CYPRUS PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT WILL NOT INCREASE;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 001042

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014
TAGS: MARR PREL LO CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT WILL NOT INCREASE;
MAY SHRINK

REF: STATE 241068

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


1. (C) Radovan Javorcik, Deputy Director of the Security
Policy Department at the MFA, told poloff November 16 that
the GOS will not increase its commitment to the UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The GOS will retain
its position as a lead nation in sector three and the Slovak
embassy will continue to support inter-ethnic talks for now.
Javorcik mentioned "off the record" that the GOS may reduce
its current 280-person commitment when the GOS finishes
revising its strategic doctrines. He said the GOS would not
substantially reduce its presence unless a new UNSCR prompted
an overall reduction in the size of the UNFICYP.


2. (SBU) COMMENT: The GOS is currently redrafting its
security and defense strategic documents. The GOS will
evaluate its deployments abroad and set precise levels of
ambition for each deployment. In part, this is an effort to
move away from UN deployments and towards NATO- and EU-led
deployments. END COMMENT.
WEISER


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