FOREIGN MINISTER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000504

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR LO
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE
RECONFIRMED



1. THE NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE (NBU) HAS REVIEWED AND
CONFIRMED FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARD KUKAN'S SECURITY
CERTIFICATE. DURING KUKAN'S UNSUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN EARLIER THIS YEAR, AN ANONYMOUS LETTER WAS
SENT TO THE SLOVAK PRESS, CLAIMING THAT KUKAN HAD
WORKED FOR THE COMMUNIST-ERA SECRET POLICE (STB).


2. COMMENT: THE ALLEGATIONS ALMOST CERTAINLY WERE
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AS KUKAN HAD BEEN THE FRONTRUNNER
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND IT IS LIKELY THAT HIS
OPPONENTS SOUGHT TO REDUCE HIS CHANCES IN THE ELECTION.
WHILE KUKAN RECEIVED A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM THE
NBU, THE CASE COULD BE REOPENED IN THE FUTURE AS THE
INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL MEMORY HAS ONE STB FILE
REGISTERED FOR KUKAN, BUT CANNOT ACCESS IT AT THIS TIME
BECAUSE THE FILE IS IN THE CZECH ARCHIVES.

WEISER

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