FY-07 NATO TOUR NOMINEES FOLLOW-ON

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000084 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO AMGT NATO LO SUBJECT: FY-07 NATO TOUR NOMINEES FOLLOW-ON REF: (A) 06 Bratislava 748 (B) EMAILS KEITH HUGHES/JOHN PULASKI 12/12/06 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftels, Embassy Bratislava nominates the following Members of Parliament for the FY-2007 single-country, policy-maker tour, which is already scheduled for March 8-9, 2007: -- Rudolf Pucik is a first-time MP representing the governing Slovak National Party (SNS). He is Chairperson of the Defense and Security Committee in the National Council (Parliament) and a member of the 9-person "coalition council." Although SNS has been critical of Slovakia's membership in NATO in the past, Pucik has said that he (and his party) accepts that Slovakia must live up to the commitments it has made now that it is a member. A visit to USNATO will help him to better understand those commitments and how Slovakia and the US work together through NATO. DOB: December 4 1956 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009623 valid until Dec. 2010 No English -- Emil Vestenicky is a first-time MP representing the governing SNS. He is a member of the Defense and Security Committee, the Special Oversight Committee of Military Intelligence, and a member of the Permanent Delegation of the National Council to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly. Vestenicky is a retired Major General in the Slovak Army and a former Commander of Slovak Ground Forces. Post expects him to provide valuable leadership and be a source of trusted expertise for the full group of Parliamentarians. DOB: July 17, 1948 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009643 valid until Dec. 2010 English - yes -- Juraj Horvath is a first-time MP representing the governing Smer-Social Democracy party (Smer). Horvath is a member of the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament. Prior to Smer's 2006 election victory, Horvath was Smer's point-man for international relations and foreign policy. His participation will provide him with information that he can use for his own work, and pass on to his fellow party members. DOB: November 19, 1965 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009589 valid until Oct. 2010 English - yes -- Olga Nachtmannova is a first-time MP representing the governing Smer-Social Democracy party (Smer). Nachtmannova is a member of the European Affairs Committee. Participation in the USNATO exchange program will allow Nachtmannova to get more information about NATO policies and future goals. DOB: July 14, 1963 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009681 valid until October 2010 English - basic -- Jozef Tarcak is a second-time MP representing the governing People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS). Tarcak is a member of the Special Oversight Committee of Military Intelligence. In the past LS-HZDS was opposed to NATO membership for Slovakia, although now it is supportive. This visit will help him to get more first hand information about NATO and its philosophy. DOB: April 25, 1959 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009703 valid until Aug. 2010 English - no -- Pavol Freso is a first-time MP representing the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU). Freso is a member of the Special Oversight Committee for the National Security Office. SDKU was the party of the former PM who brought Slovakia into NATO in 2004, and Post would like to take this chance to maintain relations and positive feelings for NATO within that party. DOB: April 21, 1969 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: Freso has a diplomatic passport valid until August ¶2010. Number will be provided Septel. English - yes -- Imre Andrusko is a first-time MP representing the opposition Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK) and sits on the Special Oversight Committee of Military Intelligence. Andrusko is the rector of a Hungarian-language gymnasium in his hometown of Komarno. Post feels that the inclusion of an SMK MP is important to bring balance to the delegation. DOB: March 6, 1969 Citizenship: Slovak Passport No.: 0009564 valid until Oct 2010 English - no ¶2. (SBU) Aaron Chase, is a Fascell Fellow at Embassy Bratislava who serves as Post's Political-Military Officer and will accompany the MPs. Aaron has visited USNATO twice for the annual Pol-Mil conference and has a good understanding of Slovak politics. DOB: January 17, 1975 Citizenship: U.S. Diplomatic Passport No.: 900482941 ¶3. (U) Post requests assistance arranging a Slovak-English interpreter for this group. Post requests USNATO to inform of availability and cost of translators in Brussels. If it is less expensive to send an interpreter from Slovakia, Post will arrange it. VALLEE