US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA626

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2025 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, PINR, LO 
SUBJECT: DZURINDA CONCERNED ABOUT RUSKO, BUT NEEDS HIM 
 
REF: BRATISLAVA 618 
 
Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C)  During Charge's August 4 farewell call on Prime 
Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, the Prime Minister shared some 
candid thoughts on Economy Minister Pavol Rusko (reftel). 
Dzurinda told Charge that he is increasingly concerned about 
Rusko.  He said that he has traditionally dealt with Rusko in 
kind of a hands-off fashion, but that he is considering a 
more direct approach.  Specifically regarding the concerns of 
the Central European Media Enterprise (CME, an American 
company that entered into a partnership with Rusko to create 
the TV station Markiza, and which is desperate to buy out 
Rusko's share), Dzurinda told Charge that he is aware of the 
issue.  He said that CME had requested a meeting with him 
several years ago, but that he did not meet with them. 
However, he said, he is now willing to meet.  The ultimate 
resolution of the issue remains hazy.  As one CME 
representative told us, "Rusko doesn't back down; when he 
gets back into a corner he doubles his bets.  It works for 
him, because the other guy usually blinks." 
 
2.  (C)  Charge asked about the common perception that 
Rusko's hands may not be entirely clean.  Dzurinda nodded his 
head, but it was unclear whether he agreed with the 
perception of impropriety, or if he knew of any specific 
dirty deals himself. 
 
3.  (C)  Charge also asked Dzurinda about a comment made by a 
cabinet member suggesting that Rusko (who also leads the 
Alliance of New Citizens, ANO) may no longer be part of the 
coalition by October.  Dzurinda responded that "I have to get 
the state budget passed."  Comment:  After that happens in 
December, we believe that all bets are off as all parties 
will begin competing for votes in the fall 2006 national 
elections.  End Comment. 
 
4.  (C)  Dzurinda briefly mentioned his meeting with Hankook 
reps after the cabinet rejected the Rusko-orchaestrated 
investment incentive package for Korean tire maker, calling 
them "arrogant."  He recounted that at one point in the 
meeting he finally said "I have been Prime Minister of this 
country for seven years, and you cannot talk to me like that." 
 
THAYER 
 
 
NNNN