GOS TO SUPPORT CHINA ARMS EMBARGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000895 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC PHUM CH LO EUN SUBJECT: GOS TO SUPPORT CHINA ARMS EMBARGO REF: STATE 208511 Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for Reason 1.4(b) ¶1. (C) DCM discussed reftel with Ivan Korcok, State Secretary of the MFA, Milan Jezovica, Foreign Policy Advisor SIPDIS to PM Dzurinda, and Frantisek Ruzicka, Acting General Director for European Affairs. Ruzicka was very well versed in U.S. views (to the point of summarizing previous demarche's talking points),but emphasized that Slovakia would be looking for allies on this issue inside the EU, specifically mentioning the UK and the Netherlands. However, both Korcok and Jezovica were more resolute, stating that the GOS will not support the lifting of the China arms embargo. ¶2. (C) Comment: At the working level, the GOS is looking for cover under the leadership of other EU countries while at the political level, a decision to support maintaining the arms embargo has been made. WEISER NNNN