MTAG: POTENTIAL SCUD SALE TO YEMEN

S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 000122 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/CBM, EUR/NCE, AND EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETTC YM LO MTCRE SUBJECT: MTAG: POTENTIAL SCUD SALE TO YEMEN REF: STATE 22315 Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (S) Poloff delivered reftel demarche February 9 to Karol Mistrik, Director of the OSCE and Disarmament Department at the MFA. Mistrik noted that the GOS no longer posesses scud missiles. The last scuds in the Slovak inventory, the SS-23s, were dismantled in the 2000/2001 timeframe. Mistrik continued that Slovak law applies to brokering arms deals even if the missiles are of foreign origin. If a Slovak company wants to enter negotiations that seek to produce an arms contract, the company must first apply for a license with the Ministry of Economy (MOE). Mistrik said the GOS would not approve this type of deal. THAYER NNNN