AMBASSADOR VALLEE WELCOME TO ADM GIAMBASTIANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000155 SIPDIS SIPDIS JOINT STAFF FOR VCJCS ADMIRAL GIAMBASTIANI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017 TAGS: OVIP LO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VALLEE WELCOME TO ADM GIAMBASTIANI Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Admiral Giambastiani, it will be my great pleasure to welcome you to Slovakia on March 29. This will be a rare high-level visit for U.S. Embassy Bratislava, and it comes at a critical time given the Slovak Government policies and world-outlook. Your visit will provide an excellent opportunity for us to highlight the ways in which we assist and cooperate with the Slovak Armed Forces, as well as the ways Slovakia can do more to help us and NATO in the Global War on Terror and the struggle for a safer and more democratic world. ¶2. (C) I hope that during your stay, you will emphasize the importance of Slovak contributions to foreign missions, and encourage them to do more. We want to build upon the recent Slovak agreement to the ISAF request to redeploy engineering troops from Kabul to Kandahar in order to demonstrate to the Prime Minister and the Slovak people that Slovakia has a significant world role to play. Slovakia has a fine military, but one that is too rarely deployed and in too small numbers. Similarly, after years of ambitious and successful reform of their armed forces, the Slovaks are now decreasing their defense budget as a percentage of GDP. It would be useful if you could emphasize the importance of Slovakia's commitment to NATO to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense. ¶3. (U) Admiral, I know that LTC Wallace has sent you a complete scenesetter cable and organized a full and active schedule of events for you. I am certain that your visit will be a success and that our relations with Slovakia will benefit. I look forward to welcoming you on March 29. VALLEE