AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL WITH NBU CHIEF UGOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000353

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LO NATO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL WITH NBU CHIEF UGOR


CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. RONALD WEISER FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D


1. (C) ON MARCH 23 THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH RECENTLY
APPOINTED NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE (NBU) DIRECTOR AUREL UGOR.
THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THE USG'S PLEASURE THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS
INDEPENDENT AND APOLITICAL HEADING THE NBU. UGOR THANKED THE
AMBASSADOR FOR USG AND NATO SUPPORT.

NEW LAW ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION--IMPERFECT BUT IMPROVED
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2. (C) UGOR COMMENTED ON THE RECENTLY PASSED LAW ON
PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, CHARACTERIZING IT AS A
COMPROMISE. HE NOTED, IN PARTICULAR, THAT ARTICLE 14--WHICH
OUTLINES WHO CANNOT RECEIVE A SECURITY CLEARANCE--ALMOST
CERTAINLY WOULD BE AMENDED IN THE COMING MONTHS. UGOR STATED
THAT THE NEW LAW GOVERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NBU
DIRECTOR WOULD APPLY TO HIM AND THAT HE WOULD SERVE A 7-YEAR
TERM AND COULD BE RECALLED BY PARLIAMENT OR THE GOVERNMENT.


3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT THE NUMBER OF EXEMPT
INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD ACCESS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITHOUT
UNDERGOING VETTING CONTINUED TO BE VERY BROAD AND THAT THIS
WAS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. UGOR AGREED WITH THIS ASSESSMENT,
POINTING OUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF COMPROMISE ON
THE NEW LAW. HE NOTED THAT THE NBU HAD ONLY BEEN IN
EXISTENCE FOR THREE YEARS AND WAS STILL PERCEIVED AS A
RESTRICTIVE BODY. HE ADDED THAT NATO SECURITY CHIEF WAYNE
RYCHAK HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE DURING THEIR
MEETING IN BRUSSELS IN MID-MARCH.

GOOD RELATIONS WITHIN THE INTEL COMMUNITY
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4. (C) WITH REGARD TO THE MECHANICS OF VETTING FOR SECURITY
CLEARANCES, ONLY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WOULD CONTINUE TO
DO THEIR OWN CLEARANCES ACCORDING TO THE NEW LAW. MINISTRY
OF DEFENSE CLEARANCES, ONCE CONDUCTED BY THE MILITARY
DEFENSIVE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, WOULD NOW BE MOVED TO THE
NBU. UGOR SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE COOPERATION THE
NBU WAS RECEIVING FROM OTHER AGENCIES IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE
CLEARANCE APPLICANTS. HE ADDED THAT THE NEW FORUM THAT
BROUGHT TOGETHER THE MILITARY DEFENSIVE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
(VOS),MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (VSS),SLOVAK
INFORMATION SERVICE (SIS),AND SOME POLICE FORCE ELEMENTS
FACILITATED THE CLEARANCE PROCESS.

STB PURGE NOT REQUIRED BY NATO
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5. (C) THE AMBASSADOR CLARIFIED ONE POINT UGOR MADE IN AN
INTERVIEW IN PRAVDA CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF FORMER MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNIST-ERA SECRET SERVICE FROM THE SLOVAK
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES. THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT THIS
PURGE WAS NOT A NATO REQUIREMENT. UGOR SAID THAT HE KNEW
THIS TO BE THE CASE AND THAT HIS WORDS IN THAT INTERVIEW HAD
BEEN TAKEN SOMEWHAT OUT OF CONTEXT.

COMMENT
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6. (C) IN THIS MEETING, UGOR CAME ACROSS AS THE ALTER EGO TO
JAN MOJZIS. UGOR WAS VERY QUIET AND CAUTIOUSLY GUARDED.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS WILLING TO SPEAK OPENLY WITH THE AMBASSADOR,
UGOR WAS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SPEAK OUT OF SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH
UGOR CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS SOME ENGLISH, HE USED AN INTERPRETER
FOR THIS MEETING. HE CONTINUES TO STUDY ENGLISH AS HE HAS
FOUND IT NECESSARY FOR INTERACTING WITH U.S. AND NATO
OFFICIALS.
WEISER

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