"Disappointment does not accurately describe my feelings."
Finance Minister Brigita Schmögnerová, speaking to The Slovak Spectator June 7, after discovering that Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan and Prime Minister Dzurinda had not told her that the UN might be interested in her for an important post after being told of the matter in November 1999. It was later revealed that Schmögnerová had actually met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on April 7, 2000 to discuss the post, which was later awarded to a Polish candidate.
"Call it what you want - a conversation, an interview or a job search - that still doesn't alter the basic facts."
Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan for the TASR news agency July 5, 2000, arguing that Schmögnerová had simply applied for the UN job and not gotten it, through no fault of the Slovak government.
"If the Slovak diplomatic corps had shown sufficient interest, it probably would have ended differently."
Schmögnerová for the Sme daily paper July 5, 2000, arguing that had she received more support from her government at an early stage, the UN posting might have gone to her.
