AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERIOR MINISTER KALINAK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000615 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL CASC CVIS PINR LO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERIOR MINISTER KALINAK REF: A. BRATISLAVA 613 ¶B. BRATISLAVA 483 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Ambassador's first formal meeting with new Interior Minister Robert Kalinak demonstrated Kalinak's openness and intent to continue Slovakia's efforts to fight extremism, trafficking in persons, and organized crime. Kalinak indicated that Slovakia may increase its training program for Iraqi police officers. He promised that his Ministry will look for flexible solutions on residency issues affecting American citizens. We expect that Kalinak, a promising young politician, will remain a frank and helpful interlocutor with the Embassy. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador paid his first formal call on the new Minister of Interior Robert Kalinak, who is well known to the Embassy from his days as a member of parliament, on July 27. Kalinak holds one of the four Deputy Prime Minister positions and is also a deputy chairman of the Smer ("Direction") party. He served as the opposition's shadow Interior Minister for four years in parliament, thus he is well-acquainted with the Ministry's issues and personnel. The Interior Ministry oversees the country's police force, border control, residency permits for foreigners, asylum seekers, and migration issues. Other MOI attendees at the meeting were Mr. Marian Salon, Kalinak's Chief of Staff; Ms. Miroslava Vozaryova, head of the International Agreements Office; and Ms. Miroslava Lihanova from the International Department. MOVING ON UP: FROM COFFEE HOUSE TO MINISTRY -------------- ¶3. (C) Kalinak's relaxed and open manner during the official, hour-long meeting reflected his history of informal get-togethers with various Embassy staff. Previous meetings usually took place at a local coffee house co-owned by Kalinak. Before sitting down at the table, Kalinak apologized for not being at his best since he had come from donating blood for an injured police officer. ¶4. (C) Kalinak opened the meeting by stating that Slovakia would fulfill its commitments 100 percent. He acknowledged that the US and Slovakia may occasionally disagree but, in such instances, the table would always be open for discussion. COUNTER-TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador thanked the Ministry for its protection of the Embassy and his own personal bodyguards. He asked that the new Minister continue the high level of information-sharing regarding counter-terrorism and that the Embassy be notified immediately of any threats to USG or private American interests. Kalinak readily agreed. EXTREMISM AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador emphasized the fight against extremism and trafficking in persons as significant issues of mutual concern. Kalinak explained that extremism, generally manifested in Slovakia via racist hate crimes and neo-nazi propaganda, will remain a top priority for the MOI. The Minister acknowledged that international focus on the issue is due to Smer's choice of coalition partner. The new government's formal program will contain an explicit guarantee of human and minority rights. Kalinak said the GOS was committed to providing police more resources at the regional level to cut down on ordinary crimes against citizens. The Ministry will continue to pursue corruption and organized crime issues, as well. The current TIP National Coordinator is stepping down, but will likely maintain contact with the Ministry as an external advisor. The change of National Coordinator will bring increased focus on the prevention aspect of TIP. IRAQ: POSSIBLE INCREASE IN POLICE TRAINERS -------------- ¶7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's request for Slovakia to consider expanding its program for training Iraqi police officers, Kalinak replied that he hoped it would be possible. ¶8. (C) Kalinak noted the GOS's involvement in humanitarian aid to Lebanon. He expressed his hope that UNSC resolutions regarding Hizballah would be fulfilled. VISAS AND AMCIT ISSUES BRATISLAVA 00000615 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶9. (C) The Ambassador requested the Interior Ministry continue to participate in the Bilateral Consular Working Group meetings, the next one to be held in September. He noted that the MOI's authority to issue residency permits, which are necessary for American citizens to work in Slovakia in addition to receipt of a work permit from the Labor Ministry, impacts the length of visa reciprocity. The two principals discussed the inability of AmCits to get their fingerprints inked in Slovakia, a necessary step to request a criminal record check through the FBI as a condition to receive a residency permit, since the Slovak police are not authorized to perform this fingerprinting service upon request. Kalinak maintained that the Ministry would be as flexible as possible on such red-tape issues and would certainly be represented at BCWG meetings. ENERGY SECURITY -------------- ¶10. (C) The Ambassador impressed upon Kalinak, as a Deputy Prime Minister, the importance of energy security and diversity of sources for Slovakia and central Europe. He urged the GOS to weigh the long-term benefits of transparency of ownership and open access when negotiating with Russian sources for oil and gas. Kalinak agreed that Slovakia has no desire to be dependent on a single energy source and that flexibility of sources would enhance the country's economic independence. Upon request, Kalinak promised to try to facilitate a meeting with the new Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek. The Ambassador's first meeting with Minister Jahnatek was realized later that same day (ref A). ¶11. (C) On organizational issues, Kalinak said the Ministry will need to restructure its finances. The roles of the two recently-named State Secretaries (Deputy Ministers),Jozef Bucek of Smer and Vladimir Cecot of SNS (Slovak National party),have not yet been determined. ¶12. (C) COMMENT. While Fico trusts his Interior Minister, Kalinak has not yet proven an ability to sway the direction of Smer, as evidenced by how few of his pre-election predictions and preferences became reality (ref B). Kalinak represents the young, pragmatic side of Smer and holds promise to become more influential. According to Smer vice-chairman Pavol Paska, Fico asked Kalinak to take the Interior Minister's spot, rather than his desired choice to become Defense Minister, to balance Smer's xenophobic coalition partner SNS. Kalinak's intent to bolster the Ministry's anti-extremism and TIP activities is sincere, demonstrated by the swiftness of arrests in recent extremism incidents. We expect that Kalinak will remain a frank and helpful interlocutor with the Embassy. END COMMENT. VALLEE