Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRATISLAVA511
2005-07-01 09:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

SLOVAKIA TO STAY THE COURSE IN IRAQ

Tags:  MARR MOPS PREL IZ LO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000511 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR, PM/ISO, PM/RSAT, PM/PMAT, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA TO STAY THE COURSE IN IRAQ

REF: A. STATE 111082

B. BRATISLAVA 352

C. BRATISLAVA 458

D. BRATISLAVA 469

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4b and d
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000511

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR, PM/ISO, PM/RSAT, PM/PMAT, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA TO STAY THE COURSE IN IRAQ

REF: A. STATE 111082

B. BRATISLAVA 352

C. BRATISLAVA 458

D. BRATISLAVA 469

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4b and d
.


1. (C) Summary: Slovak government interlocutors welcomed
beginning dialogue on future planning for Iraq deployments,
particularly in civlian channels. The GOS is firmly
committed to staying the course as long as the Iraqi
government requests help, there is an international mandate,
and the mandate issued by the Slovak parliament remains
valid. Nevertheless, Slovakia recognizes that its mission in
Iraq is dependent on other coalition partners, particularly
Poland, and is eager to discuss future requirements for
Slovak troops in that context. End summary.

MOD Welcomes Civilian Dialogue on Iraq Plans
--------------


2. (C) Charge, accompanied by DATT and Polec Chief, presented
ref A points June 16 to Vladimir Jakabcin, Director General
for Defense Policy and International Relations at the
Ministry of Defense. Jackabcin was very pleased to begin a
dialogue on future plans for Iraq in civilian channels; he
had asked several weeks earlier for clarification on
"rumblings" in military channels on redeployment plans (ref
B). Jakabcin explained that there had been widespread
concern among members of the general staff that relocation of
bases would make it impossible for the Slovak engineers to
continue their specialized work in demining. However, the
civilian and military leadership had reached the conclusion
that relocation may simply be a natural part of operations in
Iraq. Jakabcin's bottom line was that Slovakia will keep its
engineers in Iraq "as long as the Iraqis need us, there is an
international mandate in place, and the national mandate
(issued by parliament) remains valid." Jakabcin stressed the
need for a valid UN Security Council resolution (or an
international mandate in another form) as a necessary
condition for Slovakia to stay the course.


3. (C) Jakabcin briefed Charge on a recent visit to Iraq by
Lt.Col. Panis, who will soon take over command of the Slovak

troops there. Panis expressed no concerns about the
performace of Slovak troops and said that there were no plans
for redeployments, but if a need arose, the Slovaks would
meet it.


4. (C) Jakabcin also discussed Slovak plans to contribute
staff to MNF-I headquarters as requested by General Myers.
Minister Liska approved a plan to ask parliament for an
increase in the total number of troops in Iraq. General
Bulik had been tasked with identifying vacancies that Slovak
officers could fill. Jakabcin said General Myers' July 19
visit would be a good opportunity for the U.S. to offer
specific suggestions. Currently there are 105 deminers in
Iraq, and five slots in the NATO training mission, of which
only 2 are filled. Liska was prepared to request a number
beyond this 110-man cap at the July 13 cabinet meeting. If
approved by the cabinet, the request would go to parliament
for debate in its September session.


5. (C) Jakabcin welcomed the upcoming visit by a Washington
team to discuss plans for redeployments in Iraq in more
detail with military and civilian players (ref A). He
suggested that any requests to change the Slovak mission
should be coordinated this summer, so that the defense
ministry would only need to go to parliament once with an
entire package for Iraq.


6. (C) Finally, Jakabcin emphasized the need for continuing
political dialogue, saying, "The generals aren't in charge of
policy; this office and the minister play the decisive role."
He explained that after the defense ministry reorganization,
he will become the equivalent of the "Political Director" of
the MOD.

MFA: We're There to Stay Militarily...
--------------


7. (C) PolEc Chief presented ref A demarche, in tandem with
the DCM from the UK Embassy, on June 17 at the MFA to Lubomir
Cano, Director of the Security Policy Department, and Oldrich
Hlavacek, Director of the Fourth Territorial Department.

Cano began by expressing the GOS commitment to Iraq as "We
are not withdrawing. No way." He said the GOS recognized it
needed to increase public diplomacy to generate more
favorable public opinion on Slovakia's role in Iraq, because
after parliamentary elections in September 2006 there were no
guarantees. He said he hoped Slovakia would not follow the
Spain model, but of course anything could happen. Slovakia
is closely following Poland's plans, and a Polish withdrawal
or downsizing could have a major effect on Slovakia's policy.
Cano emphasized that policy in Iraq required flexibility,
should be based on conditions on the ground, and that no
coalition member could afford to take unilateral action.
Hlavacek added pointedly that he still had seen no statement
from any coalition capital offering sympathy and solidarity
after the June 11 suicide bomb attack on the Slovak embassy
in Baghdad (ref C).


8. (C) Cano and Hlavacek welcomed further consultations on
redeployments, both from the Washington traveling team, and
from the U.S. and UK embassies. Cano pointed out that, as a
practical matter, it is less expensive to move troops within
Iraq than to bring them home. He also mentioned the planned
contribution to MNF-I, but was under the impression that
Slovakia would not need to return to Parliament for
permission to exceed the 110-man cap, because three slots
designated for the NATO training mission were still vacant
and could be used for MNF headquarters. Cano and Hlavacek
said the GOS was still waiting for an answer from Iraq on its
offer to donate excess defense equipment.

...and Diplomatically
--------------


9. (C) Charge and UK Ambassador presented ref A demarche on
June 20 to Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan, and Charge followed
up with MFA PolDir Miroslav Lajcak. Both welcomed increased
consultations about future coalition planning in Iraq, and
were pleased that a Washington team would be coming with
further details.


10. (C) Charge asked about MFA State Secretary Magdalena
Vasaryova's statement June 17 that the MFA was considering
relocating its Baghdad embassy, possibly outside Iraq (ref
D). Kukan said that had been discussed, but was off the
table, and the MFA was not considering leaving Baghdad.
Nevertheless, there was extensive damage to the Slovak
embassy from the bomb, and there were major financial issues.
Lajcak later suggested to Charge that Vasaryova had
overreacted and that the MFA was committed to staying in
Iraq. The question was the best way to do it--whether to
rebuild the rented embassy building or find a different
location. Another problem was that all the official vehicles
were destroyed in the attack. The Czechs were lending the
Slovaks cars to move around the city. As a longer-term
measure, the Slovaks were negotiating with the Hungarians,
who left their armored cars behind in Bahgdad when they
relocated to Jordan.

Comment:
--------------


11. (C) All GOS interlocutors, privately and publically,
express their current strong commitment to remaining in Iraq.
This position will come under increasing pressure in the
campaign leading up to September 2006 parliamentary
elections. For example, opposition politician Robert Fico
used the assertion that Prime Minister Dzurinda led Slovakia
into an "illegal war" in Iraq in an attempt to recall
Dzurinda the week of June 27. There is a desire for more
engagement, especially on the civilian side, on future
planning for Iraq. The GOS looks forward to productive talks
during the upcoming visit.


THAYER


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