SLOVAKIA CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000339 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2013 TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL IZ LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS REF: STATE 63163 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee per E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Vladimir Jakabcin, General Director of the Department of Defense Policy, International Relations and Legislation, included the possibility of sending Slovak soldiers to a PRT in Iraq in spoken remarks to a conference on "The Slovak Military - Status and Perspectives" yesterday. Jakabcin included the remarks knowing that DATT and Poloff were attending the conference and would subsequently demarche him per Reftel. ¶2. (C) Privately, Jakabcin's response to Reftel points was positive, but only up to the point of expressing interest and a strong willingness to consider providing Slovak soldiers to the PRTs. Jakabcin cautioned that a decision would obviously not be made until after the June 17 elections and formation of a government since Parliamentary approval would be necessary. ¶3. (SBU) DATT and Poloff delivered demarche points per Reftel to MFA officers as well. MFA officers seemed less well informed and only indicated they will discuss the idea with DoD colleagues. VALLEE