Kiska: I'll Take Time to Decide on Lajcak's Resignation

Bratislava, December 5 (TASR) – President Andrej Kiska hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll accept or reject the resignation of Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak (a Smer-SD nominee), opting to take some time in light of the information he’s received, TASR learnt on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Cabinet approved a negative stance towards the UN Global Compact for Migration.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) and Lajcak, Kiska reiterated that Slovakia should send a representative to the upcoming summit on migration in Marrakesh. “I regret that the Slovak Government has decided that Slovakia won’t have a representative there,” said Kiska, adding that it would be a pity if Slovakia lost such a minister as Lajcak given the complicated situation in Ukraine and Slovakia’s upcoming OSCE Presidency.

Pellegrini stressed that the Cabinet’s earlier decision wasn’t meant as an indication of no-confidence in Lajcak. “By its resolution the Government didn’t show no-confidence in the minister, but expressed disagreement with an international document against which Parliament and the majority of ministers expressed reservations,” he said, adding that he’s once again asked the president not to accept Lajcak’s resignation.

According to Pellegrini, following Kiska’s postponement of the decision, Lajcak can continue to carry out his tasks as minister.

Earlier on Wednesday the Cabinet at its session didn’t approve sending any Slovak representative to take part in the upcoming summit on migration in Marrakesh. Slovakia is set to send its comments concerning the UN migration compact via diplomatic post.

In line with the approved resolution, members of the Government are expected to “abstain from actions that could lead to effects that would bind Slovakia to the global compact”.

The international conference on migration in Marrakesh is scheduled to take place on December 10-11.