SLOVAKIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000034

SIPDIS

FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE AND PASS NCTC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

REF: 08 STATE 120019


1. Per reftel, Post is submitting the 2008 Country Report on
Terrorism for Slovakia. Embassy POC for this report is
Political/Economic Chief Susan Ball, office phone
4212-5592-3412; email:BallSM@state.gov.

General Assessment
--------------


2. No transnational terrorist or extremist organizations
have a significant presence in Slovakia, although Slovak
officials believe extremists are likely to have transited
through the country in the past. Slovak officials describe
the local Muslim population as small, approximately 5000.
The Slovak police closely monitor the community, which is
comprised mostly of students, and do not believe that it
contains a significant number of radicalized members. In
2008, a group of four Middle Eastern men were detected
possibly surveilling the U.S. Embassy. Slovak officials have
cooperated closely with the Embassy on this matter.


3. A suspected terrorist, Mustapha Labsi, has been held in
Slovak custody since May 2007. In November 2007, the
Bratislava Regional Court approved a Slovak Government
request to extradite him to Algeria where he has been
convicted in absentia to life in prison. In January 2008,
the Supreme Court confirmed this decision. In June 2008, the
Constitutional Court ruled that the Supreme Court must verify
that Labsi will not face torture upon extradition. In
December 2008 the Migration Office again denied Labsi's
request for asylum in Slovakia, which he appealed.


4. The primary police unit responsible for investigating
criminal offenses related to terrorism is the Counter
Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Organized Crime Bureau. The CTU
is authorized to carry out criminal investigations and make
arrests of suspected terrorist or extremists within the
country. It also has the mandate to develop Slovakia's
counterterrorism strategy. The most recent version, approved
in October 2007, focuses on developing the legislative and
institutional framework to combat terrorism, as well as
strengthen the coordination, collaboration and exchange of
information among key institutional actors. The Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Organized Crime Bureau and the
Slovak Information Service (SKIS) also have counter-terrorism
responsibilities.

Foreign Government Cooperation
--------------


5. Although Slovakia is not a leader in multinational
counterterrorism activities, Slovakia cooperates closely with
a range of international partners in numerous fora. For
example, Slovak police participate in the Police Working
Group on Terrorism, a consortium of EU member states, Norway
and Switzerland. The Slovak Information Service (SKIS) is
engaged in the Club de Berne, which facilitates exchange of
police and intelligence information on terrorism. It also
participates in the EU's Joint Situation Center.


6. Cooperative ties with other EU member states, as well as
with the U.S., have strengthened as a result of Slovakia's
accession to Europe,s border-free Schengen zone on December
21, 2007, and entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program on
November 17, 2008. In order to qualify for the VWP regime,
the Slovaks signed a Security Memorandum of Understanding
with the USG in March 2008. Implementing agreements included
one based on Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6
(HSPD-6),which seeks to establish joint efforts to prevent
and address international terrorism, and one based on the
German "Pruem" agreement, also known as the agreement for
Preventing and Combating Crime, which enables law enforcement
officers in both countries to share specific information on
individuals convicted or suspected of terrorism or serious
crimes.


7. The USG provided assistance to Slovakia,s efforts to
secure its borders against terrorist threats in 2008. The
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conducted a
Commodity Identification Training for 12 Slovak Customs
Officers in November 2008. The training focused on the
identification of dual-use goods that may be misused for
illicit WMD programs. In April 2008, the USG donated three
hand-held metal analyzers to the Slovaks, two of which are
used on the Ukrainian border, and one of which is used as a
roving unit. These units provide the Customs Directorate
with a fast and non-invasive way to identify metals and
prevent illicit transfers of materials, equipment, and
technology.

8. In August 2008, at the request of the Slovak Customs,
U.S. Customs and Border protection held a 5 day
anti-corruption and integrity enhancement course in
Bratislava. 32 Slovak participants, including investigators,
prosecutors, and analysts in the Customs Service, Alien and
Border Police, Police Presidium, Ministries of Interior and
Justice, and Special Court took part in the 5-day course
taught by 4 trainers from Washington D.C.


9. In 2008, Slovakia increased the level of its permanent
deployment to the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) in Afghanistan to 175, more than doubling its
contingent.

OBSITNIK