SLOVAK MINISTER OF DEFENSE LISKA RESIGNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000072 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2011 TAGS: PREL PGOV LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK MINISTER OF DEFENSE LISKA RESIGNS Classified By: DCM Lawrence Silverman per E.O. 12958 Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SLOVAK MINISTER OF DEFENSE JURAJ LISKA SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION FRIDAY MORNING, IN THE WAKE OF LAST THURSDAY'S CRASH OF A SLOVAK AIRFORCE AN-24, WHICH KILLED 42 SLOVAK SOLDIERS. LISKA'S RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED BY PRIME MINISTER DZURINDA. PRESIDENT GASPAOVIC SAID HE WILL RESPECT THE DECISION THOUGH HE WILL NOT FORMALLY ACCEPT THE MINISTERS RESIGNATION UNTIL NEXT WEEK. IN A TELEVISED NEWS CONFERENCE A TEARFUL MINISTER LISKA SAID THAT HIS DECISION WAS NOT POLITICAL, BUT RATHER A MATTER OF THE HEART. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: LISKA'S INTENTION TO LEAVE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WAS KNOWN TO EMBASSY STAFF. LISKA'S COLLEAGUES TOLD POLOFFS THAT HE HAD NO DESIRE TO CONTINUE SERVING, AND THE MINISTER HIMSELF HAD RECENTLY TOLD DATT THAT HE WAS TIRED OF THE JOB. END COMMENT. ¶4. (C) DESPITE FREQUENT ATTACKS ON THE MINISTER IN THE CENTER-LEFT PRESS THIS PAST FALL, THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE OVERT PRESSURE ON HIM TO RESIGN FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S PLANE CRASH. AN ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER HAS TOLD POST THAT THE DECISION TO RESIGN WAS LISKA'S ALONE. ¶5. (SBU) THE PRIME MINISTER'S SDKU PARTY, TO WHICH LISKA ALSO BELONGED, WILL NOMINATE A REPLACEMENT. SDKU MP ROMAN VAVRIK TOLD EMBOFF THAT SEVERAL NAMES ARE BEING CONSIDERED AS REPLACEMENT FOR LISKA, INCLUDING THE 31 YEAR-OLD STATE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, MARTIN FEDOR. VAVRIK SAID THE SIPDIS REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE SOMEONE FROM INDEPENDENT CIRCLES, AND NOT A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. VALLEE NNNN