FEB 21 GAERC: SLOVAK RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000131

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2015
TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ LO
SUBJECT: FEB 21 GAERC: SLOVAK RESPONSE

REF: STATE 25111

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


1. (C) SUMMARY. Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Lubomir
Rehak, European Correspondent at the MFA, February 11. Rehak
welcomed USG positions on transatlantic relations, the Middle
East Peace Process, and Iraq. Rehak expects the EU to
continue to demand Gotovina's surrender to The Hague before
proceeding with Croatian EU accession talks. The GOS
strongly supports the Ukrainian Action Plan, while the GOS
continues to counsel Ukraine to produce results before
seeking further commitments from the EU, such as accession
talks. The GOS will follow consensus on Sudan and the Great
Lakes. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Transatlantic Relations: Rehak said all Europeans
are looking forward to President Bush's visit. The EU is
pleased with Washington's rapprochement, and Rehak labeled
Bush's planned meetings at NATO "very useful." PM Dzurinda
will stress the improved transatlantic relations in his
three-minute speech at the EU when Bush visits.


3. (C) Middle East Peace Process: Rehak welcomed USG-proposed
funds for Palestinian reform efforts. He urged "strict
control" on any financial assistance to make sure it is not
diverted to areas that undermine peace. Rehak said the
Palestinians also require technical assistance. He stressed
the importance of the Sharm El Sheikh summit and said radical
Islamic groups like Hamas and Hizbollah and Israel must
respect the cease-fire.


4. (C) Iraq: The GOS is still evaluating its potential
participation in an EU-led training mission in Iraq. Rehak
said it is "very probable" that the GOS would participate in
some form of training assistance. The Ministry of Interior
(MOI) may provide trainers similar to those the GOS currently
has in Amman. (MOI trainers do not require parliamentary
approval unlike military trainers, but the GOS may feel
politically obliged to get such approval anyway.) The GOS
supports establishing a physical EU diplomatic presence in
Baghdad, and they would like to see the specific proposals
advocated. Rehak noted that other EU states are likely to
oppose any diplomatic presence due to the security situation,
although this is not prohibitive for the GOS since it already
has an embassy in Baghdad.


5. (C) Serbia/Kosovo/Bosnia: Rehak agreed that the promise
and prospect of Euro-atlantic integration remains the
greatest incentive for advancing our common interests in the
western Balkans. However, he warned that too much pressure
could be counterproductive. He stressed it is important to
place pressure on both the Kosovar Albanians and Serbs to
live up to their international obligations. He mentioned PM
Dzurinda would likely include Kosovo in his remarks at the
EU-25.


6. (C) Croatia: Rehak said it was "very probable" that
without Gotovina in The Hague, EU accession talks with
Croatia will not start March 17. The Croatian Minister for
European Integration met with GOS officials February 11.
Rehak said the GOS still does not agree that one man should
delay the whole of Croatia's accession talks, but he
understands other countries within the EU will block talks
from starting if Gotovina is not delivered to the Hague.
Rehak said there are many instruments within the accession
process that can leverage this issue, and the GOS does not
have its own intelligence capacity to confirm or deny claims
that Croatian security forces are hiding Gotovina.
Nevertheless, the GOS has been actively urging Croatia to
fulfill its international commitments and deliver Gotovina.
He said the EU is speaking with one voice demanding Gotovina,
and the GOC hears this message loud and clear.


7. (C) Ukraine/Moldova: Rehak said he was very happy the EU
finally will sign the Action Plan with Ukraine on the same
day as the upcoming GAERC (February 21). He said it is now
time for the Ukrainians to act. Rehak said the GOU's efforts
to bolster the Action Plan to a promise towards EU accession
talks went too far. The GOS supports the current EU Action
Plan as a "good start." Ukraine must develop a market
economy, work towards WTO membership, and strengthen the Rule
of Law before the EU can open further to Ukraine. The GOS
reminds the GOU that the EU was hesitant to engage the GOS
for over a year after the turning point 1998 elections. The
GOU should be patient, especially since the GOU will need EU
support when the inevitable hard times come with the economic
reforms. The GOU does not need EU promises now; they will
need them before the March 2006 parliamentary elections.
Rehak said the GOS is telling the GOU they need fewer
declarations and more actions and recommended President Bush
raise this issue when he comes to Europe.



8. (SBU) Sudan/Great Lakes: The GOS will follow EU consensus.
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