RENEWAL OF ISAF'S U.N. MANDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000576 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL SI NATO SUBJECT: RENEWAL OF ISAF'S U.N. MANDATE REF: SECSTATE 146276 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Maryruth Coleman for Reasons 1.4 (B) a nd (D) ¶1. (C) On August 9, PolMil Off met with MFA Security Policy Division staffer Zorica Bukinac Cimpersek to deliver reftel points. Cimpersek noted that Slovenia thought of ISAF and CFC-A integration as inevitable, but that Slovenia did not want to commit itself to a final decision on ISAF's mandate until it was actually on the table. When PolMil Off noted that it was now on the table, Cimpersek responded by saying that an adaptation of the mission/mandate would likely be necessary. Cimpersek said she would get back to us with an official position later in the week, but noted that her personal view was that if adjustments were made to the ISAF mission, then a new UN mandate would be preferable. ¶2. (C) Cimpersek also noted that military advice might be needed before a political decision could be reached, indicating to us that Slovenia may not yet have an official position on this issue. Cimpersek also told us that most of the leadership of the MFA's Security Policy Division was currently on vacation. Given the presence of about 60 Slovenians in ISAF, including 31 troops who will be deployed next week to a PRT in Herat, Post believes it would be useful for USNATO to approach Slovenian NATO reps to help focus attention on this issue and clarify the GoS position. COLEMAN NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00576 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL v1.6.2