SLOVAKS INTERESTED IN STARTING MISSILE DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000994 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014 TAGS: MARR PREL KNNP LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKS INTERESTED IN STARTING MISSILE DEFENSE DISCUSSIONS REF: A. (A) BRATISLAVA (B) 7 OCTOBER 2004 EMAIL FROM JOEL CASSMAN ¶B. OSD "MISSILE DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH SLOVAKIA" Classified By: DCM Scott Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (C) Emboffs met October 26 with Vladimir Jakabcin, Director General, Defense Policy and International Relations, MOD to follow up on earlier indications that the GOS was interested in participating in missile defense (ref A). Using talking points provided by OSD (ref B),emboffs explained the U.S. is currently pre-decisional but potentially interested in missile interceptors and sensors in Europe. Emboffs noted the U.S. is prepared to begin exploratory discussions with Slovakia. Jakabcin enthusiastically replied that he would inform DefMin immediately. He did not see any reason not to start preliminary discussions and labelled this "good news." THAYER NNNN