SLOVAKS FORMULATING POSITION ON EXPORT CONTROLS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000969

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2014
TAGS: PREL KOMC LO LY
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS FORMULATING POSITION ON EXPORT CONTROLS TO
LIBYA

REF: STATE 221188

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


1. (C) Per reftel, poloffs met October 15 with Karol Mistrik,
Director of the Department of OSCE, Disarmament, and Council
of Europe, MFA; Rastislav Krizan, export control expert in
the same department; and Lubomir Rehak, European
Correspondent, MFA. Mistrik presented the EU argument that a
strengthened Code of Conduct would prevent inappropriate
exports to Libya. He noted Slovakia did not want to exclude
itself from opportunities that other EU states would soon
enjoy.


2. (C) Mistrik said lifting the embargo was a positive signal
to reward Libya for "its recent strides." He said lifting
the embargo does not preclude effective export controls. The
EU member states, including Slovakia, would not export
high-tech or sensitive technologies to Libya. He described
lethal and non-lethal export policy as the matter of internal
discussion at the MFA. He said Slovakia cannot stand alone
in the EU and does not see why they should not export the
same materials other EU states do. Rehak added the Council
of Ministers is waiting on a positive sign from Libya on the
Bulgarian medics and human rights situation before making
further policy decisions.


3. (C) Mistrik defended the EU Code of Conduct, describing
export controls as a matter of national policy for
responsible governments. He described the "political
commitment" as sometimes stronger than legal ones due to
effective peer pressure. He said Slovaks are still
discussing what, if anything, they might approve in the
future for export to Libya. Poloffs informed MFA
interlocutors that should the GOS export "lethal" materiel
while U.S. sanctions were in place, they jeopardized Slovak
FMF and IMET assistance. DCM made the same points October 18
with Lubomir Cano, head of MFA's Security Policy department,
and Vladimir Jakabcin, MOD DirGen for International Policy.
Mistrik was visibly concerned at the possible impact exports
of certain "lethal" materiel might have on FMF, IMET, and
future involvement in the Excess Defense Articles program.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Arms exports were in the past a large
component of the Slovak economy. Czechoslovak arms
production peaked in 1988 when 140,000 people were employed
directly or indirectly by the industry. Seventy percent of
production was exported (fifty percent to Warsaw pact
countries and twenty percent to developing countries) and
thirty percent was for domestic use. Sixty percent of the
100 Czechoslovak arms enterprises were located in Slovakia.
The industry collapsed during the 1990s and the GOS would
like to revive arms production. DefMin Juraj Liska proposed
in September to UnderSecDef for Acquisition Technology and
Logistics working with U.S. firms to produce arms required by
NATO. There are still stockpiles that the Slovaks would like
to market. END COMMENT.
THAYER


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