GUIDANCE REQUEST: SLOVAKS BUYING MILITARY SUPPLIES

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000939

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PM LO BO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: SLOVAKS BUYING MILITARY SUPPLIES
MADE IN BELARUS



1. SUMMARY AND GUIDANCE REQUEST. The Slovak Ministry of
Defense has signed contracts with a Slovak firm to purchase
replacement military parts made in Belarus. Embassy
Bratislava requests guidance on the USG's view of a NATO ally
indirectly purchasing military supplies from Belarus. END
SUMMARY AND GUIDANCE REQUEST.


2. Local media reported November 8 that the MOD had signed
contracts to purchase components for the S-300 (SA-10)
missile system from Ralas s.r.o., an incorporated domestic
firm specializing in imports and exports. Ralas s.r.o.,
according to the same reports, will purchase those parts from
a private supplier in Belarus.


3. The MoD and the MFA have defended publicly the decision to
buy military supplies made in Belarus, pointing out there is
no embargo on trade with Belarus, and that the beneficiaries
of this deal are private firms. Only one other firm, Chemica
spol s.r.o., (a Slovak subsidiary of the original Russian
supplier of the S-300 (SA-10) missile system),submitted a
bid to supply the parts, and that bid was 15 million Slovak
crowns (US$495,000) higher.


4. To date, Embassy Bratislava has not offered nor been asked
for an opinion on this issue. Slovakia generally shares USG
concerns related to Belarus. Slovak NGOs and political
parties actively work with Belarusian civil society and
opposition parties to promote democracy.
VALLEE


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