Slovak PM voices strong support for Serbia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was received with a ceremony in front of the government HQ as he arrived here on a one-day visit on Monday. After his meeting with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Fico said that his country is suffering no pressure because of its firm position not to recognize the illegally declared independence of Kosovo. Slovak PM voices strong support for Serbia This, the Slovak premier continued, is because Bratislava left no room for pressure from the very beginning. Slovakia is one of the five EU members that have not recognized the province's declaration of independence. International judicial instances exist in order to be respected, Fico told reporters, and added he is "convinced that the declaration of Kosovo's independence was not in line with international law". "Slovakia's position on the Kosovo issue is well known and we see no reason to change it. Serbia and Slovakia share the same opinion, and that is that international law must be taken into account, otherwise, nothing makes sense," he said. "If there is at least a tiny piece of justice in this world, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will have to confirm it," Fico added. He also said that the Slovak government fully supports Serbia's accession to the European Union. Cvetkovic said after the meeting that he expects the ICJ to take one year at most to deliver its ruling, and revealed that Belgrade was notified that the court will review the request in urgent procedure. Last week, the UN General Assembly accepted Serbia's resolution asking for the ICJ opinion on the legality of Kosovo Albanians' unilateral proclamation. Cvetkovic also said that Serbia has "strong arguments" and expects the ICJ to rule that the declaration in February this year was not according to international law. Beside the issue of Kosovo, economic topics were also on the agenda as Fico met Serbia's top officials, including President Boris Tadic. After their meeting, Tadic thanked the Slovak prime minister for his country's support for Serbia's endeavors to integrate into the European Union to preserve her sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo. Tadic said his talk with Fico demonstrated that bilateral relations are founded on mutual understanding. He also pointed to the importance of the Slovak ethnic minority in Serbia as a bridge of friendship and understanding between the two countries. Fico for his part thanked Serbia's authorities for their treatment of ethnic minorities. Slovakia fully supports Serbia's endeavors for EU integration and for submitting the Kosovo issue to the International Court of Justice, he said, adding he sees no reason why Slovakia should change its stand on Kosovo. The declaration of Kosovo's independence was not in keeping with international law and the ICJ should confirm this, Fico repeated. Fico and Cvetkovic also visited Gosa factory in Smederevska Palanka, and officially opened production in one of the plant's lines. Gosa is the largest Slovak investment in Serbia so far. The Slovak delegation included Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, and more than twenty representatives of that country's companies. Cvetkovic, Fico in Belgrade today (Beta)

Slovak PM voices strong support for Serbia

This, the Slovak premier continued, is because Bratislava left no room for pressure from the very beginning.

Slovakia is one of the five EU members that have not recognized the province's declaration of independence.

International judicial instances exist in order to be respected, Fico told reporters, and added he is "convinced that the declaration of Kosovo's independence was not in line with international law".

"Slovakia's position on the Kosovo issue is well known and we see no reason to change it. Serbia and Slovakia share the same opinion, and that is that international law must be taken into account, otherwise, nothing makes sense," he said.

"If there is at least a tiny piece of justice in this world, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will have to confirm it," Fico added.

He also said that the Slovak government fully supports Serbia's accession to the European Union.

Cvetković said after the meeting that he expects the ICJ to take one year at most to deliver its ruling, and revealed that Belgrade was notified that the court will review the request in urgent procedure.

Last week, the UN General Assembly accepted Serbia's resolution asking for the ICJ opinion on the legality of Kosovo Albanians' unilateral proclamation.

Cvetković also said that Serbia has "strong arguments" and expects the ICJ to rule that the declaration in February this year was not according to international law.

Beside the issue of Kosovo, economic topics were also on the agenda as Fico met Serbia's top officials, including President Boris Tadić.

After their meeting, Tadić thanked the Slovak prime minister for his country's support for Serbia's endeavors to integrate into the European Union to preserve her sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo.

Tadić said his talk with Fico demonstrated that bilateral relations are founded on mutual understanding.

He also pointed to the importance of the Slovak ethnic minority in Serbia as a bridge of friendship and understanding between the two countries.

Fico for his part thanked Serbia's authorities for their treatment of ethnic minorities.

Slovakia fully supports Serbia's endeavors for EU integration and for submitting the Kosovo issue to the International Court of Justice, he said, adding he sees no reason why Slovakia should change its stand on Kosovo.

The declaration of Kosovo's independence was not in keeping with international law and the ICJ should confirm this, Fico repeated.

Fico and Cvetković also visited Goša factory in Smederevska Palanka, and officially opened production in one of the plant's lines. Goša is the largest Slovak investment in Serbia so far.

The Slovak delegation included Foreign Minister Jan Kubiš, and more than twenty representatives of that country's companies.