The cabinet consented on Thursday to ground transport of US military personnel and equipment across Slovakia in case of a military operation in Iraq. In the cabinet vote, two ministers for the Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH), Minister of Interior Vladimir Palko and Minister of Education Martin Fronc voted against issuing the ground transport permit.

Foreign Ministry state secretary Jozsef Berenyi informed that the US Embassy verbally asked the Slovak cabinet for permit on Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky said that it is a logical request of the United States and the Party of Hungarian Coalition (SMK) ministers had no problems to support it. Cabinet’s agreement will help Slovakia’s interests in the democratic world, he suggested.

The cabinet charged ministers of defense, foreign affairs, interior and transport to prepare condition for realization of transports. The cabinet has not yet discussed financial aspects of the transports. It will inform parliament and the president about its resolution.

Mr. Palko said he was against allowing the transport of American military and equipment because the proposal lacked a humanitarian aspect. His vote today is in accord with his so far stance, as he also voted against the Persian Gulf deployment of a Slovak Army chemical unit. However, several weeks ago voted in favor of opening Slovak skies to the allied overflights, as this would enable transports of injured personnel and landings of damaged aircraft .