SLOVAKIA CODIFIES RELATIONSHIP WITH US IN NEW

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000808 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EU LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA CODIFIES RELATIONSHIP WITH US IN NEW SECURITY STRATEGY SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) On September 27, Parliament approved a new Security Strategy for Slovakia which supersedes the previous security policies in place since 2001. The security strategy notably acknowledges "special status" for the "Euro-Atlantic" security relationship, and calls for Slovakia to support "Euro-Atlantic" initiatives in the region which seek to build a stable and secure Europe. COMMENT: "Euro-Atlantic" continues to be used as code for "U.S." to the extent that the local media reported that the security strategy mentioned the United States by name. While the strategy uses "Euro-Atlantic" in place of "U.S.," post notes the significance of an EU member state codifying in such strong terms a special security relationship with the United States. END COMMENT. ¶2. (SBU) Voting on the security strategy fell largely along party lines, with the pro-U.S. ruling coalition (as well as a few crossover MPs from opposition party HZDS and several independents) voting in favor of the strategy, while opposition parties Smer and KSS, both of whom have expressed anti-NATO, anti-U.S. sentiments in the past, voted against it en bloc. We will be discussing this with Smer in the Ambassador's upcoming introductory lunch with party leaders. VALLEE NNNN