AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW (AGAIN) SLOVENE FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 001090

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DEPT FOR EUR/NCE EUR/RPM
SOFIA PLEASE PASS TO USOSCE DELEGATION

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2014
TAGS: PREL SI OSCE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW (AGAIN) SLOVENE FOREIGN
MINISTER, DIMITRIJ RUPEL

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas B. Robertson Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Ambassador met with Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel on Dec. 4 prior to the minister's departure
for the OSCE Ministerial in Sofia. Rupel appeared relaxed
and very comfortable in his surroundings, which he had
vacated less than six months ago. Rupel said he was looking
forward to meeting the Secretary and looked forward to
renewing his acquaintance with Dr. Rice. The discussion
focused heavily on OSCE issues, particularly selection of the
next Secretary General, scales of contribution, and
monitoring the next round of elections in Ukraine. Rupel
again described Slovenia's approach to the job as one of
mediator and consensus builder explaining that, as CiO,
Slovenia will have to answer to 56 countries and cannot take
sides. Rupel and the Ambassador also discussed Iraq and the
idea of debt forgiveness, radiation detection monitors
(portals),Embassy security and the ongoing Western Wireless
dispute. End Summary.

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NO CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON
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2. (C) After a late evening parliamentary confirmation of
new Prime Minister Janez Jansa's cabinet on December 3,
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, returning to his job after a
six month hiatus, received Ambassador Robertson at the
ministry on Saturday afternoon, December 4. Rupel was
planning to leave for Sofia on Sunday. It was clear that
the upcoming OSCE ministerial was on his mind as Rupel
launched almost immediately into the OSCE issues of concern
he would be bringing with him to Sofia. He then backed up to
address some bilateral issues. Rupel was upbeat and thought
there "were no clouds on the horizon of our bilateral
relationship." He expressed his desire to further improve
Slovenia - U.S. relations, which he thinks are already good
but have room to develop. When in his Parliamentary
hearings, Rupel was asked what he meant by strengthening ties
with the U.S. and he explained that he wanted to see more
U.S. investment in Slovenia, cooperate with the U.S. in the
OSCE and other multilateral organizations since we share
common values and work toward the same goals. Rupel raised
the issue of the Western Wireless claim, and was a little
surprised when the Ambassador pointed out that next Friday,
December 10, was the end of the 45 day grace period Western
Wireless had set before filing a law suit against the
government. Rupel gave every indication that he and the GOS
would want to settle this case somehow and to avoid becoming
party to a large lawsuit. The Ambassador mentioned the
possibility of flexibility on the part of Western Wireless if
it was convinced the new GOS was moving in good faith to
respond to its complaints. Rupel seemed to take this on
board.

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PORTALS
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3. (U) Pitching it as an OSCE as well as a bilateral
interest, the Ambassador raised with Rupel the ongoing delay
of receiving comments on the implementing agreement which
would allow the process of installation of the radiation
detection monitors (portals) in the Port of Koper. Rupel
seemed well briefed on the problem and knew the ball was now
in the Ministry of Finance's court. He promised to see what
pressure he could bring to bear and to move the process
forward.

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TABULA RASA
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4. (C) Rupel dearly wants to have some of the stickier
issues of the current CiO of the OSCE cleared from the slate
before taking over in January. He mentioned that he was
aware the U.S. was supporting the French candidate for
Secretary General of the OSCE - whom Slovenia also supports,

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but he also thought there might be another potential
U.S.-backed candidate in the wings. Rupel does not want the
scales of contribution problem to spill over into his tenure
and wanted to know more about the U.S. position on this
issue. Rupel also expressed some mystification about some of
the discussions surrounding the title of an upcoming seminar


on Anti-Semitism.


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ALL EYES ON UKRAINE
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5. (C) On the topic of Ukraine, Rupel expounded a bit on
his theory of democracy lapping at the shores of Ukraine and
Russia, and how this was a frightening prospect for many in
those countries. Even as he expressed support for monitors
in the next round of Ukraine elections, he seemed skeptical
that the OSCE an others would be able to cover the country
adequately. He hopes also to see this problem in the
"solved" column before he is sworn in on January 16, 2005.

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EARLY VISIT TO WASHINGTON/SUPPORT ON IRAQ
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6. (C) As has been mentioned in previous cables and heard
from the Slovene embassy in Washington, Rupel is pushing hard
to visit the U.S. early in 2005, and he would like to have
his Prime Minister lead the delegation. Responding to this
request, the Ambassador suggested that further cooperation in
Iraq and Afghanistan would be welcome news in Washington and
the commitment of 50, 000 euros (recently deposited in the UN
Trust Fund) to U.N. protection forces was a good signal. The
Ambassador also broached the idea of Iraq debt relief and
Rupel responded that he thought the GOS was prepared to
forgive any Iraq debt - but he would need to double check It
is a little more complicated for Slovenia than others because
the debt is old Yugoslav debt and involves succession
agreements. He thought that if it had not already been
worked out, it could be.

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EMBASSY SECURITY
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6. (SBU) The Ambassador again requested high-level
attention to U.S. Embassy security issues. He explained that
the Ministry of Interior, which supervises all police
services in Slovenia, and the City of Ljubljana need to come
to agreement on restricting access to Tomsiceva street next
to the Embassy. Rupel suggested he would call the Mayor and
discuss the issue with the Prime Minister. He is interested
in meeting this urgent embassy need.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) Rupel appears to have stepped back into his office
without missing a beat. As reported earlier, we expect
already good bilateral relations will only improve, and for
there to be continuity on the OSCE account. Rupel did not
present any new or different ideas from his predecessor in
this meeting. Rupel is a true trans-Atlanticist and, working
with PM Jansa, he should have fewer difficulties inside the
Cabinet getting his views heard and positions implemented
than he did in the government of former PM Anton Rop.
ROBERTSON


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