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


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