SLOVAKIA STILL UNDECIDED ON TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000896

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014
TAGS: ECIN PREL EU TU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA STILL UNDECIDED ON TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP,
DOMESTIC POLITICAL DEBATE EXPECTED

REF: STATE 204758

Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for Reason 1.4(b).


1. (C) DCM raised reftel message on Turkey's EU accession
with MFA State Secretary Ivan Korcok, MFA Acting General
Director for European Affairs Frantisek Ruzicka, and Foreign
Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Milan Jezovica on
September 28 and 29. Ruzicka said Slovakia was supportive in
principle, although concerned that Turkey would soak up EU
structural funds. On the other hand, he recognized that
accession talks would take time, which meant that the Slovak
share of structural funds was safe for the coming EU
financial period. Ruzicka's comments meshed with his
previous statements on the issue, when he said Slovakia
supported Turkish EU membership but only if Turkey were held
to the same high standards of political and economic reform
that Slovakia had been required to meet.


2. (C) Korcok was less forthcoming about Slovakia's position,
saying Ruzicka's "Yes, but..." could also be "No, but..."
Jezovica dismissed Ruzicka's concerns about the financial
aspect of Turkish accession, saying Slovakia will support
Turkey's European character. (Comment: We note this is not
the same thing as supporting EU membership.) Jezovica agreed
Central European countries know the positive effects of EU
membership on domestic policies as a catalyst for reform and
modernization and he predicted the Commission report would be
positive. He admitted Turkey was important in NATO and would
be helpful in resolving issues in the Middle East. But he
stopped short of expressing full support.


3. (C) Jezovica said Prime Minister Dzurinda would soon make
a statement about his Slovak Democratic and Christian Union
(SDKU) political party's support for Turkey's EU accession.
This statement will likely spur debate within and among
Slovak political parties on where Slovakia will stand in the
run-up to the December 17 Council meeting.


4. (C) Comment: We will continue to raise the issue with
Slovak officials and politicians, offering solid arguments
for a positive answer on Turkey's EU accession. The domestic
debate Jezovica suggested needs to take place before the GOS
will take a definitive stand.


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