Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRATISLAVA462
2005-06-15 05:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

SLOVAKIA ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT US-EU CONFERENCE ON

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON IZ LO EUN 
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UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000462 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

EUR/NCE FOR V. LYNN
NEA/I FOR M. HABIB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON IZ LO EUN
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT US-EU CONFERENCE ON
IRAQ

REF: A. STATE 103222


B. BRATISLAVA 458

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000462

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

EUR/NCE FOR V. LYNN
NEA/I FOR M. HABIB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON IZ LO EUN
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT US-EU CONFERENCE ON
IRAQ

REF: A. STATE 103222


B. BRATISLAVA 458


1. (SBU) Oldrich Hlavacek, Director of the MFA Fourth
Territorial Division (covering Africa, Asia, and the Middle
East),told pol-econ chief June 13 that Slovakia is "very
enthusiastic and looking forward to" the U.S.-EU conference
on Iraq (ref A). He said the two most important things about
the conference are that 1) the Iraqis are presenting their
own ideas, priorities, and interests, and 2) the U.S. and EU
"are together."


2. (U) Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan will lead the Slovak
delegation, which will also include:
-- Maros Sefcovic, Ambassador to the EU, plus two other
members of the Slovak mission to the EU;
-- Miroslav Lajcak, Political Director of the MFA;
-- Peter Kmec, Kukan's Chief of Cabinet;
-- Klara Novotna, former ambassador to the U.N. and now
Hlavacek's deputy; and
-- Juraj Mlynar from the Slovak mission to the U.N. in New
York.


3. (SBU) Hlavacek confirmed that Slovakia wants to continue
in-kind training and internships for Iraqis such as those
organized by the Pontis Foundation with IRI funding. Slovak
ministries, media outlets, and NGO's are willing and able to
provide these opportunities; the only obstacle is identifying
funding. Slovakia will offer four scholarships a year for
the next three years for Iraqis to attend Slovak universities
- two at the master's level and two at the doctoral level.
(The normal limit is two scholarships a year to any given
country.) Hlavacek said the MFA favors forgiving Iraqi debt
and has been working to convince the Ministry of Finance.
Charge will follow-up with Finance Minister Ivan Miklos in a
June 15 meeting. Hlavacek confirmed that, despite the June
11 suicide bomber attack on the Slovak embassy in Baghdad
(ref B),the Slovak mission would remain open in Iraq,
staffed by two diplomats plus local employees. Furthermore,
Slovak deminers would continue operating in Iraq.


4. (SBU) Vladimir Jakabcin, Director of International
Relations at the Ministry of Defense, told Charge June 14
that Defense Minister Juraj Liska had approved a plan to
offer Slovak officers to MNF-1. Liska is expected to submit
the request to parliament for approval in the coming days.
If parliament approves the additional deployment, CINC
General Bulik would be charged with identifying the
appropriate officers with the needed qualifications for
MNF-1.
THAYER


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