Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRATISLAVA89
2008-02-29 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT BACKS AWAY FROM PROBLEMATIC NGO LAW
how-toVZCZCXRO1560 OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHSL #0089 0601557 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 291557Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1554 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0674 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000089
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL LO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT BACKS AWAY FROM PROBLEMATIC NGO LAW
REF: A) BRATISLAVA 28 B) BRATISLAVA 8 C) BRATISLAVA 1
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000089
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL LO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT BACKS AWAY FROM PROBLEMATIC NGO LAW
REF: A) BRATISLAVA 28 B) BRATISLAVA 8 C) BRATISLAVA 1
1. (SBU) In a February 27 meeting with NGO leaders, Interior
Minister Kalinak acknowledged that the government's draft law
on NGOs was flawed and tasked NGO lawyers to produce a
mututally satisfactory draft within two weeks. The NGOs plan
to draft an amendment to the existing 1990 law that would
address the government's desire to establish an NGO registry,
limit the number of legal forms for NGOs, and more precisely
define NGO economic activities. Although Kalinak has always
stressed the need for a wholly new (read: Slovak) law, NGO
leaders tell us that they believe he will accept this
approach. Marcel Zajac, one of the NGO participants in the
meeting, thanked Emboff for the Embassy's engagement in the
issue. Zajac said the Embassy's intervention had played a
critical role in shaping the government's response. He added
that Minister Kalinak and Deputy Prime Minister Caplovic had
"heard your views," and, as result, had been more willing to
listen and cooperate. (Comment: We will continue to monitor
the process, but believe that the tide has turned decisively
in favor of a process that will produce a balanced law
consistent with European standards. End Comment.)
OBSITNIK
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL LO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT BACKS AWAY FROM PROBLEMATIC NGO LAW
REF: A) BRATISLAVA 28 B) BRATISLAVA 8 C) BRATISLAVA 1
1. (SBU) In a February 27 meeting with NGO leaders, Interior
Minister Kalinak acknowledged that the government's draft law
on NGOs was flawed and tasked NGO lawyers to produce a
mututally satisfactory draft within two weeks. The NGOs plan
to draft an amendment to the existing 1990 law that would
address the government's desire to establish an NGO registry,
limit the number of legal forms for NGOs, and more precisely
define NGO economic activities. Although Kalinak has always
stressed the need for a wholly new (read: Slovak) law, NGO
leaders tell us that they believe he will accept this
approach. Marcel Zajac, one of the NGO participants in the
meeting, thanked Emboff for the Embassy's engagement in the
issue. Zajac said the Embassy's intervention had played a
critical role in shaping the government's response. He added
that Minister Kalinak and Deputy Prime Minister Caplovic had
"heard your views," and, as result, had been more willing to
listen and cooperate. (Comment: We will continue to monitor
the process, but believe that the tide has turned decisively
in favor of a process that will produce a balanced law
consistent with European standards. End Comment.)
OBSITNIK