SIS Head Gaspar: Slovak Officials Were Cautious When Giving Interviews Abroad

Bratislava, 28 January (TASR) - The Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) is dealing with all security threats and risks, including the activities of foreign intelligence services, SIS Director Pavol Gaspar told journalists after a meeting of the special House committee for supervising SIS activities on Wednesday, adding that he's convinced that Slovakia's constitutional officials have been cautious when giving interviews abroad. He said this in connection with the activities of a Chinese spy in the Czech Republic who was also granted interviews by some Slovak politicians. "I believe that they were cautious," said Gaspar. "I can only answer in very general terms, as this involves classified information, but SIS deals with all security threats and risks arising from such activities, especially those of foreign intelligence services," said Gaspar when asked about exchanges of information between Slovakia and the Czech Republic regarding the case. For instance, said Gaspar, Slovak MEPs undergo training by SIS, which is also available to other high-ranking officials before being sent abroad. According to him, the security situation in Slovakia remains unchanged. "Developments are very dynamic, you can see what is happening around the world, especially now with geopolitical issues being tackled on various global platforms. We respond to them promptly; should any real security threat arise, we would of course inform the relevant authorities and those authorised to receive such information by law," he stated. He added that SIS will always strive to maintain relations with foreign intelligence services at a highly professional level, "as is also the case with the Czech intelligence service". Committee member and opposition Freedom and Solidary (SaS) MP Maria Kolikova brought up statements appearing in the media about suspected misuse of information and technical means for the sake of political struggles. Gaspar rejected these allegations, explaining that using any such means by SIS is subject to consent from a court and internal oversight in SIS. "I personally cannot imagine that any illegal wiretapping would be possible, unless several people intentionally committed a crime," stated Gaspar. Responding to Kolikova's remark that the opposition has "very limited space" to check what's happening in SIS, Gaspar said that committee members have carried out several inquiries. "They were provided with all the materials they requested. They have this option under the law today and they are using it," he said, adding that the matters that opposition MPs want to check fall under the remit of law enforcement or courts, not political oversight. jrg/df