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
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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

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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