SLOVENIA VIEWS ON MAY 23 GAERC

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000330 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA VIEWS ON MAY 23 GAERC REF: SECSTATE 90085 ¶1. Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel talking points to Peter Grk of the MFA's Office for European Integration and Ales Balut of the Western Balkans Department on May 17. Slovenia's position on ESDP has not changed since our last discussion and Grk expressed the GoS' sincere desire, as a small country with a small military, to avoid duplication of work by the EU and NATO. Grk appreciated our points on Sudan but did not have anything specific to add to the conversation. Pol/Econ Chief reiterated the U.S. position on the China Arms Embargo emphasizing that the May 23 meeting between the U.S. and EU would not be a negotiating session. Grk suggested that the meeting was a good sign and hoped that some mutually agreeable solution to the current disagreement could be found. ¶2. As always, the GoS was interested in engaging on the Balkans. Balut, of the Western Balkans department, welcomed the idea of a lessons learned session on the handover of SFOR duties to the EU. When asked by pol/econ chief if, one year into its membership, Slovenia felt it had influence on EU thinking on the Balkans, the answer was decidedly affirmative. Balut and Grk both suggested that older members of the EU respected Slovenia's experience and understanding of the region and were almost relieved to have the burden of this problem shifting towards a new member. Balut added that the GoS would be very interested in sharing views on the future of OHR and reform of the Bosnian Police and Defense forces. HAAS NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00330 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED v1.6.2