SLOVENIA ON EIB IN SYRIA: PUSH THE BIG PLAYERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000894

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2015
TAGS: ETRD EFIN PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA ON EIB IN SYRIA: PUSH THE BIG PLAYERS

REF: A. SECSTATE 229611

B. LJUBLJANA 0886

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Maryruth Coleman, reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).


1. (C) Econoff delivered ref A points 30 December to Sibil
Svilan, CEO of the Slovene Export Corporation and Slovenian
representative to the European Investment Bank. A former
senior Finance Ministry official and long time EIB board
member, Svilan said he was not aware of the USG position on
the loan to Syria, but doubted if much could be done as "the
decision has already been taken." Svilan noted that while
Slovenia takes part in EIB decisions, it focuses mainly on
the bank's operations in the Balkans and southeast Europe.


2. (C) Svilan said several times that Slovenia is "not an
active participant" in the FEMIP and, as such, is not
involved in what he termed "policy issues" such as whether or
not to loan to Syria because of concerns that the USG and EU
have with the Syrian government. Svilan also noted on
several occasions that Slovenia has "only one vote" on the
board and that in the future the USG should "push such issues
with big 'Mediterranean' players" such as France, Spain, and
Italy. He did not seem to have an issue with the decision
that was made, however, and said he felt that this was a good
investment to "help improve life in the region for less well
off Syrians." Svilan said, however, that he would "bear the
American concerns in mind" in the future should similar
issues come up.


3. (C) Comment: Svilan spent much of the meeting emphasizing
an old refrain that Slovenia is small and therefore has
little influence on big issues. We have lately seen a
broadening world view from our contacts at the MFA and other
Ministries more regularly involved with foreign affairs.
Svilan's response, however, demonstrates a disconnect between
those who make foreign policy in Slovenia and technocrats
from smaller agencies similar to what we have read in
responses to ref A from other European capitals.
COLEMAN


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