Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRATISLAVA436
2004-04-29 15:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 000436
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES
CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. RONALD WEISER FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 000436
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES
CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. RONALD WEISER FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (U) THIS IS A GUIDANCE REQUEST, PLEASE SEE PARA 5.
2. (S) ON 26 APRIL, EMBOFF MET WITH PETER PENIASKA, GENERAL
DIRECTOR OF THE SLOVAK ARMS FIRM PETINA INTERNATIONAL, AT HIS
REQUEST. PENIASKA ASKED EMBOFF ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF
DIRECTING SOME SLOVAK ARMS SALES IN A DIRECTION THAT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL TO THE USG. HE HAD TWO SPECIFIC ARMS DEALS IN
MIND AND OFFERED HIS FIRM AS AN INTERMEDIARY TO DIRECT THE
DEALS AWAY FROM POTENTIALLY UNDESIRABLE CUSTOMERS. HE
EXPLAINED THAT THE WEAPONS IN QUESTION--ASSAULT RIFLES, T-72
TANKS, AND AMMUNITION--BELONGED TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE,
BUT OFFERED THAT PETINA INTERNATIONAL WOULD BUY THE WEAPONS
FROM THE MOD AND THEN SELL THEM TO WHOMEVER THE USG DEEMED
APPROPRIATE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE USG MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN BUYING THE ASSAULT RIFLES FOR USE BY EITHER IRAQI OR
AFGHAN ARMIES, ADDING THAT THE CZECH REPUBLIC WAS DELIVERING
SIMILAR ASSAULT RIFLES TO THE AFGHAN POLICE.
3. (S) PENIASKA NOTED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH ONLY ONE
PERSON IN THE GOS ABOUT THE ARMS SALES, IVAN KORCOK, STATE
SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. PENIASKA
SIPDIS
INDICATED THAT HE AND KORCOK HAD AGREED THAT THE BEST THING
FOR SLOVAKIA WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY "SAFE" COUNTRIES TO EXPORT
THESE RIFLES AND TANKS, AND THAT THEY WOULD SEEK USG ADVICE.
4. (S) COMMENT: PENIASKA'S MOTIVES ARE NOT COMPLETELY
ALTRUISTIC AS HIS COMPANY STANDS TO PROFIT FROM ANY ARMS DEAL
THAT HE CAN ARRANGE. HOWEVER, HE HAS INDICATED THAT SEVERAL
OTHER ARMS DEALERS MAY TRY TO SELL THE MOD'S SURPLUS WEAPONS
TO EMBARGOED COUNTRIES.
5. (S) REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE: PLEASE ADVISE ON WHETHER THE
USG IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE MATERIEL LISTED ABOVE OR
WHETHER WE WISH TO DIRECT PENIASKA TO ANY SPECIFIC END-USER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PENIASKA AN ANSWER BY MAY 15.
WEISER
NNNN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES
CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. RONALD WEISER FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (U) THIS IS A GUIDANCE REQUEST, PLEASE SEE PARA 5.
2. (S) ON 26 APRIL, EMBOFF MET WITH PETER PENIASKA, GENERAL
DIRECTOR OF THE SLOVAK ARMS FIRM PETINA INTERNATIONAL, AT HIS
REQUEST. PENIASKA ASKED EMBOFF ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF
DIRECTING SOME SLOVAK ARMS SALES IN A DIRECTION THAT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL TO THE USG. HE HAD TWO SPECIFIC ARMS DEALS IN
MIND AND OFFERED HIS FIRM AS AN INTERMEDIARY TO DIRECT THE
DEALS AWAY FROM POTENTIALLY UNDESIRABLE CUSTOMERS. HE
EXPLAINED THAT THE WEAPONS IN QUESTION--ASSAULT RIFLES, T-72
TANKS, AND AMMUNITION--BELONGED TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE,
BUT OFFERED THAT PETINA INTERNATIONAL WOULD BUY THE WEAPONS
FROM THE MOD AND THEN SELL THEM TO WHOMEVER THE USG DEEMED
APPROPRIATE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE USG MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN BUYING THE ASSAULT RIFLES FOR USE BY EITHER IRAQI OR
AFGHAN ARMIES, ADDING THAT THE CZECH REPUBLIC WAS DELIVERING
SIMILAR ASSAULT RIFLES TO THE AFGHAN POLICE.
3. (S) PENIASKA NOTED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH ONLY ONE
PERSON IN THE GOS ABOUT THE ARMS SALES, IVAN KORCOK, STATE
SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. PENIASKA
SIPDIS
INDICATED THAT HE AND KORCOK HAD AGREED THAT THE BEST THING
FOR SLOVAKIA WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY "SAFE" COUNTRIES TO EXPORT
THESE RIFLES AND TANKS, AND THAT THEY WOULD SEEK USG ADVICE.
4. (S) COMMENT: PENIASKA'S MOTIVES ARE NOT COMPLETELY
ALTRUISTIC AS HIS COMPANY STANDS TO PROFIT FROM ANY ARMS DEAL
THAT HE CAN ARRANGE. HOWEVER, HE HAS INDICATED THAT SEVERAL
OTHER ARMS DEALERS MAY TRY TO SELL THE MOD'S SURPLUS WEAPONS
TO EMBARGOED COUNTRIES.
5. (S) REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE: PLEASE ADVISE ON WHETHER THE
USG IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE MATERIEL LISTED ABOVE OR
WHETHER WE WISH TO DIRECT PENIASKA TO ANY SPECIFIC END-USER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PENIASKA AN ANSWER BY MAY 15.
WEISER
NNNN