SLOVAKIA POLITICAL ROUNDUP, FEBRUARY 10, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000111

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE
NSC FOR DAMON WILSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KISL KPAO BO LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA POLITICAL ROUNDUP, FEBRUARY 10, 2006

REF: A. BRATISLAVA 0051

B. BRATISLAVA 0099

C. BRATISLAVA 0100

D. BRATISLAVA 0101

Classified By: CDA, a.i. Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and
(D).

KDH WITHDRAWAL HURTS THE LITTLE GUYS
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1. (C) The departure of KDH from the ruling coalition (refs
B-D),which resulted in the resignation of three cabinet
Ministers and the Chairman of Parliament, has also affected
our working-level contacts. The spokesman for former
parliament Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky sounded shell-shocked as
he packed his office the day the resignations were submitted
and accepted. By the day after, KDH MP Julius Brocka was
telling us that leaving the coalition was a victory for KDH,
as it defined for the voters the true differences between KDH
and SDKU. Still, he categorized the two parties as "Coca
Cola Classic and Coke Lite," saying that the two shared
similar values. He did not preclude future cooperation with
SDKU, either, noting that KDH's anger was particularly
directed at PM Dzurinda for his handling of the conscientious
objector treaty.

SLOVAKIA'S (SMALL) MUSLIM COMMUNITY CALM OVER CARTOONS
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2. (SBU) Though the Danish Embassy in Bratislava felt
comfortable enough to maintain its pre-cartoon security
posture, local police raised their presence outside the
downtown Embassy in light of the protests/attacks
reverberating through the Middle East. Meanwhile, local
Muslim leaders reassured Slovaks that there would be no
violence. The head of the Islamic Foundation in Slovakia
told the media that, although he disagrees with the cartoons,
he condemns attacks on the Danish people. However, he said
that many Muslims feel that European leaders tolerate
anti-Muslim bias, and in some cases actively support it.
Similarly, a Muslim representative from the Friends of
Islamic Literature said that the cartoon situation has been
exaggerated, but that feelings of injustice among Muslims in
Europe and abroad have been mounting. He cited the French
ban on the hijab (head covering) for women in schools as an
example. MFA contacts tell us that they feel the root of
these tensions need to be addressed, and that Slovakia -- as
a small country with an even smaller Muslim community -- may
consider introducing calls for formal dialogue in venues such
as the UN.

BELARUS MONITORING SLOVAK MEDIA
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3. (C) Giving credence to NGO fears that Belarusian
authorities are actively monitoring the democratization
programs and media coverage of the Lukashenko regime in
Bratislava, the Belarusian Embassy denied a visa to SME daily
reporter Mirko Toda, who frequently wrote about Belarus.
Specifically, Toda wrote about the Belarusian authorities
attitude and monitoring of Slovak NGOs. The Director of the
Pontis Foundation told us their employees feel targeted by
Belarusian intelligence services, who she believes are
keeping close tabs on the Foundation's blacklisted employees.

CORRUPTION COURT HANDS DOWN VERDICTS
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4. (U) Slovakia's special court for corruption recently
handed down sentences in two corruption cases. The Mayor of
Velky Meder, who was caught accepting a SKK 30,000 (USD 950)
bribe, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and a
fine equal to the bribe he was caught accepting.
Additionally, striking a blow against corruption in the
health sector (regarded by most Slovaks as the most corrupt
sector of the government),a gynecologist was sentenced to 15
months in jail and a SKK 30,000 (USD 950) fine for asking a
family for an SK 5,000 (USD 160) bribe to deliver a baby, and
SKK 2,000 (USD 64) for continuing care of the mother.

SILVERMAN