THE BUZZ: MOSQUITO INFESTATION GETS POLITICAL

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000333

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO TBIO SENV LO
SUBJECT: THE BUZZ: MOSQUITO INFESTATION GETS POLITICAL


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: After weeks of rain and days of sun, a
mosquito infestation of seemingly Biblical proportions descended
on Slovakia in July. While the conversation about the
infestation has been mostly confined to idle chatter among
residents, the discussion was elevated to the political arena
when Prime Minister Fico announced a decision to dedicate EUR
300,000 toward chemical spraying of the Zahorie area of western
Slovakia. PM Fico then became enraged when a journalist asked
him if the decision was related to a cottage Fico owned in the
area (where the PM has been spending a lot of time lately due to
persistent back problems). Seizing on the potential Katrina
moment, SDKU opposition leader Mikulas Dzurinda said the Fico
government was lacking in responsiveness and preparation, citing
forecasts that the mosquito problem would be significantly
higher this year. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Heavy rains in late June and early July have contributed
to the large mosquito problem now gripping residents of
Slovakia. Rivers and lakes that were flooded have given way to
large pockets of isolated, standing water, a particularly
inviting environment for mosquitoes. With its numerous lakes
and rivers, the Zahorie area just north of Bratislava has
endured an especially high infestation level. Responding to
pleas from local officials short on funds for chemical spraying,
PM Fico called a press conference to announce that EUR 300,000
from the Government Reserve Fund will be set aside to fight the
problem in Zahorie.


3. (U) In the question-and-answer session following the press
conference, Fico became enraged when a journalist asked about a
cottage the PM owned in Zahorie, connecting funds designated for
anti-mosquito control with Fico's personal interests. Calling
the journalist an "idiot," Fico said he would "insist on this
expression" for the "rubbish" that has been published about him.


4. (SBU) The GOS and the opposition then became engaged in a
tit-for-tat over the mosquito infestation as they lobbed one
specious charge after another. SDKU Chairman Dzurinda said the
GOS should have been better prepared as forecasts of the
potential infestation existed in the spring (limitations on
long-term weather forecasting notwithstanding). Dzurinda also
claimed local mayors were unable to reach their regional
environment offices because of the summer holiday season (a
bureaucratic trend this time of year that transcends any
particular government).


5. (SBU) For his part, Fico said he would have the Ministries of
Environment and Agriculture work out ways to help local
governments combat the problem. Predictably, the opposition
looked to undercut the assistance by stating that the GOS should
have been focused on prevention from the start.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Though Fico swatted away pesky reporters'
questions on an issue he considers "banal" (the PM's usual
reaction to issues of government inaction brought to his
attention by the press),the mosquito brouhaha succinctly
captures the hostility the GOS exhibits toward the press and the
antagonism between the GOS and the opposition as we have
previously reported. END COMMENT.

EDDINS