UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000084
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, AMGT, NATO, LO
SUBJECT: FY-07 NATO TOUR NOMINEES FOLLOW-ON
REF: (A) 06 Bratislava 748 (B) EMAILS KEITH HUGHES/JOHN PULASKI
12/12/06
1. (SBU) Per reftels, Embassy Bratislava nominates the following
Members of Parliament for the FY-2007 single-country, policy-maker
tour, which is already scheduled for March 8-9, 2007:
-- Rudolf Pucik is a first-time MP representing the governing Slovak
National Party (SNS). He is Chairperson of the Defense and Security
Committee in the National Council (Parliament) and a member of the
9-person "coalition council." Although SNS has been critical of
Slovakia's membership in NATO in the past, Pucik has said that he
(and his party) accepts that Slovakia must live up to the
commitments it has made now that it is a member. A visit to USNATO
will help him to better understand those commitments and how
Slovakia and the US work together through NATO.
DOB: December 4 1956
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009623 valid until Dec. 2010
No English
-- Emil Vestenicky is a first-time MP representing the governing
SNS. He is a member of the Defense and Security Committee, the
Special Oversight Committee of Military Intelligence, and a member
of the Permanent Delegation of the National Council to NATO's
Parliamentary Assembly. Vestenicky is a retired Major General in the
Slovak Army and a former Commander of Slovak Ground Forces. Post
expects him to provide valuable leadership and be a source of
trusted expertise for the full group of Parliamentarians.
DOB: July 17, 1948
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009643 valid until Dec. 2010
English - yes
-- Juraj Horvath is a first-time MP representing the governing
Smer-Social Democracy party (Smer). Horvath is a member of the
European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of
Parliament. Prior to Smer's 2006 election victory, Horvath was
Smer's point-man for international relations and foreign policy. His
participation will provide him with information that he can use for
his own work, and pass on to his fellow party members.
DOB: November 19, 1965
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009589 valid until Oct. 2010
English - yes
-- Olga Nachtmannova is a first-time MP representing the governing
Smer-Social Democracy party (Smer). Nachtmannova is a member of the
European Affairs Committee. Participation in the USNATO exchange
program will allow Nachtmannova to get more information about NATO
policies and future goals.
DOB: July 14, 1963
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009681 valid until October 2010
English - basic
-- Jozef Tarcak is a second-time MP representing the governing
People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS).
Tarcak is a member of the Special Oversight Committee of Military
Intelligence. In the past LS-HZDS was opposed to NATO membership for
Slovakia, although now it is supportive. This visit will help him
to get more first hand information about NATO and its philosophy.
DOB: April 25, 1959
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009703 valid until Aug. 2010
English - no
-- Pavol Freso is a first-time MP representing the opposition Slovak
Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU). Freso is a member of the
Special Oversight Committee for the National Security Office. SDKU
was the party of the former PM who brought Slovakia into NATO in
2004, and Post would like to take this chance to maintain relations
and positive feelings for NATO within that party.
DOB: April 21, 1969
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: Freso has a diplomatic passport valid until August
2010. Number will be provided Septel.
English - yes
-- Imre Andrusko is a first-time MP representing the opposition
Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK) and sits on the Special
Oversight Committee of Military Intelligence. Andrusko is the rector
of a Hungarian-language gymnasium in his hometown of Komarno. Post
feels that the inclusion of an SMK MP is important to bring balance
to the delegation.
DOB: March 6, 1969
Citizenship: Slovak
Passport No.: 0009564 valid until Oct 2010
English - no
2. (SBU) Aaron Chase, is a Fascell Fellow at Embassy Bratislava who
serves as Post's Political-Military Officer and will accompany the
MPs. Aaron has visited USNATO twice for the annual Pol-Mil
conference and has a good understanding of Slovak politics.
DOB: January 17, 1975
Citizenship: U.S.
Diplomatic Passport No.: 900482941
3. (U) Post requests assistance arranging a Slovak-English
interpreter for this group. Post requests USNATO to inform of
availability and cost of translators in Brussels. If it is less
expensive to send an interpreter from Slovakia, Post will arrange
it.
VALLEE