FOLLOW-UP ON MADRID CONFERENCE: SLOVAK RESPONSE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000182 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IZ LO SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON MADRID CONFERENCE: SLOVAK RESPONSE REF: STATE 31782 POLOFF DELIVERED TALKING POINTS PER REFTEL TO EVA MEGOVA, MFA DESK OFFICER FOR IRAQ. SHE RESPONDED WITH THE FOLLOWING LIST OF SLOVAK ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ THUS FAR: -- TRAINING OF IRAQI POLICEMEN (IN JORDAN) -- TRAINING OF IRAQI SOLDIERS IN DEMINING (IN SLOVAKIA) -- TRAINING OF IRAQI MEDICAL STAFF (IN SLOVAKIA) -- SCHOLARSHIPS FOR IRAQI STUDENTS AT SLOVAK UNIVERSITIES -- THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC HAS 82 SOLDIERS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL FORCES AT CAMP CHARLIE IN HILLA, DEMINING THE TERRITORY NEAR KARBALA. IN JANUARY 2004, AN ADDITIONAL 20 SOLDIERS AND FIVE COMMANDERS WERE APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT AND JOINED THE SLOVAK ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ. -- IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID TOTALING USD 280,000 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL USD 12.6 MILLION FOR 2003, AND USD 12.5 MILLION FOR 2004. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED THAYER NNNN