In 2022, Slovakia pledged to decline invites to all political gatherings hosted in Russia, following a Council of the European Union resolution, and is obligated to honor this pledge.
Source:
European Pravda reported statements from European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper during a press briefing held on April 16th in Brussels.
Details:
Hipper responded after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that “nobody can instruct me” about traveling to Moscow.
Hipper stressed that in 2022 EU member states agreed to reject all Russian invitations to events such as the 9 May parade, and Slovakia had accepted that obligation.
Quote:
“For the context, Russia is using the commemoration of the end of the Second World War to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine. So this is the context. And from our side, it is important not to lend legitimacy to this by participating in such events like this parade. And actually, we have also council decision on this member states, including Slovakia. They have agreed in 2022 to decline such invitations.”
More details:
Regarding an additional query concerning the potential visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to Moscow, Guillaume Mercier, who oversees enlargement at the Commission, responded accordingly.
What I can state is that Serbia has submitted an application and is currently engaged in negotiations for EU membership. This indicates that Serbia’s choice involves harmonizing its policies, such as its foreign policy, with those of the European Union.
So the EU wants Serbia to be a reliable European partner for common principles, values, security, and prosperity, and we need Serbia to reassure us of this strategic position.”
Background:
・Fico also rejected the call by Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for European leaders not to visit Moscow on the occasion of the so-called 9 May Victory Parade. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.].
・The Slovak prime minister reiterated that he would be found in Moscow on 9 May.
・On 14 April, Kallas
called on European leaders
not to attend the military celebrations in Moscow on 9 May and instead show solidarity with Ukraine.
・The European Union
has also issued clear guidance
for candidate countries not to travel to Russia or participate in the parade in Moscow on May 9.
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