AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED IRAQ WITH FM KUBIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000597 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2011 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MARR IZ LO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED IRAQ WITH FM KUBIS REF: BRATISLAVA 588 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee as per E.O. 12958 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) his cable contains a request for guidance in paragraph 8. ¶2. (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Jan Kubis 7/19 briefed the Ambassador on the GOS,s progress on the Iraq portion of the government program, which is due to be announed August 1. Kubis noted the government has been uniform in its public statements, stressing coordination and cooperation with coalition partners. Kubis also spoke briefly about the situation in the Middle East, and requested the Ambassador's support for Slovakia's desire to host the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Ukraine. End summary. ¶3. (C) At the FM's request, the Ambassador and FM Kubis met for about an hour on July 19. Kubis had submitted his vision for the Foreign Ministry to the cabinet for distribution to the government coalition partners. Kubis described his vision statement as "more management than policy" since he doesn't expect significant changes in most areas. With respect to Iraq, Kubis was awaiting input from the Defense Ministry. For now, he only reiterated the public line of "cooperation and coordination with allies." The Ambassador asked if the final product is likely to be detailed with respect to Iraq. Kubis answered yes, and said that it would incorporate the DefMin,s "calculations"(Reftel). ¶4. (C) When pressed by the Ambassador as to whether the Slovak deminers might stay in place until their mission could be handed over to Iraqis in perhaps one year's time, Kubis responded, "one year, yes, I think one more year for that mission is doable." Kubis agreed that the needs of the Iraqi people remain an important consideration. Kubis acknowledged that the DefMin is developing alternatives that could allow the PM to keep some forces in Iraq after the demining contingent is finally withdrawn, while still preserving his ability to forthrightly say to his Socialist constituency and others that he has changed the mission of Slovak forces in Iraq. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador urged Kubis and the GoS to work closely with Centcom and coalition partners. Kubis asked again that the USG provide additional ideas to the Def Min on alternative missions. ¶6. (SBU) Kubis said that both coalition partner HZDS and President Gasparovic have been very supportive of continuing the mission in Iraq, both publicly and privately. Kubis will be traveling in the next few days but agreed to meet the Ambassador again late the week of July 24 to review the Iraq component of the government's plan for comment and feedback. Kubis suggested the government's entire program, including Iraq, will be presented to the public at one time, probably on August 1. ISRAEL-LEBANON -------------- ¶7. (SBU) When asked about the situation in Lebanon, Kubis replied that he thought it a shame the international community had ever "allowed Hezbollah to get all those missiles." Kubis thought it was telling that Sunni Arab states have been muted in their criticism. UKRAINE -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Kubis reiterated his desire to have Slovaks man the NATO liaison mission in Kiev, noting that with the new Yanukovich coalition Slovaks would need to be active at all levels to promote further democratic progress. REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE: Embassy Bratislava requests feedback from EUR/RPM on which countries have formally expressed an interest in hosting the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Ukraine, and whether the USG could support Slovakia's candidacy. NEW FACES AT MFA -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Kubis praised newly-designated State Secretary Diana Strofova of HZDS, saying she has a very positive transatlantic outlook, which he saw first hand when she particpated in the NATO Parliamentary Committee. Kubis said the PM had asked him to pick a second State Secretary but he had demurred, requesting only a right of veto. Kubis did name his new advisors; Pavol Hamzik and Ivan Lancaric, both of whom are carreer diplomats. BRATISLAVA 00000597 002 OF 002 ¶10. (SBU) Hamzik was Slovak Ambassador to Germany from 1994 to 1996, and from August 1996 to June 1997 was Minister of Foreign Affairs under Vladimir Meciar. Hamzik left that post after the referenda on NATO membership and direct presidential elections. From 1998 to 2001 Hamzik served in Dzurinda's government as a Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. Lancaric was the foreign affairs advisor to Zuzana Martinakova's Free Forum party prior to the June elections. VALLEE