MOD PROPOSES ADDING AFGHANISTAN TO JULY 22 AGENDA

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000539 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR, PM/ISO, PM/RSAT, PM/PMAT, NEA/I, AND SA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL AF LO SUBJECT: MOD PROPOSES ADDING AFGHANISTAN TO JULY 22 AGENDA REF: A. STATE 111082 ¶B. BRATISLAVA 352 ¶C. BRATISLAVA 458 ¶D. BRATISLAVA 469 ¶1. (SBU) Action request: The Slovak Ministry of Defense would like to add to the agenda of Ambassador Jones' July 22 pol-mil talks on Iraq discussion on Slovak intentions to end participation in OEF and join ISAF in Afghanistan. Please advise if the team from Washington will be prepared to discuss this issue with the Slovaks. End action request. ¶2. (SBU) Vladimir Jakabcin, Director General for Defense Policy and International Relations at the Slovak Ministry of Defense sent the following letter to the Charge, received on 8 July, 2005. Dear Sir (Scott): The Slovak Republic, through its involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (hereinafter "ISAF"), strongly supports the effort of international communities to establish a secure and stabile situation in Afghanistan. The idea for greater synergy between the Operation Enduring Freedom under the leadership of the United States, which has been there since the aftermath of September 11th to fight the Taliban and the al-Qaeda terrorist elements, and the expanded ISAF role in the hands of NATO is endorsed by the Slovak government. Contemporary (current) activities of the Slovak unit deployed within Operation Enduring Freedom have to be re-evaluated, and we are in the process of finding an appropriate place for subsumption into ISAF structures. Our intention is to finish our participation in OEF by the end of this year and to join the ISAF operation by the beginning of the next year. To receive your attitude (opinion) to this approach would be highly appreciated. With the intention to discuss all possible questions which could arise from this intended transformation, I propose to include this topic into the agenda of talks between the Slovak MoD and the US civ/mil Team on Iraq which will take place in Bratislava on 22nd of July. With respect, Vladimir Jakabcin /s/ THAYER NNNN