US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA353

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PREL, LO, NATO 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL WITH NBU CHIEF UGOR 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. RONALD WEISER FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D 
 
1.  (C)  ON MARCH 23 THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH RECENTLY 
    APPOINTED NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE (NBU) DIRECTOR AUREL UGOR. 
 THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THE USG'S PLEASURE THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS 
INDEPENDENT AND APOLITICAL HEADING THE NBU.  UGOR THANKED THE 
AMBASSADOR FOR USG AND NATO SUPPORT. 
 
NEW LAW ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION--IMPERFECT BUT IMPROVED 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
2.  (C) UGOR COMMENTED ON THE RECENTLY PASSED LAW ON 
PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, CHARACTERIZING IT AS A 
COMPROMISE.  HE NOTED, IN PARTICULAR, THAT ARTICLE 14--WHICH 
OUTLINES WHO CANNOT RECEIVE A SECURITY CLEARANCE--ALMOST 
CERTAINLY WOULD BE AMENDED IN THE COMING MONTHS.  UGOR STATED 
THAT THE NEW LAW GOVERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NBU 
DIRECTOR WOULD APPLY TO HIM AND THAT HE WOULD SERVE A 7-YEAR 
TERM AND COULD BE RECALLED BY PARLIAMENT OR THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
3.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT THE NUMBER OF EXEMPT 
INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD ACCESS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITHOUT 
UNDERGOING VETTING CONTINUED TO BE VERY BROAD AND THAT THIS 
WAS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.  UGOR AGREED WITH THIS ASSESSMENT, 
POINTING OUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF COMPROMISE ON 
THE NEW LAW.  HE NOTED THAT THE NBU HAD ONLY BEEN IN 
EXISTENCE FOR THREE YEARS AND WAS STILL PERCEIVED AS A 
RESTRICTIVE BODY.  HE ADDED THAT NATO SECURITY CHIEF WAYNE 
RYCHAK HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE DURING THEIR 
MEETING IN BRUSSELS IN MID-MARCH. 
 
GOOD RELATIONS WITHIN THE INTEL COMMUNITY 
----------------------------------------- 
 
    4.  (C) WITH REGARD TO THE MECHANICS OF VETTING FOR SECURITY 
CLEARANCES, ONLY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WOULD CONTINUE TO 
DO THEIR OWN CLEARANCES ACCORDING TO THE NEW LAW.  MINISTRY 
OF DEFENSE CLEARANCES, ONCE CONDUCTED BY THE MILITARY 
DEFENSIVE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, WOULD NOW BE MOVED TO THE 
NBU.  UGOR SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE COOPERATION THE 
NBU WAS RECEIVING FROM OTHER AGENCIES IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE 
CLEARANCE APPLICANTS.  HE ADDED THAT THE NEW FORUM THAT 
BROUGHT TOGETHER THE MILITARY DEFENSIVE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE 
(VOS), MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (VSS), SLOVAK 
INFORMATION SERVICE (SIS), AND SOME POLICE FORCE ELEMENTS 
FACILITATED THE CLEARANCE PROCESS. 
 
STB PURGE NOT REQUIRED BY NATO 
------------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR CLARIFIED ONE POINT UGOR MADE IN AN 
INTERVIEW IN PRAVDA CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF FORMER MEMBERS 
OF THE COMMUNIST-ERA SECRET SERVICE FROM THE SLOVAK 
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES.  THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT THIS 
PURGE WAS NOT A NATO REQUIREMENT.  UGOR SAID THAT HE KNEW 
THIS TO BE THE CASE AND THAT HIS WORDS IN THAT INTERVIEW HAD 
BEEN TAKEN SOMEWHAT OUT OF CONTEXT. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6.  (C) IN THIS MEETING, UGOR CAME ACROSS AS THE ALTER EGO TO 
JAN MOJZIS.  UGOR WAS VERY QUIET AND CAUTIOUSLY GUARDED. 
ALTHOUGH HE WAS WILLING TO SPEAK OPENLY WITH THE AMBASSADOR, 
UGOR WAS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SPEAK OUT OF SCHOOL.  ALTHOUGH 
    UGOR CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS SOME ENGLISH, HE USED AN INTERPRETER 
FOR THIS MEETING.  HE CONTINUES TO STUDY ENGLISH AS HE HAS 
FOUND IT NECESSARY FOR INTERACTING WITH U.S. AND NATO 
OFFICIALS. 
WEISER 
 
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