IRAQ UNLIKELY TO PLAY A ROLE IN SLOVAK ELECTION

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000414 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR IZ LO SUBJECT: IRAQ UNLIKELY TO PLAY A ROLE IN SLOVAK ELECTION ¶1. (U) According to a page 4 story in the May 25 issue of the daily Sme, the deployment of Slovak soldiers in Iraq is not an issue in the campaign leading up to June 17 elections. The daily predicts that this situation will not change after the formation of a new government since most parties are opposed to withdrawing Slovak forces from Iraq absent close coordination with allies. ¶2. (U) According to Sme, all the major parties are hoping to withdraw forces "sooner or later," but only the Communist Party of Slovakia (KSS) advocates an immediate withdrawal. The PM,s Party of the Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU) is the most favorably disposed towards remaining in Iraq, followed by the second party in the current governing coalition, the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK). ¶3. (U) The most popular party, Smer, resisted Slovak participation in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but now says that any withdrawal must be done in coordination with coalition countries. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), which was a member of the governing coalition when the decision to invade was made, similarly emphasizes it was a mistake to participate in the invasion, but accepts that Slovak forces may only be withdrawn in coordination with allies. ¶4. (U) Comment. This report is consistent with what post has heard from other sources. Foreign policy in general, including the deployment to Iraq, has not been an issue in the campaign up to now and post expects that, barring casualties among the Slovak contingent, it will not become an issue during the remaining three weeks of the campaign. That said, a different government could still reconsider Slovakia's military presence in Iraq and some parties have stated a preference to undertake such a reconsideration if elected. End comment. VALLEE