VZCZCXRO2202
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHSL #0552/01 1881524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071524Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0045
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BRATISLAVA 000552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON LO
SUBJECT: INTRODUCING SLOVAKIA'S NEW CABINET 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000552  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
¶1.  (U) President Gasparovic swore in the new cabinet of the 
Fico government on July 4.  Of the fifteen ministries, ten 
have gone to Smer, three to SNS, and two to HZDS.  The 
majority of these new ministers are little-known on the 
Slovak political scene.  However, the ones of most active 
interest to us -- Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Defense -- 
are either political figures well known to us, or 
professionals in their fields. 
 
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: JAN KUBIS, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
------------ 
¶2.  (SBU) Although nominated for the Foreign Ministry by 
Smer, Jan Kubis is not allied with any party; he is a career 
diplomat.  Demonstrating trust in the MFA staff and devotion 
to maintaining continuity in foreign relations, Kubis has 
named former-Minister Kukan's chief of staff Peter Kmec as 
his own chief of staff.  Born in Bratislava in 1952 and 
educated at the Moscow State Institute for International 
Affairs, Kubis began his career at the Czechoslovak Foreign 
Ministry in 1976.  He represented the Czechoslovak Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs at the UN-Geneva, GATT, and other 
international organizations.  Kubis also served at the 
embassies in Moscow and Addis Ababa during the 1980s, and 
from 1991 to 1992, he was Director-General of the Euro- 
Atlantic Section.  After the establishment of Slovakia in 
1993, Kubis was appointed ambassador to the United Nations 
in Geneva, where he worked from 1993 to 1994.  His other 
positions include Director of the Center of Prevention of 
Conflicts of the OSCE from 1994 to 1998, Special Envoy of 
the UN Secretary General for Tajikistan from 1998 to 1999, 
head of the UN Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) 
from 1998 to 1999, and OSCE Secretary General from 1999 to 
¶2005.  In July 2005, he was appointed the EU's Special Envoy 
to Central Asia.  Kubis so far has been professional and 
responsible for his public statements.  He introduces 
himself to the diplomatic corps July 10. 
 
MINISTER OF INTERIOR: ROBERT KALINAK, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----------- 
¶3.  (SBU) Born in 1971, Kalinak is Deputy Chairman of Smer, 
and has been an MP and shadow interior minister since 2002. 
A lawyer by profession, he studied at Bratislava's Comenius 
University, focusing on commercial law.  In addition to his 
membership in the Slovak Parliament, Kalinak works at a law 
firm, and co-owns (with at least one American partner) local 
restaurant chain Steam and Coffee and another company called 
Equity.  From 2002 to 2005, Kalinak was chairman of the 
Parliament Committee for Defense and Security and head of 
the Parliament Special Committee supervising the National 
Security Office (NBU).  He has also been a member of the 
Bratislava regional assembly since 2005.  Well-known at the 
Embassy, Kalinak holds promise as a young politician and new 
member of the Slovak Cabinet. 
 
MINISTER OF FINANCE: JAN POCIATEK, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----- 
¶4.  (SBU) Although an MP for Smer, Pociatek's background 
lies in business.  A graduate of the Department of 
Electronics at the Slovak University of Technics and the 
University of Economics in Bratislava, Pociatek began his 
professional career as trade director, and later as 
executive director, of Telenor Slovakia.  According to the 
commercial registry, he has been involved in several firms 
together with Robert Kalinak, including co-ownership of the 
restaurant chain Steam and Coffee, and Pociatek is also a 
partner in Harley Davidson Slovakia.  Pociatek has yet to 
voice his opinions on the flat tax and on the introduction 
of the Euro, although he has told the daily Sme to "wait for 
the first steps of the government [...]; we will convince 
everyone that Slovakia won't suffer any catastrophe." 
 
MINISTER OF ECONOMY: LUBOMIR JAHNATEK 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
------- 
¶5.  (U) Jahnatek is virtually unknown to the Slovak public, 
or to the Slovak political elite.  A graduate of chemical- 
technical studies, Jahnatek spent 14 years working for the 
Plastics Processing and Application Research Institute.  He 
then worked as Strategy Director at Duslo Sala (another 
company) for two years before moving on to General Director 
of Plastika Nitra.  Jahnatek also worked with the 
Association of Employer's Unions, heading the international 
component of the organization in Geneva.  His boss from the 
organization, Michal Lach, has told the daily Sme that 
Jahnatek is "ambitious, and the ministry may be a fitting 
position for him." 
 
MINISTER OF DEFENSE: FRANTISEK KASICKY, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000552  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
-------------- 
¶6.  (SBU) Kasicky has a great deal of experience with 
defense and security, and maintains positive relations with 
the Embassy.  As a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, he 
has served under four different ministers.  He has been 
Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and 
 
SIPDIS 
Security since 2004, as well as Secretary of the Special 
Parliamentary Committee for the Monitoring of the National 
Security Office and the Committee for the Use of Information 
and Technological Means.  Prior to that, Kasicky held the 
positions of Director of the Office of the Defense Minister 
and Director of the Communication Department.  In 2003, he 
became Director of the Military Defense Intelligence (VOS), 
but was dismissed from that post in May 2004 by then-Defense 
Minister Juraj Liska.  New Minister of the Interior Robert 
Kalinak, who was Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense 
Committee at that time, voiced concerns that Kasicky had 
been sacked for political reasons.  He later retracted those 
worries, stating that Kasicky had been dismissed instead on 
reasons of a "professional character."  Nonetheless, the 
rest of VOS was shocked by the dismissal.  Kasicky was said 
to be popular among all of VOS, including among the 
opposition. 
 
MINISTER OF HEALTH: IVAN VALENTOVIC, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
---------- 
¶7.  (SBU) Valentovic is not officially affiliated with any 
political party, but it has been said that he leans in favor 
of HZDS, particularly towards his good friend and MP Milan 
Urbani.  Although Valentovic has worked in the health 
ministry, his last several positions have been with various 
health insurance companies.  He received his education in 
the health field in the U.S. and Germany, and since 2004 he 
has been the General Director of the Community Health 
Insurance company.  The daily Sme writes that Valentovic is 
well-suited for the position of Health Minister because he 
has experience in health management and insurance, in 
addition to having been a doctor himself. 
 
MINISTER OF LABOR, SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AND FAMILY: VIERA 
TOMANOVA, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶8.  (U) The only female in Fico's cabinet, Tomanova has over 
a decade of experience with social affairs, having served as 
Smer's shadow minister and having worked in the Ministry 
from 1988 to 2003.  Born in Bratislava in 1948, Tomanova 
graduated from Bratislava's Economics University in 1972. 
She began working at a retirement home and then went on to a 
social welfare home in Velke Biely.  She became Director of 
Slovak Road Management, and since then has served several 
positions at the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and 
Family, including advisor to the Minister.  As Smer's shadow 
minister, Tomanova was known for her criticisms of social 
reform, opposing the rapid reform of the second pillar 
regarding insurance for pensioners.  Currently, Tomanova 
teaches at the Trnava University and the St. Elizabeth 
School of Health and Social Work in Bratislava. 
 
MINISTER OF CULTURE: MAREK MADARIC, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----------- 
¶9.  (SBU) Smer's former press secretary and spokesman, 
Madaric holds expertise in television and media.  He 
graduated with a degree in film and television dramaturgy 
from the Academy of Music, Drama, and Fine Arts in 
Bratislava, and began his career writing scripts and 
advertising slogans.  In the early 1990s he worked at Slovak 
Television and later for an advertising agency.  From 2002 
to 2004, he was Deputy Chairman of the Slovak Television 
Council, and from 2002 to 2006, he was assistant to MP Dusan 
Caplovic.  Madaric went on an IV trip in 2001 and speaks 
highly of his visit to the U.S., which he said helped him 
gain a better understanding of American institutions. 
However, Madaric also holds Fico in very high regard. 
 
MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION, POST, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS: 
LUBOMIR VAZNY, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
---------------------------------------- 
¶10.  (U) A member of Smer's leadership and the shadow 
minister of transportation, Vazny has been an MP since 2002. 
Born in 1957 in Zilina, he studied construction at 
Bratislava's Technical University, and went on to work in 
the construction sector.  From 1985 to 2002, Vazny was 
responsible for investments for the Stavoinvesta Company, 
and a member of the board of directors and the chairman of 
the supervisory board of the pharmaceutical company Biotika 
Slovenska Lupca.  Since 1994, Vazny has headed the 
Stavoinvesta Company.  From 1997 to 2002, he was a member of 
the management team at the Biotika Slovenska Lupca company. 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000552  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
 
MINISTER OF EDUCATION: JAN MIKOLAJ, SNS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----- 
¶11.  (SBU) An MP since 1998, Mikolaj began his political 
career as a member of HZDS.  He became independent in 2004, 
and together with Vojtech Tkac, created the short-lived 
People's Union before switching over to SNS, to which he 
currently belongs.  He was born in 1953 and has lived in 
Slota's hometown of Zilina since 1956.  Mikolaj graduated 
with a degree in Construction from the University of Zilina 
in 1977.  He worked as a construction manager until 1983, 
when he took up assistant teaching position at the 
University of Zilina.  After earning his PhD in 
construction, Mikolaj held various teaching positions at the 
University.  From 1995 to 1998, he headed the Slovak Roads 
Management company, before returning to the University of 
Zilina, where he was named a professor in 1998 and remains 
to this day.  In 2004, Mikolaj participated in an Embassy- 
sponsored visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels.  The new 
Minister of Education is little-known in that field, 
although over the past eight years he has built up his 
reputation in the area of construction and highways. 
 
MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: MARIAN 
JANUSEK, SNS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶12.  (SBU) A construction engineer by profession, Janusek 
works as Deputy Mayor of Zilina, under Mayor Jan Slota.  As 
new Minister of Construction and Regional Development, 
Janusek hopes to find more efficient ways to spend Euro 
Funds because they have not been distributed correctly in 
the past.  Part of SNS' election program was a vow to make 
sure families could have their own homes within a year of 
the birth of their first child; Janusek has said that this 
is his next priority.  The daily Sme quoted Janusek's 
acquaintances as calling him a "decent person," but one who 
is deeply under the influence of Slota.  In fact, these 
people have voiced concern that the ministry might be 
modeled after the Zilina city government. 
 
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT: JAROSLAV IZAK, SNS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
------------- 
¶13.  (U) Izak is an architect and former mayor of the town 
of Handlova.  He is a member of the Trencin regional 
government and an executive officer of IBS Handlova 
operating in cargo transportation and real estate business. 
Izak told the daily Sme that he would occupy himself with 
"all the environmental problems Slovakia is living with," 
and he hopes to improve the efficiency of spending of Euro 
funds. 
 
MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND DEPUTY PM FOR LEGISLATION: STEFAN 
HARABIN, HZDS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----------------------------------------- 
¶14.  (SBU) A long-time friend of both HZDS and SNS, Harabin 
has a long history in the Slovak justice system; 
unfortunately, not all of it has been positive.  He was 
appointed Chief Justice in 1998, but was dismissed in 2000 
as a result of conflicts with members of Parliament, as well 
as several scandals under his leadership.  Harabin sued a 
local newspaper over allegations of corruption in the courts 
under his supervision.  Harabin began his career at the 
Poprad district court in 1983, moving up to the Kosice 
regional court in 1990, and then in 1991 to the Supreme 
Court.  Harabin became Chief Justice in 1998 at the 
recommendation of SNS -- then a member of Meciar's 
government coalition.  Even Smer contacts have voiced 
concerns over Harabin's appointment. 
 
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE: MIROSLAV JURENA, HZDS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
------------------- 
¶15.  (SBU) Jurena is a veteran from Meciar's era, who has 
just been elected MP for HZDS.  He is relatively new to the 
political scene in the capacity of an MP, but Jurena is an 
old-time friend of HZDS.  The company Ressprint -- on whose 
board of directors Jurena served -- received over 4.5 mill 
SKK ($150,000 USD) from the Ministry of Culture under Meciar 
for "extraordinary cultural activities"; this contribution 
remains mostly unknown to the public or media.  Jurena 
maintains that HZDS held no direct influence on the firm. 
Currently Jurena is involved with eleven different firms, 
although he has told the daily Sme that he plans to give up 
managerial positions in these firms once he takes his 
position as Minister of Agriculture.  Jurena also told Sme 
that he planned to bring his own people to the Ministry in 
order to successfully complete his goals as Minister. 
 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000552  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
DEPUTY PM FOR ECONOMICS: DUSAN CAPLOVIC, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
------------------- 
¶16.  (SBU) A historian and archaeologist, Caplovic serves as 
a Deputy Chairman of Smer and has been an MP since 2002.  He 
has also served as Smer's shadow minister of education and 
culture and as a member of the Cabinet Council for Science 
and Technology.  Caplovic studied archaeology and history at 
Bratislava's Comenius University and then went on to work in 
the Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of 
Sciences (SAV) in Nitra.  He served as SAV Deputy Chairman 
from 1995 to 2001, and is currently an external lecturer at 
the Philosophy Department of Comenius University.  Caplovic 
is from the nationalist wing of Smer, which favored the 
party's union with SNS rather than with the Party of the 
Hungarian Coalition (SMK). 
 
SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: PAVOL PASKA, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
---------- 
¶17.  (SBU) As a Deputy Chairman of Smer, Paska has served as 
an MP and a shadow minister of health since 2002.  Born in 
1958, he graduated from the Philosophy Faculty of Comenius 
University in Bratislava.  Paska was a private businessman 
since 1992 and became an MP for Smer in 2002.  He comes from 
the Kosice wing of Smer, which tends to be more pro-American 
than the rest of the party, and the Embassy has maintained a 
positive working relationship with him.  Paska was a harsh 
critic of Minister Zajac at the same time that the firm 
Glynn Brothers Chemicals Slovakia -- with Paska at the helm 
as Director -- received almost four mill SKK ($133,333 USD) 
from Veritel, the state-created firm designed to pay off the 
debts of health care facilities.  As quoted in the weekly 
Tyzden, Paska commented that he did "not see any problem" 
with politically criticizing a system from he which he 
benefited as a businessman.  Another of his companies, 
Arcen, went into default after racking up more than 100 mill 
SKK ($3.3 mill USD) in debt and interest.  Paska is also 
a vehement critic of former PM Dzurinda. 
 
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: ANNA BELOUSOVA, SNS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
--------------------------- 
¶18.  (SBU) Formerly known as Anna Malikova, Anna Belousova 
has long been a leader in SNS and a rival of party Chairman 
Jan Slota.  Beginning her career as an elementary school 
teacher in 1983, Belousova was one of the founders of SNS in 
her hometown of Kysuce.  She began as an advisor in the 
party and gradually moved up to several different positions 
within SNS.  In 1994, Belousova became the first woman in 
the history of the party to serve as Deputy Chairwoman, and 
in 1999, she became Chairwoman.  In 1998, she was elected MP 
on behalf of SNS, but as a result of differences between 
Belousova and Slota, the nationalists split into SNS, led by 
Belousova, and PSNS, led by Slota.  They both failed to 
reach the five percent needed to enter Parliament and 
therefore, rejoined in 2003.  According to some sources, 
Belousova and Slota were infamous for fighting -- even 
throwing punches -- inside SNS headquarters, especially when 
either had had a drink. 
 
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: VILIAM VETESKA, HZDS 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------------------- 
¶19.  (U) A lawyer by training, Veteska worked for years in 
the travel industry, culminating in the position of Chairman 
of the Board for Slovak Airlines.  He has served as Vice 
Chairman to Meciar's HZDS party for four years.  Veteska 
belongs to the wing of HZDS which favors cooperation with 
Smer.  Since 2002, he has held a seat as Deputy Speaker of 
Parliament.  He lists his top political priority as the 
development of the travel and tourism industries. 
 
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: MIROSLAV CIZ, SMER 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
----------------------- 
¶20.  (U) A member of Smer's Board of Directors, Ciz has 
served as a Smer MP since 2002, where he has been a member 
of the Mandate and Immunity Committee.  He previously 
lectured on the topic of public administration at the 
Institute for National Committees in the 1980s.  Throughout 
the 1990s, Ciz worked as a staff expert in Parliament before 
becoming an MP.  Born in 1952, he received a law degree from 
Comenius University in Bratislava in 1978. 
 
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: MILAN HORT, SDKU 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------------- 
¶21.  (U) After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Hort became 
actively involved in local politics in Nova Dubnica, and 
from 1990 to 1994 he served as the town's mayor.  Hort was a 
founder and active member of the Association of Slovak 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000552  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
Mayors and the Union of the Slovak Towns (ZMOS), serving as 
vice president of the organization for two years. 
 
¶22.  (U) In 1998 he was elected MP on behalf of the Slovak 
Democratic Coalition (SDK), and a year later he helped to 
found the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU). 
Today he is esteemed by the party as its expert on public 
administration.  Hort was reelected MP for SDKU in 2002 and 
also became the head of the SDKU Faction in Parliament and 
the Chairman of the Committee for Public Administration.  In 
November 2002, the SDKU Congress elected him to the position 
of the SDKU Deputy Chairman for Regional Policy.