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


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2005LJUBLJ00151 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL



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