SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS SUA AMENDMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000027 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP/RA EYTHAN SONTAG, L/NP JULIE HERR, AND L/LEI DENISE MANNING E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2015 TAGS: KNNP KTIA MNUC PARM PREL PHSA EWWT SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS SUA AMENDMENTS REF: SECSTATE 4828 Classified By: CDA Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche January 12 to Henrik Markus, Deputy Director of the Department for Disarmement, OSCE, and Council of Europe at the MFA, and Marek Smid, Deputy Director of the International Law Department at the MFA. Markus said the dual-use provision was in-line with the GOS nonproliferation position, but the International Law Department would need to study the proposed language. Neither interlocutor had seen the proposed language. Markus said the non-state actors provision was fully in-line with the GOS and EU position. ¶2. (C) Markus noted that the GOS would be happy to help air or land interdiction efforts, but the GOS could do little in the implementation of this agreement as a land-locked country without a navy. Smid continued that the primary interest for the GOS is to make sure the changes are in accord with international law. Smid will represent the GOS at the January 17 European Law of the Sea meeting, January 30 International Maritime Organization experts meeting, and the October SUA meeting. Smid said he would focus on the legal questions at these meetings as the substance of the provisions are in-line with GOS policy. ¶3. (C) Both interlocutors said the GOS will promote the SUA amendments in anyway it can. They suggested this would likely occur in a bilateral context. Both welcomed suggestions for GOS engagement on this issue beyond the COMAR meeting. THAYER NNNN