SLOVAK TROOPS IN IRAQ AFTER POLISH WITHDRAWAL?

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 001006

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2014
TAGS: MARR PREL LO IZ AF NATO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK TROOPS IN IRAQ AFTER POLISH WITHDRAWAL?

REF: BRATISLAVA 836

Classified By: DCM Scott Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Robert Kalinak, Chairman of the Parliamentary
Security and Defense Committee and member of the opposition
party SMER, recently questioned the Slovak troop mandate in
Iraq on a political TV talk show. While remaining supportive
of coalition objectives in Iraq, he raised three issues:

-- An allegation that Slovak deminers have been unable to
leave their camp to work for five months, because the
security situation is too tense;

-- Slovak troops may be more effective in Afghanistan; and

-- Poland is recosidering its troop commitments and maybe
Slovakia should too.

Defense Minister Juraj Liska on the same TV talk show
conceded Kalinak's points may deserve long-term attention.
We are best served considering a possible government and
public relations strategy to maintain Slovak commitments in
Iraq if Poland withdraws or reduces forces. END SUMMARY.

Kalinak: "Deminers Cannot Work in Iraq; Shift to
Afghanistan?"
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Kalinak argued that parliament should reconsider the
troop mandate at the time of the next rotation in January,
since "all they (the Slovak deminers) do is stay in their
camp." He pointed out that Slovak deminers have not been
able to work since the last troop rotation in June due to
security risks. He said this policy needlessly risks
soldiers' lives and costs Slovakia money. Kalinak said he
supports the U.S. and its Iraq policy but added Slovakia
"would be much more of a help in Afghanistan than we are in
Iraq." He also suggested Slovakia could train Iraqi police
in Slovakia to support the coalition effort. (NOTE: The 104
Slovak troops in Iraq are on an open-ended mandate, ergo
Kalinak's focus on rotation dates rather than mandate
renewal.)


3. (U) Liska responded in the same interview by expressing
the need for the coalition to succeed in Iraq. He mentioned
the positive international marks Slovak deminers have earned
but conceded Kalinak's point saying, "I think that if our
troops are kept from doing their job for a long time, it
might make sense to discuss in parliament whether their
presence in Iraq is still effective or whether their mandate
should be changed, come the next rotation."

Slovaks ARE working in Iraq
--------------

4. (C) Vladimir Jakabcin, Director General for Defense Policy
and International Relations at the MOD told emboffs October
26 Liska knew the deminers were working, but Kalinak's
"energetic and impatient" style prevented Liska from speaking
up on television. Jakabcin said each of the ministries and
parliament must communicate more effectively amongst
themselves. Jakabcin confirmed information that Joint
Operations Center Chief Col. Ondrej Novosad gave in an
October 21 press conference: the contingent this rotation has
demined 25 kilometers, verified 275,000 square meters of
munitions destruction, and completed eight engineering
surveys. The contingent is expecting an increased work load
when it moves to Al Kut.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Any Polish moves towards disengagement will raise
further questions from Slovak politicians about possible
Slovak disengagement. Not only Kalinak, but also other
members of the Defense Committee including Vice-Chair Roman
Vavrik (SDKU) have linked any Polish decrease in forces to a
need for Slovakia to reconsider the work Slovak troops are
performing in Iraq. Slovakia would need a guarantee that its
contingent's security would be covered and that its mission
was truly needed. The German Marshall Fund's Transatlantic
Trends report indicates 71 percent of Slovaks disapprove of
the presence of Slovak troops in Iraq (Ref C).


6. (C) The GOS has stood resolute in its defense of the
Slovak humanitarian mission. The mandate of the Slovak
contingent does not allow for combat operations. From a

government relations and public relations perspective, we are
well-served by considering the implications of a possible
Polish draw down or withdrawal now.

MINIMIZE CONSIDERED

WEISER


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