TANK SALES TO AZERBAIJAN

S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 001153

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014
TAGS: PARM MARR PREL LO AR AZ
SUBJECT: TANK SALES TO AZERBAIJAN

REF: STATE 265976

Classified By: CDA Scott Thayer for reasons 1.5(b) and (d)


1. (S) Charge delivered reftel demarche December 22 to
Lubomir Pinter, Director General for International
Organizations and Security Policy at the MFA, and in a
separate meeting December 22 to Milan Cigan, Chief of Staff
at the Ministry of Economy (MOE). Both said Azerbaijan and
Armenia are not where Slovakia wants to sell its excess
weapons. MFA and MOE interlocutors said they have not been
approached about such a sale, and the MFA would have a veto
in denying an export license.


2. (S) Pinter said he took note of the Hungarian decision to
transfer T-72 tanks to Iraq and has advised FM Kukan that the
GOS should do the same. Pinter described this as within
Slovak foreign policy interests and expressed appreciation
for USG offers to help faciltate such a transfer. He said
the GOS would have to decide whether to sell or donate this
equipment.
THAYER


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