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


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2005LJUBLJ00293 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED



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