Slovakia and its fellow eastern EU members - all largely homogenous in terms of race, religion and ethnicity - have come under fire from western members like France and Germany for their reluctance to take in people fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
"When Germany or France says something we should not bow down and repeat the same thing. We also have our own opinion," Fico told reporters.
He spoke after EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled a major plan for the bloc's migrant crisis, including compulsory quotas for relocating asylum seekers from overstretched frontline states.
Under the plan, Slovakia would take in 1,502 refugees out of a total 120,000 currently in Greece, Hungary and Italy. Germany would take in 31,443 refugees while France would take in 24,031 - the largest shares.
Juncker also urged the EU to back an earlier plan to relocate another 40,000 refugees. Slovakia's share there had been 785 but Bratislava pledged only 100.
"We say no to mandatory quotas. I don't want to wake up one day and have 50,000 people here in this country about whom we know nothing," Fico said Wednesday.
"I do not want to take responsibility for any attack that may occur only because we underestimated something. I will constantly be talking about the security risks associated with migration," he added.
"The Slovak government is ready to contribute to the protection of the external borders of the European Union. Whether it's funding or military force or some other assistance."
In July, Slovakia agreed to temporarily take in 500 migrants who applied for asylum in Austria.
Last month, Slovakia's Interior Ministry said the country would grant asylum to 200 Christian Syrians, saying it only wanted to take in people of the Christian faith.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
9/9/15
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