Bratislava, 20 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - Slovakia's parliament yesterday took steps to meet a European Union demand for opposition politicians to help monitor the country's secret services.
The governing coalition supported the election of Roman Vavrik, of the opposition Democratic Union, to a committee that supervises the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS). Milan Knazko, also of the Democratic Union, and the Christian Democratic Movement's Frantisek Javorsky were named to a committee supervising military intelligence.
Parliament voted down a bid by former Czechoslovak Interior Minister Jan Langos, of the Democratic Party, to join the committee that oversees the SIS.
Yesterday's vote follows a recommendation Tuesday by the European Parliament that EU membership talks should start with all East European applicants except Slovakia. The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee says Bratislava has not yet fulfilled EU criteria on democratic reforms.
The governing coalition supported the election of Roman Vavrik, of the opposition Democratic Union, to a committee that supervises the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS). Milan Knazko, also of the Democratic Union, and the Christian Democratic Movement's Frantisek Javorsky were named to a committee supervising military intelligence.
Parliament voted down a bid by former Czechoslovak Interior Minister Jan Langos, of the Democratic Party, to join the committee that oversees the SIS.
Yesterday's vote follows a recommendation Tuesday by the European Parliament that EU membership talks should start with all East European applicants except Slovakia. The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee says Bratislava has not yet fulfilled EU criteria on democratic reforms.