HIGH-LEVEL USG PARTICIPATION IN SLOVAK NATIONAL

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000562

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR, D, P, AND PA

FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO LO
SUBJECT: HIGH-LEVEL USG PARTICIPATION IN SLOVAK NATIONAL
UPRISING 60TH ANNIVERSARY



1. PRIME MINISTER DZURINDA HAS INVITED PRESIDENT BUSH OR
HIS REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SLOVAK NATIONAL UPRISING IN BANSKA
BYSTRICA, SLOVAKIA (LETTER ALREADY DELIVERED IN WASHINGTON
BY THE SLOVAK EMBASSY). AUGUST 29, 2004 MARKS THE 60TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SLOVAK NATIONAL UPRISING, WHEN SLOVAKS
COMMEMORATE THEIR PROUD RESISTANCE TO NAZI AND FASCIST
FORCES RULING THE COUNTRY DURING WORLD WAR II. IT ALSO
MARKS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN U.S.-SLOVAK RELATIONS, AS U.S.
MILITARY FORCES AND MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC
SERVICES SUPPORTED THE UPRISING BY AIRLIFTING SUPPLIES TO
THE PARTISANS. THERE ARE MANY TOUCHING STORIES OF U.S.
PILOTS WHO WERE SHOT DOWN BY NAZI FORCES AND SAVED BY SLOVAK
CITIZENS.


2. SEVERAL VETERANS ARE PLANNING TO RETURN TO SLOVAKIA TO
MARK THE OCCASION, AND THE EMBASSY IS PLANNING A SERIES OF
EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN SLOVAK AND
AMERICAN CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE TRANSLATION INTO SLOVAK OF
A BOOK DESCRIBING U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN THE UPRISING. EMBASSY
ACTIVITIES WILL HELP REKINDLE FRIENDSHIPS AMONG VETERANS AND
SLOVAK VILLAGERS, AND ENSURE THAT THE U.S. CONTRIBUTION IS
FOREVER NOTED AT THE MUSEUM OF THE SLOVAK NATIONAL UPRISING.


3. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE HIGH-LEVEL REPRESENTATION AT THIS
EVENT. A HIGH-LEVEL VISITOR WILL REINFORCE THE CONTINUING
TIES AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SLOVAKIA
IN A NEW AGE, WHEN WE ARE NATO ALLIES AND AGAIN WORKING SIDE
BY SIDE TO BRING FREEDOM TO PEOPLE IN PLACES SUCH AS IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN. MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, THEN AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS, WAS THE VIP GUEST DURING THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN 1994, AND HER PARTICIPATION WAS
GREATLY APPRECIATED (AND IS STILL RECALLED) BY THE SLOVAK
GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS.

WEISER

NNNN