SLOVENIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO LEBANON STABILIZATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000501

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE, IO/PKO, PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO LEBANON STABILIZATION
FORCE

Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Following up on the August 1 GAERC, Pol/Econ Chief
met with Matej Marn, MFA Director of European Affairs on
August 3. Marn said the GAERC went on for nearly 4 hours and
he felt that the outcome was generally positive. He said FM
Dimitrij Rupel made four key points on the need to achieve a
unified EU position; protect civilians; ensure Lebanese
Government control of the entire Lebanese territory; and
ensure the security of Israel. Rupel also said that an
immediate cease-fire, while preferable in many ways, was
simply not a realistic demand at this time. Marn said that
it was not finally agreed whether the international force
that would go to Lebanon should be a peace-making force or a
peace-keeping force, but either way, Slovenia was prepared to
contribute. Marn also indicated that it was very important
that the force include troops from the region such as Egypt,
Turkey and perhaps other Muslim countries, however, the EU
saw itself as taking the leadership role.

2.(C) Given that the Western Balkans is Slovenia's primary
focus for troop deployment - it is planning to send an
additional 600 troops to Kosovo in 2007 - Marn said
Slovenia's contribution would necessarily be small. He
thought, however, that Slovenia could be helpful in other
ways. Marn specifically mentioned the Slovene NGO Together
Foundation, which has years of experience from Bosnia to
Chechnya in setting up programs to counsel children
traumatized by war and other violent events. Marn said that
the Slovene-run International Trust Fund for Demining (ITF)
was specifically mentioned by Rupel at the GAERC as a
resource for clearing mines in the border region between
Israel and Lebanon.

3.(C) Marn recognized that Slovenia's financial contribution
thus far was small, the smallest of all EU members in fact,
but according to the Minister of Finance, there simply was no
more money in the bank. Slovenia is preparing for the
conversion to the euro in January and is therefore being
extremely careful and conservative about government
expenditures.

4.(C) Comment: The GOS and FM Rupel have chosen a pragmatic
position on Lebanon. It demonstrates Slovenia's continuing
evolution to becoming an active and proactive partner on
important political and security issues. Both the Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister expressed Slovenia's
willingness to contribute troops, funds and other
humanitarian assistance before any such requests came from
Brussels or Washington. End Comment.


5. Minimize Considered.
ROBERTSON