SLOVAKIAN PM PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY ON FUTURE AID TO

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