BRATISLAVA, August 11, (WEBNOVINY) — President Ivan Gasparovic is continuing discussion with representatives of political parties on the European bailout fund. Following talks with the Speaker of Parliament and head of the SaS party Richard Sulik and representatives of the KDH, the president met with representatives of the strongest coalition party, the SDKU-DS, party Chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and Finance Minister Ivan Miklos to discuss the issue on Thursday. Elena Bianchi of the press department of the President’s Office further informed SITA news agency that Dzurinda and Miklos explained to the president their stance and reasons for trying to persuade their coalition partner, the SaS, of the need to support the widened bailout fund, during discussion in the presidential palace.
President Ivan Gasparovic agreed with SDKU-DS representatives that “there is currently no solution to the debt crisis in Europe that would not harm any EU country.” He further said after the meeting that “it is necessary to do all we can to prevent Slovakia from becoming a state that threatens the future of the eurozone, and consequently the whole European Union,” informed Bianchi.
The press release from the president’s office further states that “Finance Minister Ivan Miklos also briefed the president on the groundwork for next year’s state budget. Miklos said that the Slovak Republic needs to focus on reducing its deficit in public finances and the state budget to avoid threatening the country’s rating.”
The president wants to eventually meet with all leaders of parliamentary parties and discuss the issue with Prime Minister Iveta Radicova after completing all talks.
SITA