SLOVAK PM CALLS BULGARIAN NURSES "PERPETRATORS"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000113 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM BU LY LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK PM CALLS BULGARIAN NURSES "PERPETRATORS" REF: BRATISLAVA 112 BRATISLAVA 00000113 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (U) "Fico: The Nurses are Perpetrators" announced the headline of the Slovak daily SME on 2/23, referring to Prime Minister Robert Fico's statements during a visit to Libya 2/20-2/22. A rough translation of Fico's words to Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi follows: "As intensively as (people) speak of the perpetrators, (they) should also speak of the victims." At another point during the visit in an interview with Slovak Radio, Fico said that the topic of his discussions would include "not only the victims, but also the status of the perpetrators, who are today standing before Libyan courts." Fico, who is a lawyer by profession, attempted to clarify his words to the media by saying that he used "perpetrator" (in Slovak: "pachatel") only as a legal term for someone who has been convicted by a court. ¶2. (SBU) Local EU embassies were startled by Fico's statement, noted the EU's position that the nurses are innocent, but had no official reaction. The press quoted the Bulgarian Ambassador as saying that he could not believe that Fico had called the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctors "perpetrators." The opposition Slovak Christian Democratic party (SDKU) held a press conference to denounce Fico's comments about the Bulgarian nurses as shameful, noting that they represent a human and foreign policy failure by the Prime Minister. ¶3. (C) The PM's Office issued a press release mid-afternoon announcing that Fico had called Bulgarian Prime Minister Stanisev to inform him about his conversations with Libyan officials regarding the Bulgarian nurses and the Palistinian doctors. Fico criticized the media for twisting his words and misusing his initiative to assist in this case. Fico claimed that he supported the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor and encouraged the Libyans to show justice and a humane approach to their cases. The press release stated that "The steps that PM Fico took in this respect in Libya show unambiguously that Slovakia wants to support its partner Bulgaria in the EU, but it also intends to provide maximum assistance in resolving this truly humanitarian disaster of children affected by HIV/AIDS virus." MFA Political Director Miro Lajcak had gone to the PM's office earlier in the day to recommend the call to the Bulgarian Premier and the follow-on press release (Although Lajcak commented to us at the time that he was not sure the PM would take his advice.) The Bulgarian Embassy in Bratislava also issued an afternoon press release noting that the two premiers had spoken, and that Fico had expressed "deep" regret about the incorrect interpretation of his words by the media. ¶4. (U) During his trip Fico offered medical treatment in Slovakia (a two-week healing stay at a spa) to the Libyan children infected with AIDS. He also said that he had been given signals from the Libyan premier, "who suggested that after all the legal proceedings the Libyans are ready to take the same (humane) approach to the perpetrators of this humanitarian catastrophe, as was taken to its victims." According to press reports, Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Ali Mahmudi praised the approach of Fico commenting "we highly appreciate and esteem the Slovak Premier, because he, as one of the few EU representatives to do so, views things on two levels, judicial and humanist." ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT. Within diplomatic circles, Fico is well-known for straying from Slovakia's official positions - and MFA talking points - on international issues. His lack of foreign policy knowledge compounds the problem. Generally, the MFA is left to "clarify" his statements or, in some cases, modify previously accepted policy. It is also not unusual for Fico to claim that the media twisted his statements or intentions. While Fico's words were at the very least poorly chosen in this case, Post does not believe this to be an indication that Slovakia is actually departing from the EU position on the Bulgarian nurses. End Comment. VISIT TO BOMBING SITE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Slovak media also reported that Fico and his delegation were taken on a visit to the site of the 1986 bombings with graphic pictures of Fico observing the unreconstructed building damage from the bombing. Lajcak told us that MFA was told that foreign officials meeting with Kaddafi are asked to do this. We told Lajcak that visitors should be able to decline participation in such demonstrations. BRATISLAVA 00000113 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (U) Minimize considered. VALLEE