Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRATISLAVA621
2004-06-25 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: JAPANESE DECLINE; SLOVAKS

Tags:  PREL MARR CH JA LO EUN 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000621 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR CH JA LO EUN
SUBJECT: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: JAPANESE DECLINE; SLOVAKS
LOOKING TO OTHER EU STATES

REF: (A) STATE 137493 (B) PARIS 04843

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE ROBERT E. HURLBERT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000621

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR CH JA LO EUN
SUBJECT: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: JAPANESE DECLINE; SLOVAKS
LOOKING TO OTHER EU STATES

REF: (A) STATE 137493 (B) PARIS 04843

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE ROBERT E. HURLBERT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. JAPANESE POLOFFS IN BRATISLAVA DECLINED TO
DEMARCHE WITH U.S. POLOFF REGARDING THE EU ARMS EMBARGO ON
CHINA. THE SLOVAKS PRESENTED THEMSELVES AS NON-PLAYERS IN AN
EU DEBATE, NOTING THAT "IMPORTANT EU MEMBERS" WILL MAKE THE
DECISION. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) PER REFTEL A, POLOFF CONTACTED THE JAPANESE EMBASSY IN
BRATISLAVA ON 25 JUNE. THE JAPANESE NOTED TOKYO CONSIDERED IT
INAPPROPRIATE TO DELIVER A JOINT DEMARCHE. THEY EMPHASIZED
JAPAN STILL AGREES WITH THE U.S. POSITION, BUT THEY DO NOT
WANT TO APPEAR TO BE GANGING UP ON THE EUROPEANS AGAINST
CHINA, CITING THE SAME REASONS AS IN REFTEL B.


3. (C) KAROL MISTRIK, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OSCE
AND DISARMAENT, MFA, SAID ON JUNE 25 THAT SLOVAKIA IS
"FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSION" ON THE EU ARMS EMBARGO ON CHINA.
SLOVAKIA IS "UNABLE TO SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT" THE U.S.
POSITION, SINCE IMPORTANT EU MEMBERS ARE STRONGLY PROPOSING
TO LIFT THE EMBARGO. HE NOTED THE EU IS A "MASTER OF
COMPROMISE" AND WILL "FIND A SOLUTION." THE EU IS WORKING ON
EXPORT CONTROLS AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO THREATEN THE
TRANS-ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP. HE CONSIDERED THE EU EXPORT
CONTROLS STRIGENT AND RESPONSIBLE. (NOTE: SLOVAKIA WILL
FOLLOW THE DECISION REACHED BY THE FRENCH, GERMANS, AND
BRITISH. END NOTE.)


4. (C) MISTRIK COMMENTED ON THE U.S. POSITION PRESENTED IN
TALKING POINTS. HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE POSITION OF MORE
RESTRICTIVE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, BUT HE DID NOT FIND THE
PROHIBITION OF U.S. PROCUREMENT OF EU DEFENSE MATERIALS A
LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE U.S. CONCERN.

HURLBERT

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