Slovak anger over security debacle

SLOVAK MPs have formally requested a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in transport minister Lubomir Vazny as anger grows over the handling of the botched security test that allowed a passenger to fly from Poprad-Tatry airport to Dublin with explosives in his bag. Similar action against interior minister, Robert Kalinak, is also planned.

Opposition politicians said they had collected the signatures needed to seek Mr Vazny’s dismissal and were collecting those required to request Mr Kalinak’s ousting, after both ministers rejected calls to resign and said systemic problems were not to blame for the debacle.

Gardaí briefly arrested Slovak electrician Stefan Gonda on January 5th at his Dublin flat and retrieved 96g (3 ounces) of high-grade plastic explosives that had been placed in his luggage as a test for a sniffer dog at Poprad-Tatry airport on January 2nd.

The dog-handler forgot to remove the explosives and air traffic controllers told the pilot of the Danube Wings flight to Dublin that Mr Gonda’s bag contained merely a harmless “dummy” sample. A telex message sent from Poprad-Tatry to Dublin airport baggage handlers gave the same message.

The dog-handler is also accused of failing to tell his superiors about the incident for some 48 hours.

Jan Figel, head of Slovakia’s opposition Christian Democrats, said the case had caused “serious damage to Slovakia’s reputation”.

“The Slovak constitution was breached in a serious manner, as were domestic and international regulations. People were exposed to risk and threats, with travellers used as guinea pigs in an airport security test,” explained Mr Figel.

Slovakia had also “lost credibility with the public and its partners on security matters such as combating international terrorism”, he added.

The head of Slovakia’s border guards is the only person to have resigned over the incident, and Mr Kalinak has rejected calls for the dismissal of police chief Jan Packa, whom critics say is ultimately responsible along with Mr Kalinak for the way the failed security test was conducted.

Mr Vazny admitted yesterday that air traffic controllers had made mistakes in handling the explosives incident, but said he would wait for a full report before drawing conclusions.

The prime minister, Robert Fico, has defended his ministers and accused the opposition of politicking ahead of June’s general election.