Slovakia won't join military missions in Syria unless with int'l mandate: PM

Slovakia won't participate in military missions in Syria unless such a mission receives an international mandate, announced Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday.

Fico said that Slovakia is ready to respond to France's official request whereby it seeks help from fellow European Union member countries towards its military operations in Syria and elsewhere following the terror attacks in Paris.

"Slovakia may differ in some of its views regarding some aspects of the migration crisis, but it will certainly show solidarity," said Fico.

"We're solidary when it comes to money, we're solidary in terms of technical assistance and personnel, so it would be wrong to say that Slovakia will not be involved (in military assistance) as long as there's an international mandate," Fico said.

For the first time ever, France on Tuesday invoked the 42.7 clause of the Treaty on European Union to request assistance of fellow EU member countries.

Under the provision, "if a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall have an obligation towards it regarding aid and assistance by all means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States." Endit