SLOVENIA ON SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000151 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015 TAGS: PREL LE SI SYSI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA ON SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL REF: SECSTATE 39018 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dean J. Haas, reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) On 7 March, DCM and Econoff delivered reftel talking points to Jasna Gersak, head of the MFA's division for Asian, African, Australian and Oceanian Affairs. Gersak is a close, high-ranking contact of Mission and until recently was DCM at the Slovenian Embassy in Washington. Stating that Slovenia is "concerned" about Syria's lack of full compliance with UNSCR 1559, Gersak also noted that the GOS has condemned the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri. Gersak stated that the GOS supports the full and complete withdrawal of all Syrian military and intelligence forces from Lebanon. Gersak said that in a PSC discussion on 4 March, meeting participants called for an international investigation of Hariri's assassination and for Syria's complete withdrawal in line with UNSCR1559. ¶2. (C) Several times during the brief discussion, Gersak stated that Slovenia is "in line" with the EU position on Syrian withdrawal. She also said that the EU is prepared to send observers to forthcoming elections in Lebanon "if invited." Gersak further noted the EU is willing to support a government action plan between the EU and Lebanon if the Lebanese government is willing to do so. In an indication of possible leverage, Gersak wondered aloud whether the completion of ongoing negotiations on an EU Association Agreement with Syria could be conditioned on Syria's full and complete withdrawal from Lebanon. ROBERTSON NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00151 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL v1.6.2