GOS STILL SUPPORTS LIFTING CHINA ARMS EMBARGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000211 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL CM LO EUN SUBJECT: GOS STILL SUPPORTS LIFTING CHINA ARMS EMBARGO REF: STATE 44309 Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche March 14 to Karol Mistrik, Director of the Department of Disarmament, OSCE, and Council of Europe at the MFA. Mistrik said the GOS does not plan to issue any statements regarding the embargo during FM Li Zhaoxing's visit to Europe. Mistrik said he understands this issues is gaining high levels of recognition in Congress and at the White House and noted the GOS position on the China Arms Embargo is unchanged. The GOS considers export controls to be a national prerogative, not an EU one. He said the EU Toolbox augments the Code of Conduct and prevents substantive or massive arms exports to China. He said the GOS continues to press for human rights progress in China and expects this to be a long process of reform. THAYER NNNN