NEW SLOVAK FM PROMISES FULL COORDINATION ON

S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 000562 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC PASS TO DAMON WILSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2011 TAGS: PREL MARR LO IZ SUBJECT: NEW SLOVAK FM PROMISES FULL COORDINATION ON POSSIBLE TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, REQUESTS VISIT TO WASHINGTON Classified By: Lawrence R. Silverman, Charge d'affaires, a.i., for reasons 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (U) This message includes an action request and recommendation in para 3. ¶2. (S) New Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis told Charge today that he would personally "take care of the issue of the Slovak troops in Iraq." Speaking privately just after an introductory session with the diplomatic corps July 10, Kubis implied to Charge that the Fico government probably would ensure that a withdrawal would eventually take place. Nevertheless, Kubis stressed that Slovakia understood it retained a commitment to the stabilization and democratization of Iraq. Any withdrawal would be gradual and only after full "coordination" with Slovakia's allies, and with Iraq. Kubis made a special point of telling the meeting with the diplomatic corps that such coordination includes the Iraqis (the Iraqi Ambassador to Slovakia, resident in Vienna, was in attendance, and Kubis reiterated his pledge directly to the Iraqi Ambassador after the session). Kubis also committed Slovakia to find other ways to help the Iraqis with both security and governance. Kubis added that he clearly understood the importance of both the issue and the appearance of how it was handled to Slovakia's image in Washington and more broadly. He acknowledged that now-PM Fico had surprised us with the Iraqi issue during the campaign, but promised transparency and no more surprises as the government's consideration of the matter moved forward. He had coordinated this position with new Defense Minister Kasicsky before the latter went to Dubrovnik for the July 9-10 southern European conference, and said that Kasicsky shared his view 100 percent. He was pleased when Charge told him that A/S Fried was planning to meet with Kasicsky in Dubrovnik, and asked us to pass his regards to Amb. Fried. ¶3. (S) Action request: In connection with Iraq and his larger commitment to do all he could to maintain a strong and cooperative relationship with the U.S., Kubis asked Charge whether it would be possible to obtain meetings with the Secretary and NSA Hadley in Washington sometime during the SIPDIS coming few weeks. Kubis said, "I should wait for the publishing of my own government's policy program (which may take a few weeks),but I really do not want to wait, if possible." Kubis recognized that this is short notice, but he clearly wants to use such a visit to maximize his leverage over the foreign policy of the new government. (Comment: For this reason, we strongly support FM Kubis's request for meetings in Washington. He wants to maintain as much influence over foreign policy as he can, and it is in our interest to help him do so.) Ambassador will see FM Kubis July 12. SILVERMAN