VZCZCXRO2977
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSL #0111 0411609
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101609Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9516
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000111 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE 
NSC FOR DAMON WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016 
TAGS:              
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA POLITICAL ROUNDUP, FEBRUARY 10, 2006 
 
REF: A. BRATISLAVA 0051 
      B. BRATISLAVA 0099 
      C. BRATISLAVA 0100 
      D. BRATISLAVA 0101 
 
Classified By: CDA, a.i. Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and 
(D). 
 
KDH WITHDRAWAL HURTS THE LITTLE GUYS 
------------------------------------ 
 
 1.  (C)  The departure of KDH from the ruling coalition (refs 
B-D), which resulted in the resignation of three cabinet 
Ministers and the Chairman of Parliament, has also affected 
our working-level contacts.  The spokesman for former 
parliament Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky sounded shell-shocked as 
he packed his office the day the resignations were submitted 
and accepted.  By the day after, KDH MP Julius Brocka was 
telling us that leaving the coalition was a victory for KDH, 
as it defined for the voters the true differences between KDH 
and SDKU.  Still, he categorized the two parties as "Coca 
Cola Classic and Coke Lite," saying that the two shared 
similar values.  He did not preclude future cooperation with 
SDKU, either, noting that KDH's anger was particularly 
directed at PM Dzurinda for his handling of the conscientious 
objector treaty. 
 
SLOVAKIA'S (SMALL) MUSLIM COMMUNITY CALM OVER CARTOONS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
 2.  (SBU)  Though the Danish Embassy in Bratislava felt 
comfortable enough to maintain its pre-cartoon security 
posture, local police raised their presence outside the 
downtown Embassy in light of the protests/attacks 
reverberating through the Middle East.  Meanwhile, local 
Muslim leaders reassured Slovaks that there would be no 
violence.  The head of the Islamic Foundation in Slovakia 
told the media that, although he disagrees with the cartoons, 
he condemns attacks on the Danish people.  However, he said 
that many Muslims feel that European leaders tolerate 
anti-Muslim bias, and in some cases actively support it. 
Similarly, a Muslim representative from the Friends of 
Islamic Literature said that the cartoon situation has been 
exaggerated, but that feelings of injustice among Muslims in 
Europe and abroad have been mounting.  He cited the French 
ban on the hijab (head covering) for women in schools as an 
example.  MFA contacts tell us that they feel the root of 
these tensions need to be addressed, and that Slovakia -- as 
a small country with an even smaller Muslim community -- may 
consider introducing calls for formal dialogue in venues such 
as the UN. 
 
BELARUS MONITORING SLOVAK MEDIA 
------------------------------- 
 
 3.  (C)  Giving credence to NGO fears that Belarusian 
authorities are actively monitoring the democratization 
programs and media coverage of the Lukashenko regime in 
Bratislava, the Belarusian Embassy denied a visa to SME daily 
reporter Mirko Toda, who frequently wrote about Belarus. 
Specifically, Toda wrote about the Belarusian authorities 
attitude and monitoring of Slovak NGOs.  The Director of the 
Pontis Foundation told us their employees feel targeted by 
Belarusian intelligence services, who she believes are 
keeping close tabs on the Foundation's blacklisted employees. 
 
CORRUPTION COURT HANDS DOWN VERDICTS 
------------------------------------ 
 
 4.  (U)  Slovakia's special court for corruption recently 
handed down sentences in two corruption cases.  The Mayor of 
Velky Meder, who was caught accepting a SKK 30,000 (USD 950) 
bribe, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and a 
fine equal to the bribe he was caught accepting. 
Additionally, striking a blow against corruption in the 
health sector (regarded by most Slovaks as the most corrupt 
sector of the government), a gynecologist was sentenced to 15 
months in jail and a SKK 30,000 (USD 950) fine for asking a 
family for an SK 5,000 (USD 160) bribe to deliver a baby, and 
SKK 2,000 (USD 64) for continuing care of the mother. 
 
SILVERMAN