Premier Objects to Kallas' Words about Attending Celebrations in Moscow in May

Bratislava, April 15 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has objected to the words of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, who warned EU leaders against visiting Moscow on the occasion of the Victory Day celebrations in May, describing them as disrespectful and announcing that he'll attend the visit to Moscow, TASR was told by the Government Office's press and information department on Tuesday. "Ms Kallas, I'd like to inform you that I'm the legitimate premier of Slovakia - a sovereign country. No one can tell me where I should or shouldn't travel. I'll go to Moscow to pay my respects to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who died in the liberation of Slovakia, as well as to millions of other victims of the Nazi rampage. Just as I paid my tribute to the victims of the Normandy landings or the Pacific landings, or as I'll pay my respects to the RAF pilots," Fico responded. The premier asked if Kallas' warning is blackmail or a notice that he'll be punished when he returns. The statement confirms, he says, that a debate is needed in the EU on the nature of democracy. "About what happened in Romania or France in connection with the presidential elections, what kind of 'Maidans' the West is doing in Georgia or Serbia, how the abuse of penal law against the opposition in Slovakia was ignored," added the prime minister. On Monday (April 14), Kallas warned EU leaders against visiting Moscow on the occasion of the Victory Day celebrations in May. Given that Russia is waging war in Europe, their participation won't be taken lightly, Kallas noted after the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. am