Slovakia should intensify its current economic links with Russia, said Foreign Affairs Minister Ján Kubiš.
"Slovakia has not only the opportunity but also the obligation to deepen its relations with Russia in the economic sphere for the benefit of both countries and to open the door to the large Russian market for Slovakia's entrepreneurs and investors," Kubiš told news wire TASR.
KubiŠ is set to visit Russia on July 24, along with Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek.
The talks will focus on Slovakia's energy security and the fate of Slovak oil transport and storage company Transpetrol, a 49-percent stake of which currently belongs to troubled Russian oil company Yukos.
According to Kubis, the visit will have an economic emphasis.
"However, issues concerning energy security have a strong European and international dimension," he said, adding that he also wants to discuss EU policy towards Russia in more detail.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
