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.


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7. (U) Minimize considered.

VALLEE