The Slovak cabinet has failed to take any stand on a draft revision to the law on the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), which is to prevent journalists from working for the SIS, the daily SME wrote.
The SIS strongly opposes the draft submitted by deputies of the Christian-Democratic Movement, the Hungarian Coalition Party, and the New Citizens' Alliance. The parties maintain that the SIS should be banned from using media and journalists to influence public opinion.
However, the cabinet has left the decision on the new SIS-related legislation in the parliament's hands.
Several politicians believe that the SIS has been using journalists to pursue its own interests.
The draft amendment bans reporters, employees and co-writers of editorial desks, as well as all owners of printed or other media, from being recruited as agents or collaborators with the SIS or the Military Intelligence. At the same time, intelligence service agents are banned from working undercover as journalists.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
