For Klevana: Praise ...
I was very sorry to read in the October 9-22 issue of The Slovak Spectator that Leighton Klevana has left the Slovak American Enterprise Fund. I met Mr. Klevana when he first arrived in Bratislava in September 1991, and I was extremely impressed with his energy, commitment, intelligence and background. He spoke perfect Slovak and was a strong inspiration to Slovak entrepreneurs all over Slovakia.
I don't know the details of the investment performance of the Slovak American Enterprise Fund portfolio over the past five years. It would have been unusual for such a pioneering effort to have avoided sustaining losses. Most importantly, Leighton Klevana's tenure at the SAEF leaves a strong legacy of entrepreneurial inspiration to the people of Slovakia at a time when the fall of communism first opened the door to capitalist business ventures. Both he and his senior investment officer, Doug Swaim accomplished a lot in a short time. Above all, the Slovak people benefited from their hard work in a way that cannot be measured in mere mathematical return on investment. We wish them both well.
Gregory Fasing, Honorary Consul, Consulate of the Slovak Republic
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
...And an apology
I would like to publicly apologize to Leighton Klevana for my comments as they appeared in the last issue of The Slovak Spectator. I do not believe that these comments were recorded accurately or used in their original context. Since I did not take notes about my conversation with Tom Reynolds I cannot prove whether he used my comments correctly or not. I do know, however, that they were not used as I intended.
John Vrba, Bratislava
Author: Gregory Fasing & John Vrba
