PM Fico: I will go to Moscow on May 9

PRIME Minister Robert Fico will participate in the wreath-laying and festive reception marking the end of World War II in Moscow.

Fico said for the HN club debate forum that he will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, without being ashamed of his actions.

“I think that this is history, historical facts and I consider such a step natural,” PM said on April 27, as quoted by the TASR newswire. On May 7, Fico is going to Poland to celebrate the occasion, and on May 8, he will celebrate in Liptovský Mikuláš; and in Kiev on the eve of May 9.

“In Slovakia, 63,000 soldiers of the Red Army died, and nobody doubts that the then-Soviet Union had a decisive role in the fall of fascism,” the premier stressed, adding that nobody can really question the fact that the fall of fascism was the foundation of a new Europe. “It led to us having the EU now, and Europe considering fascism something dangerous and bad,” he added.

Until now, Fico has avoided answering clearly the questions concerning his attendance at the Moscow celebrations. He had only said he would “find the most proper way to pay tribute to heroes of World War II”.

However, Czech President Miloš Zeman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov already mentioned Fico’s attendance in Moscow. “the president is going to use the time scheduled of the military parade for bilateral talks with Slovak PM Robert Fico,” Zeman’s spokesman Jiří Ovčáček informed as early as on April 10.

Slovak President Andrej Kiska, on the other hand, does not plan to travel to Russia for the May 9 celebration, but will rather do so in Slovakia.

27. Apr 2015 at 13:11 | Compiled by Spectator staff