EU Concerned With Slovak Prime Minister's Decisions

BRATISLAVA (SITA) - The European Union wishes to express its concern at the recent order by Slovak Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar to stop criminal proceedings for crimes connected with the preparations and conduct of the referendum of 23/24 May 1997, and with the abduction of Michal Kováč Jr. The decision by Prime Minister Mečiar to exercise the presidential powers to grant amnesties in these cases brings into question his commitment to commonly accepted principles of good governance and the rule of law. These actions do not make a positive contribution to Slovakia's effort to prepare for EU membership," acting in its capacity as the presiding country of the European Union, the British Embassy issued the following statement on March 10, at a call by the European Union Troika heads of mission in Bratislava upon the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The European Union recalls its strong support for Slovakia's European vocation, which the Union has demonstrated through its continuous support for all steps taken by the Slovak side to prepare for EU membership and fulfill the Copenhagen criteria," the statement reads. According to the stand, the EU recalls its previous concern at the circumstances surrounding the said referendum and the abduction of Michal Kováč Jr. Both issues were factors in the commission's assessment that Slovakia did not meet the Copenhagen criteria. The EU regrets that such steps might represent set-back to the legitimate aspirations of the Slovak people to international respect and progressive integration into European structures. It will continue to support these aspirations and to follow developments related to their fulfillment closely, the statement concludes.