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Robert Fico, who is due to take over the EU’s presidency on Monday, said he could help broker an amicable separation between the two countries based on the peaceful ‘velvet divorce’ between his country of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Despite six EU nations slapping down Nicola Sturgeon’s dogged attempts to break away from the rest of Britain and stay in the European Union, Mr Fico said: “Slovaks and Czechs have a unique experience of peaceful separation and we are willing to share our experience with anyone who is interested.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign for independence in the wake of last week’s EU referendum result has received a mixed response.