreign-political orientation or its strategic interests in the form of its EU and NATO memberships. "I can say it publicly today that I was personally assured by you of your support for the nation-state interests of the Slovak Republic, which is extremely important, especially at this extremely turbulent political and geopolitical time," underlined the president. At the same time, the president thanked outgoing minister Dusan Keketi (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) for starting off the Tourism and Sport Ministry, as he was its first head. He stressed that Keketi isn't leaving his post due to failure to manage it or due to any scandal. "You are leaving as this ministry has become the subject of political agreements in the governing coalition in an effort to secure the necessary parliamentary majority for it. Therefore, I thank you, on behalf of the citizens of the Slovak Republic, for the job you've done and wish you a great deal of success in your future professional career," added the president. Finally, Pellegrini expressed his hope that the whole governing coalition, after resolving personnel issues, can return to active work for people as soon as possible and devote maximum energy to fulfilling its government manifesto. ko/df