Though Ethiopia has replied to Slovakia’s diplomatic note sent in connection with the detaining and subsequent release of Slovak ambassador to Ethiopia, Milan Dubček, the Slovak Foreign Ministry finds the explanation inadequate, the TASR newswire reported on November 12.
“[Slovak] ambassador Igor Slobodník in Berlin has received a reply from Ethiopia,” stated Foreign Affairs Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda, as quoted by TASR. “We have scrutinised it but its content did not satisfy us, so we again have sent our reaction,” he added.
Dzurinda explained that Ethiopia has not formally apologised to Slovakia as expected in diplomatic practice, though some parts of the text might be considered a form of an apology.
“The text is quite long and while there are contradictions, we have found it important to react again – hoping that we will receive a satisfactory reply in a short time,” stated Dzurinda, as quoted by TASR.
Dubček was detained on November 5 while he was on a walk, around a ten-minute drive from his residence, without the Ethiopian authorities informing Slovakia or offering any explanation. The ambassador stated he was not aware of committing any violation of Ethiopian law.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has described the incident as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and immediately demanded his immediate release. Ambassador Dubček has returned to Slovakia for consultations.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
