THE SLOVAK Jewish community has appealed to Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda to take a "clear stand" on the recent allegations that the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) made anti-Semitic statements.
In early November, the Slovak daily SME reported that the opening sentence in one secret SIS report specifically stated that the head of the Israeli chamber of commerce, Miloš Žiak, and his wife were Jews.
Responding to the allegations, SIS said it never collects information on citizens based on their religious conviction, but rather on their attitudes towards Slovak laws. Dzurinda backed the SIS.
Pavol Rusko, head of the New Citizen's Alliance (ANO) ruling party, said on November 2 that there were several organizations in Slovakia that defend the interests of various groups, including those of the Jewish community.
He added that if the SIS materials had stated "that so and so is a Lutheran, it would not cause such a stir."
10. Nov 2003 at 0:00 | From press reports
