Fico says he regrets Ukraine EU decision, Sme daily distorted his words

Prime Minister Robert Fico clearly stated that he regrets that Ukraine decided not to sign an association agreement with the European Union, and the Sme daily twisted his words when saying that the prime minister in his statements backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s policies, the Government Office press department informed the TASR newswire on December 4. “The agreement between the EU and Ukraine should have been signed, but it wasn't ... I’m sorry about that, but I have to respect the decision that Ukraine has made," Fico said at the Hospodárske Noviny Club conference on December 3, adding that Slovakia’s experience with membership of the EU has been very positive. Leaving out the aforementioned passage, Sme took the premier’s words out of context, suggesting that the prime minister was trying to distance Slovakia from the issue at the diplomatic level, said the press department as quoted by TASR.

Prime Minister Robert Fico clearly stated that he regrets that Ukraine decided not to sign an association agreement with the European Union, and the Sme daily twisted his words when saying that the prime minister in his statements backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s policies, the Government Office press department informed the TASR newswire on December 4.

“The agreement between the EU and Ukraine should have been signed, but it wasn't ... I’m sorry about that, but I have to respect the decision that Ukraine has made," Fico said at the Hospodárske Noviny Club conference on December 3, adding that Slovakia’s experience with membership of the EU has been very positive.

Leaving out the aforementioned passage, Sme took the premier’s words out of context, suggesting that the prime minister was trying to distance Slovakia from the issue at the diplomatic level, said the press department as quoted by TASR.

The EU is so in love with itself that it is convinced there is no better alternative to it in the world, Fico said in his comments on Ukraine’s decision to suspend the talks on association treaties between the EU and Ukraine, also the SITA newswire reported. EU membership is not a religious rule for countries and each country can freely decided whether or not it will join, Fico said, adding that one must look at the offers that have been put in place, such as the lowering of gas prices or projects offered to Ukraine.

“Ukraine simply decided to go another way and I will not judge it now, it is an internal affair [of Ukraine],” Fico said. He said he regretted that the decision was accompanied by violence and demonstrations.

(Source: TASR, Sme, SITA)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad