SLOVENIA AND IRAQ ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000293 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV OFDP IZ SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA AND IRAQ ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ¶1. (U) Following a decision reached at its 28 April session, the GoS issued a joint statement with the Government of Iraq on 29 April announcing that the Slovenian and Iraqi PermReps to the UN had exchanged notes establishing diplomatic relations. According to MFA Iraq Desk Officer Beti Likar, the GoS is currently discussing whether to cover bilateral relations with Iraq from either a third country or its UN Mission. There has been no discussion to date about opening a Slovenian Embassy in Baghdad. Press reports indicate that the GoS hoped to resume Slovenia's strong business cooperation with Iraq that existed before the UN embargo took effect and dates back to the days of strong cooperation between Iraq and Yugoslavia. ¶2. (U) Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel immediately and publicly welcomed the 28 April decision of the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly to confirm Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari's Iraqi Transitional Government. ¶3. (U) Minimize considered. ROBERTSON NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00293 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED v1.6.2