Regardless of the motives, genre or context, such comments
directly affect territorial integrity of Ukraine, diplomats believe.
KYIV, MAR 4: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has summoned the
head of the Slovak embassy in Ukraine to issue a protest over what Ukraine was
politically incorrect statements by the Slovak Prime Minister, Igor Matovic,
suggesting "exchanging" the Zakarpattia [Transcarpathia] region in
Ukraine for the access to the Russian vaccine.
"Regardless of the motives, genre or context, the
comments by the head of the Slovak government that directly affect the
territorial integrity of Ukraine are categorically unacceptable, and negatively
affect the friendly and good-neighborly atmosphere of Ukrainian-Slovak
relations," the MFA said in a commentary released Wednesday, March 3.
The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that such "jokes"
are especially offensive to the Ukrainian people in the current conditions of
Russian aggression and the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and
the city of Sevastopol, as well as part of the Ukrainian Donbas, by Russia.
Besides, Ukrainian diplomats add, the inappropriate comments
by the head of the Slovak government are discordant with Slovakia's consistent
position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine
within its internationally recognized borders.
"The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands an official
apology from the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Igor Matovic, for the politcally
incorrect comments," MFA Ukraine said.
Ukrainian Ambassador Yuriy Mushka for his part has also
delivered a corresponding demarche at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Slovak Republic.
Matovic "joke": Background
Speaking on the air of Slovakia's Radio Express, the host
asked Matovic what he had promised Russia in exchange for the supply of the
Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
Matovic immediately answered: "Transcarpathian
[Zakarpattia] Ukraine", before claiming he had not in fact promised
anything, at the same time stressing the need for his country to be covered
with vaccines.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the comment by
Matovic spoils Ukraine-Slovakia relations.
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COURTESY unian.info
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