SLOVAKIA RESPONSE TO APRIL 25 GAERC DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000318 SIPDIS FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2015 TAGS: KPAL PREL LO EUN SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA RESPONSE TO APRIL 25 GAERC DEMARCHE REF: STATE 72185 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires A.I. Scott N. Thayer for Reasons 1.4 ( B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel points April 21 to Lubomir Rehak, European Correspondent at the MFA. Rehak reaffirmed his openness to receiving USG points, saying it gives the Slovaks a "more global view." He said Slovakia within the EU supports strong transatlantic links. For example, in the Balkans, people view the U.S. with "respect," and view the EU as a source of funding. Much more can be accomplished together. ¶2. (SBU) IRAQ: Rehak was familiar with the plan for the U.S. and EU to co-host a conference on Iraq. He expected that it would be included in the council's conclusions. ¶3. (C) MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: Rehak assured P/E Chief that the Foreign Minister had read the points before Gymnich. ¶4. (C) LEBANON: Rehak noted that the presence of residual Syrian intelligence elements in Lebanon was "very probable." He said that the issue of how to deal with Hizballah is a major concern for the EU at the moment. While it is no doubt a terrorist organization, he said, it is also a political party that will participate in the democratic process in Lebanon. The EU is seeking an invitation to observe the upcoming elections in Lebanon in May. The EU has a similar problem in deciding how to treat Hamas. ¶5. (C) SUDAN: On the situation in Darfur, Rehak promised to pass the points on to the appropriate Africa watchers in his ministry. Slovakia is not a strong player on Africa issues in the EU. We drew specific attention to the World Food Program's urgent need for release of EU funding. Rehak noted that this was "important information." ¶6. (C) ZIMBABWE: Rehak wondered whether providing aid to Zimbabwe would legitimize Mugabe's regime. He noted that the EU is currently struggling with the same question regarding the Lukashenko regime in Belarus. THAYER NNNN