Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRATISLAVA926
2005-11-18 19:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

SLOVAK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 21 GAERC

Tags:  PREL ETRD EU LO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

181933Z Nov 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000926 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD EU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 21 GAERC

REF: STATE 208899

Classified By: CDA Lawrence R. Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) ad (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000926

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD EU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 21 GAERC

REF: STATE 208899

Classified By: CDA Lawrence R. Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) ad (d).


1. (SBU) Polec Chief met with European Correspondent Lubomir
Rehak November 16 to discuss points provided reftel on agenda
items at the November 21 GAERC.


2. (SBU) DEFENSE ISSUES: Rehak noted that 19 states are
members of both NATO and the EU, and it was in all their
interests to improve cooperation.


3. (C) IRAQ: Slovakia agrees with the U.S. on Iraq policy.
Rehak explained the reason that Slovakia has not forgiven the
bulk of its debt to Iraq as an accounting problem. Slovakia
is willing to meet the Paris Club goal of 80 percent debt
reduction, but because of the way the debt is recorded, the
Finance Ministry can forgive "all or nothing" of the
commercial debt. The amount isn't particularly high
(approximately 25 million dollars) but forgiving the total
also creates problems with Slovak statistics for the OECD, as
they would show an artificial increase one year and then a
sharp drop-off the next. The finance ministry is not opposed
to the debt forgiveness in principle, but has not found a
solution to the accounting problem that will not affect
election year budgets and euro aspirations.


4. (C) MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: Rehak said the EU still has
financial and security concerns about the Rafah border
crossing. Nonetheless, Slovakia is planning to contribute
one or two policemen to the Rafah mission. Regarding January
elections, the GAERC conclusions will call on Israel to
create the proper conditions for holding elections in the
occupied territories including East Jerusalem.


5. (C) UKRAINE/BELARUS/RUSSIA: Rehak expressed surprise that
the U.S. was critical of the recent high-level contact
between Ukraine and Belarus. His impression was that there
was general agreement to use Ukraine as a conduit for
communicating with the Lukashenko government. Poloff
mentioned the possibility of a joint U.S.-EU approach to
Lukashenko. This led to a side discussion of Prime Minister
Dzurinda's personal views. Dzurinda has had no contact with
Lukashenko, and "does not like dictators." Rehak said
Dzurinda went to Russia for the first time after six years as
Prime Minister, and refuses to go to China despite repeated

appeals by the Slovak ambassador in Beijing for improving
trade. Rehak said Dzurinda has no "above-standard" contacts
with Putin, although in Rehak's personal view Dzurinda could
be closer in order to influence the Russian elite. Slovakia
is a small country which Russia does not view as threatening,
and although Slovaks do not have fond memories of Russian
intervention in 1968, they do not have negative
people-to-people relations.


6. (C) UKRAINE: Rehak emphasized that rule of law principles
were critical in Ukraine. He said Slovakia has been arguing
within the EU that it is unrealistic to expect radical steps
at reform in Ukraine before parliamentary elections, or else
the reform-minded politicians will lose the elections.
Ukraine needs to indicate some progress in democratization
and economic reform, but sensitive social issues can't be
dealt with before the elections. Slovakia will also try to
persuade EU partners to mention a "European perspective" at
the December 1 EU-Ukraine summit. Many member states are
completely opposed to even mentioning the possibility of
membership; but in Slovakia's view the possibility of
membership "someday" will be a big impetus for Ukraine to
stay the course.


7. (C) BOSNIA: Rehak said Slovakia was well aware of the
U.S. role in Bosnia and supports it. The GAERC conclusions
will be "very good and very complex." Slovakia had problems
with wording calling for national minorities' rights.
Because of possible misinterpretations by the Hungarian
minority here, Slovakia preferred language calling for
"rights of the persons belonging to national minorities,"
according rights to individuals rather than groups. However,
Slovakia will express its concerns with this technical issue
to partners without blocking the final text.


8. (C) KOSOVO: Rehak said that Slovakia has been trying to
explain to EU partners how difficult the final status talks
will be for Serbia. He compared it to asking the U.S. to
cede New Mexico to Mexico to show "compromise." Many EU
countries are unwilling to understand how difficult it is for
the Serbs; there is a lack of sympathy. Rehak said UNSC
membership will be a huge challenge for Slovakia with regards
to the Western Balkans, and Slovakia risks deteriorating
relations with both Serbs and Albanians.


9. (C) SYRIA: Rehak was certain Slovakia will not meet with
Syria on the margins of the Barcelona Summit, saying again,
"Dzurinda doesn't like dictators."


10. (C) WTO: Slovakia's view is that it is not possible to
open EU agricultural markets to developing countries without
further liberalization of non-agricultural sectors. Rehak
said Slovakia supports flexibility and a wide mandate for
Mandleson to negotiate.
SILVERMAN


NNNN