DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE'S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000900

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FOR D, P, EUR, AND NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014
TAGS: PREL ECON KPAO LO CONS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE'S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA


Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Armitage visited Slovakia
September 14. During his meetings with Prime Minister
Dzurinda, Foreign Minister Kukan, parliamentary leaders, and
the media, he underscored that U.S.-Slovak relations are
based on more than just coalition membership and reflect the
shared values of the two countries. Useful exchanges were
held on Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Russia, and a
bilateral consular working group was agreed. End summary.

Prime Minister Dzurinda
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2. (C) Prime Minister Dzurinda welcomed the Deputy warmly,
noting that U.S.-Slovak relations are "the best in our
history, but we should use your visit to make them even
better." In that regard, he cited two "practical questions":
the fact that Slovakia is the only country in the region
never to have been visited by a U.S. President, and public
displeasure over visas. The Deputy responded that visa
policy was troublesome for everyone in the region and that he
intended to take the matter up when he returned to
Washington. Mr. Dzurinda later returned to the subject,
saying that "some positive signal" is needed on visas.


3. (C) The Deputy then solicited Mr. Dzurinda's advice on
the situation in Ukraine. Mr. Dzurinda expressed great
concern--Slovakia (and the V-4) has tried to help maintain a
western orientation, but Kuchma tells people what he thinks
they want to hear. Mr. Dzurinda has created a special
working group to follow the election process, is in touch
with Yushenko, and is supporting NGO efforts there. Many
more observers are needed, but the key is convincing Kuchma
that a transition must occur. Mr. Dzurinda recounted how,
during his June visit to Kiev, Kuchma had painstakingly
explained one-by-one why all bidders on the steel plant
privatization were unsuitable, forcing him to pass it instead
to his son-in-law. Regrettably, Ukraine continues to look to
Moscow.


4. (C) The Deputy expressed concern about Russian pressure
on Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and the Caucuses. Mr. Dzurinda
agreed, saying that experience there is what has led him to
decide that the planned privatization of the Slovenske
Elektrarne power company cannot under any circumstances go to
the Russian bidder. Putin, he said, is very different from
how he was even a year ago.


5. (C) With regard to anti-American feeling in Slovakia, Mr.
Dzurinda said that he believed public opinion was changing
slowly. Speaking frankly, he expressed the view that public
opinion was more negative on Bush Administration policies
than the United States itself as a result of "some arrogance"
but stressed that real leadership meant not following public
opinion. He noted that Slovak support for NATO membership
had dropped to 35% during the Kosovo campaign, and then
rebounded to over 50%.

Foreign Ministry
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6. (U) Foreign Minister Kukan hosted a working lunch for the
Deputy and his delegation. Slovak participants were:

FM Eduard Kukan
Ambassador to the U.S. Rastislav Kacer
Director General for Bilateral Affairs Juraj Migas
Director General for European Affairs Maros Sefcovic
Director General for Security Policy Juraj Machac
Director of the Office of the Minister Peter Lizak
Director for West and South Europe and North America Peter
Sopko
U.S. Desk Officer Viera Viskupova


7. (C) Visas: The lunch expanded on the themes discussed in
the Prime Minister's office in a friendly, informal manner.
Mr. Kukan thanked Mr. Armitage for his visit and for his
media statements at the joint press conference with PM
Dzurinda. Mr. Kukan reiterated the GOS request to establish
a bilateral consular working group, to which the Deputy
agreed and suggested the MFA announce immediately (at which
point Ambassador Kacer leapt from his chair and rushed to
inform the MFA spokesperson).


8. (C) Ukraine: Mr. Kukan told the Deputy that the V-4 was
in favor of sending 1,000 election observers to Ukraine under
the auspices of Freedom House, and the Slovak MFA was
encouraging NGO's to take part. This had the benefit of
allowing the GOS to maintain neutrality, while providing

Slovak expertise to assist a free campaign and election.
Slovakia also favors a parallel vote count. Mr. Kukan
pointed out that Slovaks know and understand Ukrainians, but
admitted he had not discussed the election with the Ukrainian
FM. Mr. Kukan explained the need to secure Slovakia's
Eastern border evoked fear in Ukraine about a new iron
curtain that locks the country out of Europe. It is a
sensitive issue to encourage economic cooperation and
political dialogue while clamping down at the border, but the
insight Slovakia had in dealing with Ukraine could be helpful
in decision-making both in the EU and NATO. Trade with
Ukraine is only 3 percent of total trade; Slovakia would like
to increase it, but has to be certain Ukraine will pay its
bills.


9. (C) Russia: Mr. Kukan said that Slovakia would also like
to increase trade with Russia, noting he had been "summoned"
to Moscow in October to hear Russian opinion about how EU
membership had resulted in economic damages to Russia.
Slovakia is dependent upon Russian oil and some minerals, so
could be in a vulnerable position, but so far Russia had not
applied any pressure. On the other hand, Slovakia was
concerned by Putin's 9/13 speech, and agreed with the Deputy
that Russia was not heading in a democratic direction. Mr.
Kukan and the Deputy also commiserated about Russia's extreme
reactions to the idea of a political settlement with
Chechnya. In addition, Russia's lack of preparation and
central government direction for dealing with events in
Beslan was alarming.


10. (C) Balkans: Mr. Kukan said Slovakia was well-established
in the Balkans, was assisting Croatia on the road to EU
membership, and was closely following Serbia and Montenegro
and Kosovo. He said the Serbs and Kosovars are in a Catch-22
on "standards before status." It was an explosive situation
that needs to be stabilized; independence is the only
solution, but probably as an international protectorate.
Slovakia would maintain its 150 soldiers there, because
without an international presence, war would break out. The
Deputy asked if EU colleagues talked openly about
independence for Kosovo. Kukan replied "final status" was
heard frequently in EU discussions as a codeword for
independence.


11. (C) Iraq: Slovak participants explained that military
reform meant that 800 soldiers deployed abroad was the
absolute limit. The Deputy asked if public pressure would be
lessened if NATO accepted a training mission in Iraq, and
received a resounding YES. Ambassador Kacer said a visit to
Slovakia by an Iraqi official would be very helpful in
showing the Slovak public that the deployment of Slovak
troops is doing good. Mr. Kukan added that he had invited
the Iraqi FM to visit Slovakia during his upcoming trip to
Vienna. The Deputy suggested having him speak at parliament,
just as the Iraqi PM would speak to the U.S. Congress, and
said he would speak with Amb Negroponte to encourage such a
visit.


12. (C) Israel: Mr. Sefcovic, former Slovak Ambassador to
Israel, asked about Ariel Sharon's strength. The Deputy
suggested that Sharon's decision to disengage from Gaza was
intended to show the Palestinians were incapable of
governing. He pointed out that within the EU and even other
Arab countries there is a growing realization that Arafat is
not helpful. The Deputy asked about the visit of the head of
Israeli Knesset the previous week. Kukan had not met him,
but noted his criticism of the EU position on the security
fence.


13. (C) Turkey: DAS Conley asked about Slovakia's position on
EU membership for Turkey. Mr. Kukan pointed out the EU
report would be out in October and the decision would be
difficult, but that Slovakia was sympathetic to Turkey's
candidacy. The Deputy noted that the Turks had been dangling
for many years and had a right to expect that there would be
an unconditional date to begin talks.

Parliament
--------------


14. (U) The Deputy met with members of parliament from
several parties:

Pavol Hrusovsky, President of Parliament (KDH)
Jozef Berenyi (SMK)
Robert Fico (Smer)
Miroslav Maxon (HZDS)
Pavol Minarik (KDH)
Karol Ondrias (KSS)


15. (SBU) The parliamentary leaders expressed their
commitment to maintaining a strong Slovak-American
relationship and conveyed appreciation for U.S. support for
NATO and EU membership. Mr. Armitage thanked coalition
leaders for supporting the democractic process in Iraq.
Opposition MPs received the message that differing views on
policies can be expected among allies and will not harm the
fundamental nature of the bilateral relationship. Two themes
emerged across the political spectrum: closer ties between
legislatures and foreign policy after EU membership. Mr.
Hrusovsky requested that as Parliament takes on a larger role
in foreign policy, more opportunities be made available for
meetings and exhanges. Mr. Maxon (HZDS) hoped that members of
Congress will travel more often to Slovakia to provide
information on developments in Iraq. Mr. Fico (SMER),the
most vocal critic of U.S. and GOS policy in Iraq, stated that
his party prefers foreign policy issues to be coordinated
more closely in Brussels. The Deputy responded that the U.S.
works closely with both EU and NATO and was happy to have two
new fora in which to engage Slovakia, adding that most new
member states valued both.

Media Roundtable
--------------


16. (U) After a "meet and greet" with Embassy staff, the
Deputy met in roundtable format with five senior editors and
foreign affairs reporters. Topics included the Slovak troop
deployment in Iraq; visa policy; Saudi Arabia's efforts in
GWOT; Russian President Putin's attitude toward Chechnya and
his 9/13 statement on consolidating power, cooperation with
Russia in GWOT, Iraq, and Afghanistan; whether the war in
Iraq was a "miscalculation;" whether Iraq can become truly
democratic; the U.S. attitude toward "New Europe;" Russia's
relations with the EU; China's growing role in Europe and the
world; and whether the security situation in Iraq would
affect elections there. Complete transcripts of all media
events are available in the Washington File.


17. (U) This message has been cleared by the Deputy
Secretary's party.

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