Fico: Slovakia Has Good Reputation in World, Not Losing Western Partners' Trust

(STVR, 'Sobotne dialogy', March 8) Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said that Slovakia has a very good reputation in the world, and they know that we're constructive players who, however, fight for our national interests. The premier rejects the opposition's criticism of the actions taken by MEPs Lubos Blaha and Erik Kalinak (both Smer-SD). He doesn't think that Slovakia is therefore losing the trust of its Western partners. "If we didn't have the trust of our Western partners, I'd simply not be able to achieve what we've now achieved within the European Union," said the premier, stressing that communication and dialogue are important for conflict resolution. Therefore, he won't blame his party mates for making politics oriented in all four cardinal directions, nor will he correct them. In the debate, he also confirmed that he wants to attend the celebrations in Moscow in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. "The greatest sacrifice and the greatest credit for the victory over fascism and the victory in World War II goes to the Soviet Union, and I therefore feel obliged to go there on May 9 and say thank you," he emphasised. am