GOS WILL DELIVER MESSAGE TO SYRIA

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000670 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM LO SUBJECT: GOS WILL DELIVER MESSAGE TO SYRIA REF: STATE 142629 On July 9, poloff delivered reftel points to Oldrich Hlavacek, Director of the Fourth Territorial Department at the MFA. Hlavacek stated that Slovakia was also concerned with Syria's recent crack-down on freedom of expression and supported EU statements on this topic. He said MFA officials would deliver the points we provided to Syrian representatives during their upcoming visit to Slovakia. The Deputy Prime Minister was scheduled to visit in July within the framework of regular bilateral meetings, but the trip was postponed until September at the request of the GOS. WEISER NNNN