Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3035
2006-08-21 08:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SLOVAKIAN PM PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY ON FUTURE AID TO
how-toVZCZCXRO5596 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3035 2330837 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 210837Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6374 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA IMMEDIATE 0006 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003035
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIAN PM PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY ON FUTURE AID TO
IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 132459
B. BRATISLAVA 695
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003035
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIAN PM PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY ON FUTURE AID TO
IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 132459
B. BRATISLAVA 695
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (C/REL MCFI) SUMMARY: On August 17 the Ambassador and
General Casey thanked Slovak Prime Minister Fico for his
country's contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom and asked
that it conduct additional training of Iraqis, per ref A.
Echoing the themes of ref B, Fico pledged to continue to help
Iraq, and said that any decisions on future Slovak
participation in OIF in Iraq would include prior consultation
with the USG. General Casey provided a briefing on Iraq's
complex situation, with ethnosectarian violence concentrated
in Baghdad, an insurgency in al Anbar and Diyala Provinces,
and relatively peaceful conditions in most of Iraq. In
closing, the Ambassador reiterated that he is now cautiously
optimistic about Iraq's future and repeated his thanks for
Slovakia's help to Iraq. The PM in turn reiterated
Slovakia's willingness to help Iraq, and will consider
adapting Slovakian aid to Iraq's changing situation. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C/REL MCFI) On August 17, the Ambassador, accompanied by
Multinational Forces Iraq (MNF-I) Commander General George
Casey and Political-Military Counselor (notetaker) received
the Slovak delegation headed by Prime Minister Fico and
accompanied by Foreign Minister Kubis and Defense Minister
Kasicky. The PM opened by explaining that Slovakia has
deployed about 100 deminers and civil engineers in Iraq, and
has provided tank ammunition and offered small arms
ammunition. Having recently taken office, the PM is
re-evaluating Slovakia's contribution to OIF. However,
echoing the themes of ref B, the PM pledged that the Slovaks
would engage in prior consultation and dialogue with the USG
both before and after making any decision. In addition, he
wants to boost economic relations with Iraq. Finally, he
noted that most of the news about Iraq in Europe is negative,
and little is about the achievements here. Perhaps if the
European press reported more of the good news, the public's
attitudes might change.
3. (C/REL MCFI) Ambassador Khalilzad urged the PM to
encourage Prime Minister al-Maliki to make the hard political
decisions to move on reconciliation and help the country
forward in its transition. Slovakia had experience in its
own recent history that could benefit Iraq.
4. (C/REL MCFI) In closing, the Ambassador reiterated that he
is now cautiously optimistic about Iraq's future and repeated
his thanks for Slovakia's help to Iraq. The PM in turn
reiterated Slovakia's willingness to help Iraq, and will
consider adapting Slovakian aid to Iraq's changing situation.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIAN PM PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY ON FUTURE AID TO
IRAQ
REF: A. STATE 132459
B. BRATISLAVA 695
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (C/REL MCFI) SUMMARY: On August 17 the Ambassador and
General Casey thanked Slovak Prime Minister Fico for his
country's contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom and asked
that it conduct additional training of Iraqis, per ref A.
Echoing the themes of ref B, Fico pledged to continue to help
Iraq, and said that any decisions on future Slovak
participation in OIF in Iraq would include prior consultation
with the USG. General Casey provided a briefing on Iraq's
complex situation, with ethnosectarian violence concentrated
in Baghdad, an insurgency in al Anbar and Diyala Provinces,
and relatively peaceful conditions in most of Iraq. In
closing, the Ambassador reiterated that he is now cautiously
optimistic about Iraq's future and repeated his thanks for
Slovakia's help to Iraq. The PM in turn reiterated
Slovakia's willingness to help Iraq, and will consider
adapting Slovakian aid to Iraq's changing situation. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C/REL MCFI) On August 17, the Ambassador, accompanied by
Multinational Forces Iraq (MNF-I) Commander General George
Casey and Political-Military Counselor (notetaker) received
the Slovak delegation headed by Prime Minister Fico and
accompanied by Foreign Minister Kubis and Defense Minister
Kasicky. The PM opened by explaining that Slovakia has
deployed about 100 deminers and civil engineers in Iraq, and
has provided tank ammunition and offered small arms
ammunition. Having recently taken office, the PM is
re-evaluating Slovakia's contribution to OIF. However,
echoing the themes of ref B, the PM pledged that the Slovaks
would engage in prior consultation and dialogue with the USG
both before and after making any decision. In addition, he
wants to boost economic relations with Iraq. Finally, he
noted that most of the news about Iraq in Europe is negative,
and little is about the achievements here. Perhaps if the
European press reported more of the good news, the public's
attitudes might change.
3. (C/REL MCFI) Ambassador Khalilzad urged the PM to
encourage Prime Minister al-Maliki to make the hard political
decisions to move on reconciliation and help the country
forward in its transition. Slovakia had experience in its
own recent history that could benefit Iraq.
4. (C/REL MCFI) In closing, the Ambassador reiterated that he
is now cautiously optimistic about Iraq's future and repeated
his thanks for Slovakia's help to Iraq. The PM in turn
reiterated Slovakia's willingness to help Iraq, and will
consider adapting Slovakian aid to Iraq's changing situation.
SPECKHARD