SLOVAK RESPONSE TO AIRBUS WTO CASE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000926 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KPAO LO EUN SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO AIRBUS WTO CASE REF: STATE 213973 Per reftel, Econoffs delivered talking points to Jan Breja, Director of the Air Transport Department of the Ministry of Transportation and Michal Rebey, Director General of the Section of Trade and Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Economy. Breja was aware of the debate over subsidies and the Boeing 7E7 and the brewing trade dispute, but expressed that Slovakia was not a major player in the industry. He agreed, however, that both sides needed to negotiate in good faith and reach a conclusion satisfactory to all. Rebey was not as familiar with recent events, but also concluded that a negotiated settlement would be best. When he attends the October 21-23 full-members meeting of the 133 Committee in Brussels with Director General of Digitrade Peter Carl, Rebey promised to articulate the USG's desire to collaborate with the EU in a positive manner to reach a settlement where subsidies are eliminated for both parties. WEISER NNNN