SLOVAK PREMIER EXPECTS COURT TO RULE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE ILLEGAL
BBC Monitoring International Reports - October 15, 2008 Wednesday

Text of report by Slovak privately-owned independent newspaper Sme website, on 14 October

Prime Minister Robert Fico yesterday once again confirmed his strong pro-Serbian attitude. During an official visit to Belgrade, he spoke out against Kosovo independence and announced economic cooperation with Serbia.

At a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Fico reiterated that Slovakia sees no reason to recognize Kosovo. The International Court of Justice in The Hague will confirm the illegality of the secession of the southern Serbian province, in his opinion.

"If there exists even a smidgen of justice in this world, the international court must say that," Fico said.

The independence of Kosovo is in sharp contradiction with international law, in his opinion.

Poor as a Positive Example

Fico and Cvetkovic also announced a new wave of economic cooperation between the two countries yesterday. Together they launched a new production line for railroad cars in Gosa. The Serbian plant was acquired by [Slovak entrepreneur] Vladimir Poor, who is frequently referred to as a sponsor of [Fico's] Direction party, through the ZOS Trnava corporation.

Fico did not meet Poor at the event. He said, however, that it is precisely the good experience with the factory in Gosa on which Slovakia and Serbia can build in their economic cooperation.

Poor protested against claims about his ties with Direction. "I am not sponsoring anyone. I am not involved in politics at all," he said.

During privatization under Vladimir Meciar's government, Vladimir Poor acquired the Nafta Gbely company. At that time he supported the HZDS [Movement for a Democratic Slovakia] and was a member of the Movement. Now he is no longer a member of any political party.

Apart from expanding production in Gosa, Bratislava and Belgrade also want to cooperate in building gas reservoirs and water treatment plants and in the sphere of energy.

Serbia is already the biggest recipient of Slovak development aid.

Support for Serbia in the EU

The Slovak prime minister yesterday also backed Serbian efforts to join the EU at the earliest possible date: "The Slovak government fully supports Serbia's integration at the earliest possible date."

The financial crisis that has arrived in Europe has increased the EU's significance, in his opinion.

Fico, who is a long-term supporter of Serbia's political positions, refused to comment on the Nobel Peace Prize for Finnish diplomat Martti Ahtisaari, who, as UN negotiator, had promoted an independent Kosovo.

"The Nobel Prize is a serious institution. I definitely would not comment on the awarding of Nobel Prizes," he said.

Cvetkovic, on the other hand, believes that the Nobel Committee may have to explain its choice.

Source: Sme website, Bratislava, in Slovak 14 Oct 08
Posted for Fair Use only.