Declaration

Deputy Director of the National Security Office

JUDr. Zdeněk Jůzlová

in charge of the National Security Authority

At its evening meeting on 8 February, the Government of the Czech Republic entrusted me with the management of the National Security Office, following the resignation of Master Mareš.

The activities of the National Security Authority are not in any way destabilised or disrupted. On the contrary, it is carried out in full compliance with the applicable legislation and the international obligations of the Czech Republic in the field of protection of classified information. I believe that the work of the supervisory body of the Chamber of Deputies will significantly contribute to the elimination of any ambiguities regarding the activities of the NSA and I personally declare that I am ready to provide it with the necessary cooperation and all the required data.

I am aware that the association of Mr Šiša, a former employee of the NSA, with persons accused of serious crime does not bear witness to the good name of the NSA and the Office clearly distances itself from their activities. However, I deny that Mr Šiša or even Mr Větrovec had access to security clearances and had the possibility of influencing their outcome or implementation in any way. The very system of carrying out checks, where each individual act of the check is secured against unauthorised interference, demonstrably excludes this. I unequivocally and with full personal responsibility reject allegations of questioning and manipulating the security clearances of natural or legal persons. I call that claim untrue. I am ready to convince the members of the Committee on Defence and Security of the Chamber of Deputies.

Whatever Mr Shisha has been charged with, if this accusation is directly related to his activities at the NSA, the Office remains ready to provide full assistance to law enforcement authorities at any time, as it has always done.

To explain some of the misunderstandings, I stress that there are currently TWO appeal commissions of the director at the NSA. That committee, which, as an advisory body, deals with an appeal brought against the non-issuance of a certificate, was first established only in January this year, according to the new legislation effective since January this year (Act No. 412/2005 Coll.) . All of its members shall hold a certificate of the highest classification level. It is therefore impossible for Mr. Větrovec to participate in its activities or for Mr. Šiša to interfere in any way! These are clearly demonstrable facts, the questioning of which I must, under my full personal responsibility, describe as manipulation and damage to the work of the NSA.