Slovak National Party (SNS) vice chair Anna Belousovová on Thursday, March 26, challenged joint opposition presidential candidate Iveta Radičová to hold a discussion via the electronic media regarding the establishment of an independent Slovakia.
“I can prove that Radičová has lied (in connection with her current statements and attitude towards Slovak independence),” Belousovová told the TASR newswire at a press conference on Wednesday.
The SNS official said that in 1991 Radičová joined those who organised a petition called 'For a Common State', and was an active participant in rallies against the division of the former Czechoslovakia. Belousovová said that Radičová is lying when she says that she only supported a referendum on this issue but wasn't actively against the creation of an independent Slovakia.
“I reiterate that she has no moral right to become president of Slovakia - of a state that she and some others called a threat,” said Belousovová, referring to the petition. She also quoted from a call published in connection with the For a Common State initiative: “Citizens of Slovakia ... maybe you don't know that some Slovak MPs want to declare a kind of sovereignty in the days ahead that would establish an independent Slovak state ... If you want to say 'No' to this threat, come to the For a Common State meeting.”
Radičová said in reaction that until the parliamentary elections in 1992, the leader of current coalition party HZDS Vladimír Mečiar and incumbent President Ivan Gašparovič (who is standing against Radicova in the current presidential elections) also wanted to maintain a joint state for Slovaks and Czechs.
Radičová also said that all political parties except SNS were looking for a way to save Czechoslovakia before it was divided in 1992-93. She said that it's good when people have different opinions, as these create discussion. According to Radičová, the For a Common State petition called for a referendum to be held on this matter. She said that her statements pertaining to these issues are consistent, and that, in other words, she isn't lying. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
