Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRATISLAVA583
2004-06-15 08:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

DZURINDA: FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE USA

Tags:  PREL PINR LO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000583 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PINR LO
SUBJECT: DZURINDA: FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE USA


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RONALD WEISER FOR REASON 1.4 (B).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000583

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PINR LO
SUBJECT: DZURINDA: FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE USA


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RONALD WEISER FOR REASON 1.4 (B).


1. (SBU) PRIME MINISTER MIKULAS DZURINDA CAME TO THE EMBASSY
THE EVENING OF JUNE 10 TO SIGN THE CONDOLENCE BOOK FOR RONALD
REAGAN. DZURINDA AND THE AMBASSADOR USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT THE STRONG TIES AND POSITIVE FEELINGS BETWEEN
SLOVAKIA AND THE UNITED STATES. DZURINDA TOLD THE
AMBASSADOR, AND LATER THE PRESS, THAT REAGAN WAS THE SINGLE
MOST IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FALL OF
COMMUNISM AND THE REINTEGRATION OF EUROPE. HE INSCRIBED THE
CONDOLENCE BOOK, "WE MOURN THE LOSS OF A GREAT STATESMAN WHO
HELPED US WIN OUR FREEDOM. GOD BLESS THE GIPPER! WITH
DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, MIKULAS DZURINDA."


2. (SBU) THE AMBASSADOR GAVE DZURINDA PHOTOS FROM THE NATO
ACCESSION CEREMONIES. HE EXPRESSED PARTICULAR PRIDE THAT
U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH AND SLOVAK PM DZURINDA WERE TOGETHER IN
THE CENTER OF THE GROUP.


3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR REITERATED U.S. CONDOLENCES ON THE
JUNE 8 SLOVAK CASUALTIES IN IRAQ. DZURINDA ALSO EXPRESSED
HIS SORROW. ON A POSITIVE NOTE IN IRAQ, DZURINDA WAS VERY
PLEASED ABOUT THE UNSC RESOLUTION. HE SAID UNANIMOUS PASSAGE
WAS A CREDIT TO PRESIDENT BUSH. THE AMBASSADOR THANKED
DZURINDA FOR SLOVAKIA'S HELP AND SUPPORT.


4. (C) DZURINDA COMMENTED ON SMER LEADER ROBERT FICO'S
"UNFORTUNATE STATEMENTS" TO THE PRESS, WHICH CRITICIZED
SLOVAKIA'S PRO-U.S. FOREIGN POLICY (SEPTEL). DZURINDA SAID
IT WAS RIDICULOUS TO CALL SLOVAKIA AN ISLAND OF AMERICAN
INFLUENCE.


5. (C) DZURINDA WAS VISIBLY MOVED AS HE SPOKE ABOUT RONALD
REAGAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FALL OF COMMUNISM, AND EXUDED
POSITIVE FEELINGS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES. AFTER DZURINDA
GAVE CREDIT TO REAGAN FOR CENTRAL EUROPE'S SUCCESS, THE
AMBASSADOR TOLD HIM HE ALSO DESERVED A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT
FOR THE REFORMS THAT CARRIED SLOVAKIA FORWARD. IN TURN,
DZURINDA THANKED THE AMBASSADOR FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
SLOVAKIA'S SUCCESS.
WEISER

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